Frozen Shoulder

Frozen Shoulder services offered in Los Angeles, CA

Frozen shoulder is among the most common causes of shoulder pain, affecting 3%-5% of adults. Thankfully, various treatments can relieve symptoms and restore your shoulder’s range of motion. At Keck Medicine of USC, Orthopaedic Surgery, in the Boyle Heights neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, orthopaedic and sports medicine expert George Hatch, MD, specializes in diagnosing and treating frozen shoulder (also called adhesive capsulitis). His patient-centered, minimally invasive approach compliments the body’s natural healing process. Call Keck Medicine of USC, Orthopaedic Surgery, today to schedule frozen shoulder treatment, or book your appointment online.

What is frozen shoulder?

Frozen shoulder causes stiffness and intense pain in the shoulder joint. Symptoms are often mild at first, but they get worse as the condition progresses.

Anyone can develop a frozen shoulder, but it’s most common in folks who have to keep their shoulders still for extended periods. For example, you might experience a frozen shoulder if you break your arm or are recovering from shoulder surgery.

What are the symptoms of frozen shoulder?

Frozen shoulder symptoms vary, depending on which stage you’re in. The stages of frozen shoulder include:

Freezing stage

This first stage lasts 3-9 months. Symptoms include persistent shoulder pain and difficulty moving your shoulder joint.

Frozen stage

This stage typically lasts four months to a year. During the frozen stage, pain usually subsides, but joint stiffness increases. The stiffness affects your mobility, making tasks like bathing and combing your hair challenging and sometimes impossible.

Thawing stage

During the thawing stage, shoulder stiffness and pain begin to ease. This stage lasts five months to two years.

How is frozen shoulder diagnosed?

Dr. Hatch reviews your medical records and asks about your symptoms, including when your shoulder pain and stiffness started and if it’s worse at specific times, like when you’re trying to sleep. Next, he examines your shoulder joint.

Dr. Hatch looks for bruising, redness, and swelling. He’ll ask you to move your shoulder this way and that, helping him gauge how severe the condition is.

Often, Dr. Hatch diagnoses frozen shoulder visually. But he might also order X-rays or an MRI if he suspects an underlying medical condition like arthritis.

How is frozen shoulder treated?

At Keck Medicine of USC, Orthopaedic Surgery, Dr. Hatch treats frozen shoulder using a conservative, patient-centered approach. He could suggest:

Taking over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medication
Physical therapy to recover shoulder movement
Corticosteroid injections to reduce inflammation
OrthoBiologic Treatment (for example, platelet-rich plasma therapy)
Hydrodilation (injecting water into the joint capsule)
Shoulder manipulation to loosen tight tissue

Dr. Hatch might recommend surgery if your shoulder stiffness or pain persists after conservative care. During frozen shoulder surgery, Dr. Hatch removes scar tissue from inside the shoulder joint.

Call Keck Medicine of USC, Orthopaedic Surgery, today to schedule frozen shoulder treatment, or book your appointment online.