Frozen Shoulder? It Might Not Be What You Think
Why the Diagnosis Is Often Wrong—And What Actually Works
Have you been told you have frozen shoulder? Maybe you’ve lost shoulder mobility, struggle to reach overhead, or experience sharp pain with movement. You might have been prescribed anti-inflammatories, corticosteroid injections, or told to “wait it out” because the condition is self-limiting.
But here’s the problem:
In many cases, frozen shoulder isn’t the correct diagnosis. And conventional treatment often delays true healing.
At True Resilience Integrative Medical Solutions, we take a deeper look. We specialize in resolving shoulder immobility by addressing the actual root causes—not just masking symptoms or waiting years for natural resolution.
What Is True Frozen Shoulder?
Also known as adhesive capsulitis, true frozen shoulder involves:
- Thickening and contraction of the shoulder joint capsule
- Chronic inflammation and fibrosis (scarring)
- Painful, severe, and progressive restriction of motion
- A course that may last months to years
It develops in three stages:
- Freezing (6–9 months): Increasing pain, especially at night, and growing stiffness
- Frozen (2–6 months): Pain may lessen, but mobility becomes severely restricted
- Thawing (6–24 months): Gradual return of movement—but often incomplete
It’s most common in women over 50, particularly around menopause, and is associated with diabetes, thyroid issues, and prior injury or inflammation in the shoulder.
Why the Diagnosis Is Often Missed
In our clinic, many patients come to us with a diagnosis of “frozen shoulder” that turns out to be something else entirely. Instead of true adhesive capsulitis, they’re dealing with:
- Myofascial restrictions
- Rib or thoracic spine dysfunction
- Brachial plexus irritation
- Vein or nerve congestion
- Scapular instability or postural overload
- Visceral referral patterns from the lungs, liver, or gallbladder
We look both above and below the joint—because the shoulder doesn’t exist in isolation. It’s affected by how the ribs move, how the spine flexes, and how the nervous system communicates.
What Conventional Treatment Gets Wrong
Most mainstream care focuses on symptom suppression:
- Corticosteroid injections (which reduce inflammation temporarily but may weaken tissue long term)
- Oral NSAIDs (which do not address mechanical or neurological causes)
- Physical therapy (which can help—but often misses underlying dysfunction)
- “Watchful waiting,” assuming it will resolve on its own over 1–3 years
The problem? None of these address why the shoulder became restricted in the first place.
How We Treat It at True Resilience IMS
We don’t just treat what shows up on imaging—we treat the person as a whole. Our shoulder recovery program is built on identifying and correcting the underlying dysfunctions, using a blend of integrative medicine and advanced manual therapy known as fascial counterstrain.
Our Approach:
Precision Diagnostics
We assess the entire kinetic chain—not just the glenohumeral joint. This includes:
- Thoracic and cervical spine
- Ribs and scapulothoracic mechanics
- Autonomic nervous system (especially the stellate ganglia, which can profoundly affect shoulder tension)
- Vascular and lymphatic drainage
- Visceral organs (whose fascial tensions can refer into the shoulder)
- Both proximal (spine, neck, SC joint) and distal (elbow, wrist, fascia chains) influences
- Irritated peripheral and autonomic nerves
- Superficial fascia and subcutaneous adipose tissue (which often become thickened or inflamed)
- Capsular tension stemming from dural or ligamentous congestion
- Labral and cartilage restrictions, especially around the glenoid cavity
- Dysfunction in bones like the humerus, clavicle, scapula, and ribs
- Key joints like the acromioclavicular (AC) and sternoclavicular (SC) joints, which often go unaddressed in traditional care
Each of these structures can influence joint mobility, pain perception, and healing capacity.
Root-Cause Medical Care
Hormonal imbalances, inflammation, and metabolic conditions are screened and supported appropriately. We especially pay attention to thyroid health, insulin resistance, and estrogen status—often overlooked contributors to connective tissue stiffness.
What to Expect
Many of our patients experience notable pain relief and mobility improvement within the first few sessions. For more complex or long-standing cases, we chart a customized plan that layers progress over time.
If you’ve been told your only option is to wait and hope—there’s a better way.
Stop Masking. Start Resolving.
If your shoulder isn’t moving right, there’s a reason. Let’s find it, fix it, and get you back to doing what you love—without waiting a year for things to “thaw.”
Book your shoulder evaluation today at True Resilience IMS.
We don’t just treat frozen shoulders. We unfreeze lives.