Frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis) refers to the gradual loss of movement in the shoulder joint. It literally becomes “stuck,” and the joint’s movement is limited.
Little is known about how and why a frozen shoulder happens. The direct cause is inflammation within the tissues around the shoulder joint. In a normal shoulder, these tissues (known as the capsule) expand and contract as the arm is moved. When they become inflamed, scarring develops within the joint. This is called adhesion, and when it occurs, it results in pain and restricted movement.
It is important to note that a frozen shoulder is highly vascularized. This means there is an excessive number of abnormally large blood vessels within the joint, which allows a high amount of pro-inflammatory mediators into the joint, causing inflammation and scarring
Treating frozen shoulder
Anti-inflammatory medications, steroid injections and physical therapy have been prescribed to reduce inflammation and help to restore the shoulder’s range of motion. Unfortunately, such conservative treatment methods take a long time, if they work at all.
When symptoms persist, arthroscopic surgery is sometimes recommended. Unfortunately, surgery comes with several risks and requires a long and possibly painful recovery period. Additionally, a diligent post-operative physical therapy regimen is essential, and full recovery may require up to three months. Some people will continue to experience pain and stiffness, even years after their surgery.
A new and minimally invasive treatment for this condition, called frozen shoulder embolization, is now available at North Star Vascular & Interventional. You can learn more about frozen shoulder embolization by visiting our treatments section.