Frozen Shoulder Treatment

Dr. Pamela Mehta MD
Shoulder Surgeon in San Jose

Author: Dr. Pamela Mehta, MD

Dr. Pamela Mehta is an experienced shoulder surgeon renowned for her expertise in sports injuries and joint arthritis. She is the founder of Resilience Orthopedics.

With an impressive career and training under leading innovators, she has served as Chief of Orthopedics and National Orthopedic Director for a major orthopedic hospitalist group and advises several publicly traded companies.

What is a Frozen Shoulder?

Frozen shoulder is a common condition which can cause pain and lack of mobility in your shoulder. It is also known as adhesive capsulitis. If you have shoulder pain with limited movement, you might have frozen shoulder.

The shoulder joint (glenohumeral or GH joint) is made up of:

Bones
Cartilage
Muscles (including the rotator cuff)
Ligaments

It is known as a “ball and socket” joint giving the shoulder excellent range of motion. This allows you to make such movements as swimming, throwing a baseball, or itching your back.

A frozen shoulder is exactly what it sounds like – your shoulder gets stiff and feels like it’s stuck! This happens when the soft tissue around your shoulder joint (the capsule) becomes thick and inflamed.

You are at increased risk of getting adhesive capsulitis if you are:

Diabetic
Suffering from thyroid disorders
Aged 40-60, particularly women
Recovering from surgery – particularly if you must wear a sling or hold your arm still

Book a Consultation with Dr. Pamela Mehta, MD

The Best Orthopedic Surgeon in San Jose

Dr. Mehta is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon who can help you recover from your joint condition.

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Do I Have a Frozen Shoulder?

If your shoulder has been getting more stiff and difficult to move, it’s possible you have a frozen shoulder.

Other conditions can cause similar symptoms, making it sometimes difficult to diagnose. It’s important that you visit your shoulder doctor to get your joint evaluated.

Diagnosis requires a physical examination and further tests. Dr. Mehta may order an X-ray or MRI to make sure there isn’t another cause of your pain and stiffness.

You may have a frozen shoulder if you are experiencing any of the following symptoms:

Pain in your arm when you try to move it
Stiffness that’s getting worse over time (sometimes over months)
Discomfort that gets worse at night or when sleeping with frozen shoulder
Struggling to do everyday tasks such as dress yourself

When your shoulder starts to hurt, you end up trying to move it less to avoid the pain. This actually makes the stiffness worse! Frozen shoulder can eventually cause problems like shoulder bursitis if left untreated.

An orthopedic surgeon can help get you the right diagnosis and start you on the path to recovery. If you’re experiencing any of the above symptoms you should book a consultation as soon as possible.

How is Frozen Shoulder Treated?

You might be asking yourself, “How do I cure frozen shoulder quickly?” A frozen shoulder can last years if it goes untreated – the quickest way is to seek the expertise from an orthopedic surgeon and start your treatment as soon as possible.

In the first stages your pain may start to ease up, but the stiffness will slowly worsen. Before you visit an orthopedic surgeon, you should continue to use your arm but avoid movements which worsen the pain. You can try taking pain relief and placing hot packs onto the affected shoulder.

After diagnosis your treatment plan might include:

Anti-inflammatory medication
Physical therapy
Home exercises
Cortisone injection
Shoulder Surgery (rarely)

If you don’t get the right treatment for your frozen shoulder, the pain and stiffness can last up to three years! Several frozen shoulder exercises might help, though it’s best to do these under supervision of a physical therapist or orthopedic surgeon.

With the right treatment plan, you can cut recovery time dramatically – though it can still be months before you regain full function.

The right treatment approach differs depending on your age, extent of injury, and what your goals are for your recovery. That is why it is vital to find an orthopedic surgeon who listens to you and creates a holistic treatment plan to suit your priorities. Dr. Pamela Mehta, an orthopedic surgeon based in San Jose, CA, can help you determine the best treatment option for your frozen shoulder.

Ready to Recover?

Take the first step in getting back to your normal self, and book an appointment with Dr. Mehta today.

We’re ready when you are!

Testimonials

I am writing this review for my parents. I had heard about Dr. Mehta l, so I wanted them to try her out as they were having some knee and shoulder issues. I'm so glad we found her! She is great. She is caring, knowledgeable and really put my parents at ease. She helped my mom out with her knee and shoulder with cortisone injections. She reassured my dad that he had a minor injury and didn't need to have an MRI. I really appreciated that she didn't make them do unnecessary imaging just to rack up the bill. If your parents need to see an orthopedic surgeon or if you have an injury I would highly recommend Dr. Mehta.

Dr. Mehta has now treated me for three very different and separate injuries and in each instance has demonstrated competence, compassion, and professionalism. In all three cases she was thorough and regularly contacted me after the initial treatment to ensure I was recovering and healing properly. Her dedication to helping me return to my very active lifestyle was very much appreciated!

What Shoulder Services Do We Offer?

Shoulder Pain Assessment

Shoulder Pain is frustrating and can impact both your sleep and your mental health. Dr. Mehta is a shoulder doctor and can diagnose your pain, offering various surgical and non-surgical treatments.

Shoulder Surgery

If your shoulder condition is severe, or nothing you have tried has helped, Dr. Mehta can advise you on the options for surgery. She is a shoulder specialist and can offer expert opinion and care.