Is Your Shoulder "Frozen" or Just Stubborn? Why Movement is Medicine (Even When It Hurts)

By Grant Fedoruk

Welcome back to Life Shouldn't Hurt, the show where we believe your heart, body, and spirit deserve a little less struggle and a lot more kindness. If you’ve ever felt like life handed you lemons and forgot the recipe for lemonade, you’re in the right place.

In this episode, my co-host Anita Cassidy and I get into a condition that can literally stop you in your tracks: Frozen Shoulder, or as we call it in the medical world, adhesive capsulitis. If you’re in your 50s—what I like to call the “50-year-old shoulder”—and suddenly find yourself unable to reach behind your back or grab a seatbelt, this episode is for you.

We aren’t just talking theory. We’re joined by Mel Cordoviz, a medical professional who has survived frozen shoulder not once, but twice. Her story is inspiring not just because we helped guide her recovery, but because she did most of the hard work herself.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• What is Frozen Shoulder?
  It’s not about feeling cold—it’s a stiff shoulder where the capsule around your joint scars and thickens. Anita describes it perfectly: it’s like saran wrap around your shoulder joint that shrink-wraps tighter and tighter until you lose your range of motion.
• The Three Phases
  We break down the natural timeline that can last up to three years:
  • Freezing Stage: Pain increases and mobility decreases
  • Frozen Stage: Stiffness plateaus, but movement is limited.
  • Thawing Stage: Gradual return of mobility. 
• The “No Pain, No Gain” Reality
  Unlike many injuries where pain means “stop,” frozen shoulder is different. You must move it even though it hurts. Mel shares her experience of pain feeling like an “electrical charge,” yet she pushed through with doorway stretches and broomstick exercises to regain mobility.
• Speeding Up Recovery
  While frozen shoulder can naturally drag on for 18 months to 3 years, with the right physiotherapy and dedication, recovery can be much faster. Mel regained her mobility in about six months.

The Art of Medicine

Medicine isn’t just science—it’s about pattern recognition and understanding the whole person in front of you. Anita will admit, she once missed a frozen shoulder diagnosis, it was a long time ago (and I will never let Anita forget it), but she hasn’t missed one since.

Practical Tips

If your shoulder just won’t move—or you know someone struggling—this episode is packed with practical advice:

• Using a hutch or doorway for stretching
• Incorporating broomstick mobility exercises
• Exploring IMS (dry needling) as part of treatment

Final Thoughts

Pain isn’t a prerequisite for growth. Frozen shoulders hurt, but life shouldn’t.

Tune in now to hear Mel’s journey from “frozen” to freedom.

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This content is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider regarding any medical concerns.