Frozen Shoulder

Adhesive capsulitis, commonly referred to as frozen shoulder, is the inflammation of the capsule covering the shoulder joint. When the capsule becomes inflamed and thickens, it restricts the movement of your joint, causing pain and stiffness. As a result, simple movements such as reaching behind you or above your head can be difficult and painful.

You are more likely to suffer a frozen shoulder if you have been diagnosed with a chronic condition such as diabetes, hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, Parkinson’s disease, and cardiac disease. Your risk also increases if your shoulder has been immobilized for a long period of time due to an injury or surgery.

A frozen shoulder will most likely resolve on its own over time but can take up to two years or longer. Fortunately, there are several treatments available to help manage your pain and speed your recovery.

How We Can Help

At The Kaplan Center, our physicians have years of experience treating patients with chronic pain conditions such as frozen shoulder, and we completely reject the notion that “you just have to live with it.”

The Kaplan Center provides several non-surgical options for healing a frozen shoulder, and we will work with you to determine which treatments will be most effective in your situation.

At your first visit, your Kaplan physician will take time exploring the onset of your condition, the specific nature of your symptoms and the overall status of your health. You’ll also be asked about the medications and therapies you’ve tried in the past, and what has and hasn’t worked for you. To gather additional information about your condition, specialized diagnostic laboratory testing may be necessary.

After reviewing all of the factors contributing to your condition, your physician will spend time talking with you about your diagnosis and working with you to create a customized and multi-dimensional treatment plan that addresses not only your immediate pain but also any possible underlying or co-existing conditions that may be causing or aggravating your symptoms.

We offer a multitude of effective treatment options, including:

• Acupuncture
• Nutritional Counseling
• Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine
• Physical Therapy
• Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy
• Prolotherapy
• Prescription Medications
• Vitamin & Magnesium Intravenous Supplementation

Additional Resources:

Article: “The 12 Principles of the Anti-Inflammatory Diet
Fact Sheet: OrthoInfo Frozen Shoulder From American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons