Frozen Shoulder

Frozen Shoulder services offered in Coral Gables, FL

Frozen shoulder can cause excessive shoulder stiffness and pain for months or years. At IVO Miami in Coral Gables, Florida, Dr. Gregory Foremny, MD, can evaluate your shoulder and guide you through treatment. When conservative care hasn't provided lasting relief, he offers image-guided injections. Call the IVO Miami office and request your appointment to learn more about frozen shoulder treatments today.

Frozen Shoulder Q & A

How does frozen shoulder develop?

Adhesive capsulitis (frozen shoulder) causes your shoulder to be excessively stiff. You can develop frozen shoulder after keeping your shoulder in one position for a long time, in some cases following surgery or after healing from an arm injury.

Frozen shoulder occurs when the capsule of connective tissue around your shoulder joint thickens and tightens, making your shoulder too stiff to move properly. Experts aren’t sure what causes this to happen, but they know that some people are at a higher risk than others.

You may be able to prevent frozen shoulder by performing shoulder exercises while in recovery from surgery or an arm injury.

What are the symptoms of frozen shoulder?

The symptoms of frozen shoulder occur in three stages, with each stage lasting for months or even years:

Freezing stage

During the freezing stage, which can last up to nine months, your shoulder becomes stiff and increasingly painful. The pain might worsen at night, preventing you from sleeping well.

Frozen stage

During the frozen stage of frozen shoulder, pain is reduced. However, the stiffness in your shoulder remains, and your shoulder may be even more difficult to use. This stage can last four months to one year.

Thawing stage

The thawing stage is when your shoulder starts to loosen back up. The pain improves, as does your ability to use your shoulder. Your full range of motion can return over the course of five months to two years.

Which procedures can treat frozen shoulder?

In addition to physical therapy and gentle home exercises, some interventional procedures can help with frozen shoulder stiffness and pain. After evaluating your shoulder and confirming your diagnosis, Dr. Foremny may recommend image-guided injections including orthobiologic and other cell therapies as well as corticosteroid injections.

For more information about interventional orthopedic treatments for frozen shoulder, call IVO Miami to schedule an appointment today.