Adhesive Capsulitis Surgery of the Shoulder: What to Expect

You’re lying in bed, staring at the ceiling, and trying not to freak out. Tomorrow’s the big day — your adhesive capsulitis surgery. 

Adhesive capsulitis, or frozen shoulder as it is most commonly called, has made even the simplest things a nightmare. Buttoning a shirt? Torture. Reaching for a coffee mug? Forget about it. 

Your doctor has been pretty reassuring, explaining that surgery is a standard, straightforward procedure when therapy and injections just aren’t cutting it. Still, it’s hard not to worry. What’s it going to feel like afterward? How long will you be stuck in a sling? When will you finally get your arm back? If you're feeling a little lost, don’t stress — you’re not the only one. 

Let’s walk through what you can expect, one step at a time.

What is a frozen shoulder, anyway?

Medically speaking, adhesive capsulitis (aka frozen shoulder) happens when the connective tissue around your shoulder joint gets thick, tight, and inflamed. 

That’s the textbook version. In real life, living with frozen shoulder feels more like someone slowly stole your arm’s range of motion and replaced it with a block of concrete. Everything stiffens up, hurts like crazy, and simple movements you used to do without thinking start feeling impossible.

Now, here’s the thing: adhesive capsulitis surgery isn’t always the first answer. A lot of people recover with physical therapy, anti-inflammatory medications, or steroid injections. Frozen shoulder usually runs its course, but it can take several years, sometimes up to three, to resolve. This is why doctors only recommend surgery when other treatments are not working. And to understand why that is, you need to understand the 4 stages of frozen shoulder:

• Freezing Stage: This is when the pain starts creeping in, and moving your shoulder becomes harder and harder. Every little movement can feel stiff or downright painful, and it just keeps getting worse.
  
  
• Frozen Stage: At this point, the pain might ease off a little, but your shoulder is seriously locked up. Your range of motion is extremely limited, and daily tasks start to feel like climbing Mount Everest.

• Thawing Stage: Here’s the light at the end of the tunnel — your shoulder slowly starts to loosen up. It’s not overnight magic, but little by little, you’ll feel like you’re getting some movement back.
  
  
• Recovery Stage: In the final stretch, your shoulder keeps improving until, eventually, it’s almost (or sometimes fully) back to normal. Some people get back 100% of their motion; others may still feel a slight stiffness.

So yeah, frozen shoulder is a slow roller coaster — and when it gets stuck for too long, that's when surgery steps in to help.

Frozen shoulder operation

When it comes to treating a frozen shoulder, there are a few tricks up a doctor’s sleeve — physical therapy, steroid injections, anti-inflammatory medications, and sometimes just plain old patience. But if none of that gets your shoulder moving again, surgery becomes the next logical step.

The surgery itself is pretty straightforward. You’ll most likely have a procedure called "shoulder manipulation under anesthesia," where the surgeon gently forces your shoulder to move and break up all that stiff tissue, or they might do an arthroscopic surgery where they release the tight joint capsule. 

Either way, it’s all done while you’re knocked out, and the goal is the same — getting you back to living without feeling like your shoulder’s been cemented into place.

Success rate of frozen shoulder surgery

The good news is that frozen shoulder surgery has a high success rate. Most people experience significant improvements in both pain and range of motion, especially when they follow their rehab program afterward. Sure, it’s not an instant fix — it takes some work — but the odds are definitely stacked in your favor.

Studies show that around 90% of patients feel a lot better after surgery, which is about as good as it gets in the medical world. Of course, everyone heals a little differently, but if your shoulder has  been stuck for months with no real progress, surgery can finally get things moving in the right direction.

How long does it take to recover from adhesive capsulitis surgery? 

Recovery after frozen shoulder surgery isn’t something that happens overnight. Most people can expect it to take a few months (usually between three and six months) to feel like they’re back to normal. Physical therapy starts almost immediately to keep things moving and prevent the shoulder from freezing up again.

The first few weeks can be a bit rough, with soreness and stiffness lingering, but they do improve with time. By the three-month mark, many people notice significant improvements, even if they’re not 100% there yet. The trick is sticking to the rehab plan and not getting lazy once the pain starts to fade.

How painful is frozen shoulder surgery?

Honestly, adhesive capsulitis surgery itself isn’t painful because, well, you’ll be fast asleep under anesthesia while it’s happening. The real question is about the pain afterward, and the answer is: it’s manageable, but it’s not exactly a walk in the park either. Expect some soreness, stiffness, and general discomfort for the first few days.

Doctors usually prescribe pain medications to help you get through the worst of it, and icing the shoulder also becomes your new best friend. Most people say the pain feels more like a deep ache than a sharp or stabbing pain. It’s tough at first, but it’s a sign your shoulder is finally on the move again, which is the whole point.

Wrap up

Now that you know what adhesive capsulitis surgery is all about, you can finally take a deep breath and get some sleep tonight. It’s not some big, scary mystery anymore — it’s a straightforward, well-practiced procedure that helps a lot of people get their freedom back. Sure, recovery takes a little time and effort, but now you know what to expect and how to tackle it head-on.

You’re not walking into the unknown tomorrow. You’re walking toward getting your arm back, one step at a time. So go ahead — let yourself relax, trust the process, and know that better days are finally on their way.

Considering surgery for a frozen shoulder? Learn what to expect from adhesive capsulitis surgery and how the experts at the Orthopedic Institute of NJ can guide your recovery every step of the way.