Shoulder Pain and Frozen Shoulder: Physiotherapy or the ER?
Most shoulder pain gets better with gentle movement and exercises within weeks. A painful, stiff shoulder that's worse at night for months may be frozen shoulder — and physiotherapy is the main treatment.
Call 911 for left shoulder or arm pain with chest pain, breathlessness or sweating (possible heart attack). Go to the ER if the shoulder changed shape after a fall, you can't move the arm, or it's hot and swollen with a fever. See a doctor if the pain isn't improving after 2 weeks. Physiotherapy at Emergency Plus in Dabouq runs 9:00–20:00 daily, no referral needed.
It starts with a twinge reaching for the top shelf, then putting on a coat gets hard, then the pain wakes you at night when you lie on that side. Shoulder pain is one of the most common reasons people see a physiotherapist, and it has many causes: strained muscles and tendons, rotator cuff problems, frozen shoulder, and sometimes an injury such as a dislocation or fracture. Rarely, pain in the left shoulder is a warning from the heart. This guide explains how to manage shoulder pain, how to recognise frozen shoulder and its stages, and when you need the ER.
What is frozen shoulder?
Frozen shoulder is a condition in which the shoulder becomes painful and stiff for months, sometimes years. According to the NHS, its two main symptoms are shoulder pain that can be worse at night and disturb sleep, and stiffness that makes it hard to move. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) notes that it most often affects people aged 40 to 60, women more than men, and that people with diabetes and thyroid conditions are at higher risk. It usually moves through three stages:
| Stage | What happens | Typical length (AAOS) |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Freezing | Pain slowly gets worse and the shoulder gradually loses movement; often worst at night | About 6 weeks to 9 months |
| 2. Frozen | Pain may ease, but the stiffness stays and everyday tasks are hard | About 4 to 6 months |
| 3. Thawing | Movement slowly comes back | About 6 months to 2 years |
The good news is that frozen shoulder usually gets better over time without surgery, even if full recovery can take up to 3 years. Treatment is less about rushing through the stages and more about controlling the pain and keeping as much movement and strength as possible.
When does shoulder pain need the ER or a doctor?
Call 911 for
- Pain or pressure in the shoulder, arm (often the left) or jaw, with chest pain, breathlessness, a cold sweat or nausea — possible heart attack.
- A major shoulder injury with an arm that is cold, pale or has no feeling.
Go to the ER / come in now
- A shoulder that has changed shape or dropped after a fall — possible dislocation or fracture.
- Being unable to move the arm after an injury.
- Sudden, very severe pain, or a lot of swelling.
- A hot, swollen shoulder with a fever or feeling unwell.
- Pins and needles that don't go away, or no feeling in the arm.
See a doctor or physiotherapist
- Pain that is getting worse or hasn't improved after 2 weeks.
- Real difficulty moving the arm or shoulder, or pain that wakes you at night.
- Pain in both shoulders.
- A stiff, painful shoulder when you have diabetes or a thyroid condition.
Home care is usually fine
- Pain after unusual effort — carrying heavy shopping or painting a ceiling — with good movement.
- Pain that is gradually easing with gentle movement.
How to ease shoulder pain at home
The NHS says you usually need to keep these up for 2 weeks before shoulder pain starts to ease, and that full recovery can take 6 months or longer:
- Keep moving: move the shoulder gently and don't stop using it completely.
- Shoulder exercises for 6–8 weeks to stop the pain coming back.
- Posture: stand tall with your shoulders gently down and back, and rest your arm on a cushion in your lap when sitting.
- Cold or heat: wrapped frozen peas or a wrapped hot water bottle for up to 20 minutes, 2 to 3 times a day.
- Painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen so you can keep moving.
- Avoid: things that clearly make it worse, heavy gym equipment, and strenuous exercises you've made up yourself.
How physiotherapy helps
AAOS calls physical therapy focused on shoulder flexibility the primary treatment for frozen shoulder. The NHS says a course usually lasts at least 6 weeks, starting with a check of how much your shoulder moves, then stretching and strengthening exercises and posture advice. For other causes of shoulder pain, such as rotator cuff problems or pain after an injury or operation, treatment likewise focuses on restoring movement and then gradually building strength and stability.
At the Emergency Plus physiotherapy clinic in Amman, the physiotherapist assesses your shoulder's movement and strength and your neck and upper-back posture, then builds a progressive programme for home and the clinic. Book directly with no referral, 9:00–20:00 daily. After shoulder surgery, see our guide to physiotherapy after surgery; for athletes, see returning to sport after injury. If the pain starts in the neck and travels to the shoulder, our neck pain guide will help.
Painful, stiff shoulder?
Book the physiotherapy clinic at Emergency Plus in Dabouq, Amman — no referral, 9:00–20:00 daily. For a fresh injury after a fall, urgent care with on-site X-ray is open 24/7 in the same building.
Call us: +962 79 247 1313Sources
- NHS — Frozen shoulder
- NHS — Shoulder pain
- AAOS OrthoInfo — Frozen shoulder
- MedlinePlus — Frozen shoulder
Medical disclaimer: This article is for general information only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you think you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department immediately. Emergency Plus in Dabouq, Amman is open 24/7 — +962 79 247 1313.