Frozen shoulder, or adhesive capsulitis, can cause dull or aching pain and stiffness to develop in the outer shoulder or upper arm, making movement difficult. Patients in Tampa, Clearwater, St. Petersburg, or other FL cities who are experiencing these symptoms are encouraged to consult with the trusted orthopaedic specialists at Tampa Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Group.
The shoulder is a complex ball-and-socket joint in which the head of the upper arm bone fits into a shallow socket in the shoulder blade and is held in place by the surrounding connective tissue, or shoulder capsule. To ease movement, the shoulder capsule and joint are lubricated by synovial fluid. As the frozen shoulder condition advances, the amount of synovial fluid is reduced, the shoulder capsule tightens, and stiff bands of tissue, or adhesions, may develop.
Although the root cause of frozen shoulder cannot always be attributed to the specific movements required by certain occupations or sports activities, a few underlying risk factors have been identified:
- Diabetes – For unknown reasons, frozen shoulder affects approximately 10 to 20 percent of individuals with diabetes.
- Medical problems – Other conditions such as hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, Parkinson’s disease, and heart disease have been associated with adhesive capsulitis.
- Immobilization – Shoulder problems may develop if the shoulder is immobilized for a period of time following injury or surgery.
For many patients, frozen shoulder symptoms will improve over time with relatively simple, nonsurgical treatments designed to alleviate pain and restore function, such as anti-inflammatory medication, PRP (platelet rich plasma) injections, viscosupplementation, physical therapy, and stretching and other range of motion exercises. In severe cases that do not respond to conservative therapy, surgical frozen shoulder treatment may be recommended to stretch and release the stiffened joint capsule. Our Board-certified orthopaedic surgeon, Dr. Daniel Murphy, has extensive experience in performing shoulder surgeries and will be happy to review your surgical options more fully with you.
Contact Tampa Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Group today if you’d like to discuss frozen shoulder or shoulder instability, or to schedule a consultation with a Board-certified physician. We see patients from Hillsborough, Pasco, and Pinellas counties in Florida, and beyond.
