How effective is cortisone injection for frozen shoulder?

Frozen shoulder causes pain and progressive stiffness because the capsule around the shoulder becomes irritated and tight. Cortisone is used to calm inflammation inside or around the joint. Less pain may make dressing, sleeping, and carefully guided shoulder movement easier. The injection does not instantly loosen a tight capsule or replace rehabilitation. Benefit depends on the stage of the problem, the severity of stiffness, and whether movement can be increased safely after pain settles. Some people improve gradually rather than noticing a sudden change.

Your clinician will assess shoulder movement and ask about diabetes, medicines, allergies, infection, and previous injections. Follow the agreed exercise plan without forcing a painful stretch. Short, regular movement sessions and practical changes such as adjusting sleep position may be easier than one strenuous session. Tell the clinician if pain relief is absent, brief, or followed by worsening stiffness; the plan may need adjustment rather than an automatic repeat injection.

Seek prompt care for sudden arm weakness, a deformed shoulder, new numbness, chest pain, or severe pain after an injury. Contact the treating clinician if the injection area becomes increasingly red, hot, swollen, or painful, or if fever develops. A shoulder that becomes rapidly more painful, or a new inability to lift the arm, deserves assessment for causes beyond routine frozen shoulder symptoms.

Which stage of frozen shoulder am I in? Where will the injection be placed, and what movement should follow it? How can I exercise without provoking a flare? What will we do if pain improves but stiffness remains?