Should I have surgery for frozen shoulder?


Frozen shoulder is a problem that will eventually get better on its own. The bad news: that can take more than a year. If injections and/or medications don't help, some patients choose surgery. In my practice, about 25% of patients with a true frozen shoulder choose surgery after trying everything else. Surgery for frozen shoulder is very successful, but depends on careful physical therapy post-operatively. It's important to remember that there is no time where surgery is absolutely necessary for frozen shoulder; it's just an option if pain and stiffness are so bad that a patient can't wait for it to get better. Here is a video of the surgical procedure, where thickened ligaments are released to regain motion. Surgery is done arthroscopically, through small incisions, and patients go home the same day. Therapy is starting on the day after surgery, to prevent the shoulder from "re-freezing." 


 
For more general information on frozen shoulder from a previous blog post, including injections for frozen shoulder, click here:  http://blog.doctorfrisella.com/2012/11/more-about-frozen-shoulder.html

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