The first stage is the freezing stage. This may last anywhere from 6 weeks to 9 months, and the onset is slow and painful. As the pain worsens, the shoulder loses motion.

The second stage is the frozen stage. During this stage, the pain usually gets better but the stiffness worsens. This can last between 4-9 months.

The third stage is the thawing stage. This is where the shoulder motion slowly returns to normal. This generally lasts 5-26 months. This thawing stage is gradual can be quite slow. But with stretches and motion, it will steadily improve.

Finding and talking to a doctor for frozen shoulder can be difficult. This next set of tips will help you to find a great one, and what to expect from her when you do.

It's important that your doctor is a good listener, especially on the first visit. Make sure you tell her everything that's going on with your shoulder. If you're worried about remembering, make a list and take it with you.

Questions Your Doctor Should Ask

Here are some questions that your doctor should/will ask:

- How did your shoulder pain start?
- Where is the pain?
- Has the pain spread?
- Did you injure yourself?
- Have you overused your arm?
- What are your other symptoms?

Questions You Should Ask

Here are some questions that you should ask your doctor:

- What stage is my frozen shoulder in?
- What can I do to help?
- When can I expect improvement?
- What should I not do?

Your doctor should do a thorough examination of your shoulder. During this exam, she'll check for swelling and muscle wasting.

Your doctor will also examine your neck. She'll do this to see whether your pain could be coming partly from your neck instead of your shoulder.

A good doctor will also check your movement in your shoulder. It may be a bit uncomfortable, but it's important that your doctor knows your range of motion.

There are some blood tests that your doctor may run. These can help the doctor look for other medical reasons that may be causing your shoulder pain. She may also want to check your blood to see if you might have diabetes or arthritis.

X-ray pictures can sometimes be useful in diagnosing shoulder pain problems. It can show things like arthritis or spondylosis in the joints. It can also show calcium in the muscles or arthritis in the shoulder joint.

Your doctor may have an ultrasound done on your shoulder. This scan is an excellent way to examine the muscles and tendons around your shoulder, and it will allow your doctor to find any inflamed or torn muscles.

MRI's (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) are complex and expensive, but they can provide your doctor with detailed picture of the of your shoulder joint and its muscles. MRI's help doctors correctly diagnose you.