Last Updated on July 5, 2025
By Dr. Heather Krebsbach, ND, LAc – Women’s Health & Hormone Specialists in Portland, OR
If you’re a woman in your 40s or 50s and have recently developed shoulder stiffness, joint pain, or tendon inflammation seemingly out of nowhere, you’re not alone—and you’re not imagining it. One condition I frequently see in my Portland naturopathic clinic is frozen shoulder, medically known as adhesive capsulitis. It’s especially common during perimenopause and menopause, when shifting hormone levels begin to impact connective tissue health.
As a naturopathic doctor specializing in women’s hormone therapy, acupuncture, and prolotherapy for chronic tendinitis, I often treat midlife women experiencing pain that’s often dismissed as “normal aging.” But frozen shoulder and other tendon-related issues are not just wear and tear—they’re often rooted in hormonal imbalance, particularly declining estrogen.
What Is Frozen Shoulder?
Frozen shoulder is a condition where the connective tissue in the shoulder joint becomes inflamed and stiff, eventually forming adhesions that limit range of motion. It develops gradually, often starting with pain and worsening into restricted movement that can last months or even years.
Key symptoms include:
* Shoulder pain, especially at night
* Decreased range of motion
* Difficulty lifting the arm overhead or reaching behind the back
Why Is Frozen Shoulder So Common During Perimenopause?
Frozen shoulder is 2–4 times more likely in women than men, most commonly between ages 40 and 60—right in the perimenopausal window. This isn’t a coincidence. As estrogen levels begin to decline, connective tissues such as tendons and ligaments become less elastic, more prone to inflammation, and slower to heal.
Estrogen plays a protective role in collagen production, joint lubrication, and the integrity of connective tissue. Without enough of it, tendons can stiffen, shrink, or become inflamed, contributing not just to frozen shoulder, but also to other tendon and ligament disorders.
Tendon Pain & Menopause: A Hidden Epidemic
In addition to frozen shoulder, many women going through perimenopause or menopause report issues like:
**Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis)
**Rotator cuff pain
**Wrist tendinitis or thumb pain (De Quervain’s tenosynovitis)
**Plantar fasciitis
**Achilles tendinitis
Even women who have been physically active and injury-free for years may find that their joints start to ache, their mobility decreases, and simple movements trigger discomfort.
That’s because estrogen supports tendon resilience, and its decline makes connective tissues more vulnerable to small tears, microtrauma, and inflammation.
Risk factors that worsen midlife tendon issues:
* Poor posture or ergonomics (especially from computer work)
* Sedentary lifestyle
* High-impact exercise without adequate recovery
* Nutrient deficiencies (e.g., magnesium, collagen, omega-3s)
* Stress and poor sleep, which impair tissue repair
A Naturopathic and Functional Medicine Approach
In conventional medicine, frozen shoulder or tendinitis might be treated with NSAIDs, corticosteroid injections, or physical therapy. While those can help, they often don’t address the underlying cause—especially if that cause is hormonal.
In my Portland women’s health clinic, I take an integrative approach combining bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (HRT), acupuncture, prolotherapy, anti-inflammatory herbs and lifestyle medicine to help women heal naturally and sustainably.
You Deserve Pain-Free Movement at Every Stage of Life
Too often, women in their 40s and 50s are told their pain is “normal” or just something to live with. But frozen shoulder, tendinitis, and joint stiffness are signals—not inevitabilities. They’re telling you your body needs support.
With the right blend of hormone-balancing therapies, regenerative treatments, and holistic care, you can restore mobility, reduce pain, and feel strong in your body again.
Why Women in Portland Choose Our Clinic
At Inner Gate Health & Wellness Clinic, we specialize in women’s functional and integrative medicine, with a focus on:
**Perimenopause and menopause hormone support
**Natural treatment for joint and tendon pain
**Acupuncture and prolotherapy for musculoskeletal health
**Root-cause, personalized care
If you’re experiencing frozen shoulder, recurring tendon injuries, or unexplained joint pain, schedule a consultation today. We’ll help you understand what’s happening and how to heal.
Call: 971-279-2294
Visit us in Portland, Oregon
Learn more: https://innergatepdx.com/