A general anaesthetic is usually fairly low risk.
Risks include infection, nerve injury, bleeding and fracture of the humerus bone. If the pain associated with frozen shoulder remains severe for a long time, surgery may be discussed as an option. Surgery is not a reliable way to make the frozen shoulder go away but can sometimes help. Surgery – An arthroscopic (keyhole) capsular release uses a camera in the joint to guide the release (cutting) of some of the thickened capsule. Manipulation under anaesthesia (MUA) – This involves direct physical manipulation of the shoulder under general anaesthetic to hopefully improve the movement. The results are variable and not everyone gets significant improvement from them. Not all people are suitable for these procedures, and these treatment options are not always available in all hospitals. Injections may not be suitable for every person.ĭistension arthrogram or hydrodilatation – These are similar procedures and involve injecting a volume of fluid into the shoulder joint to stretch the capsule. A second injection may be required in a small number of cases. The physiotherapist will advise you on when to re-start the exercises after you receive the steroid injection. It can be difficult to predict how much this might help and any relief they give is generally short term. What are your other treatment options for a frozen shoulder?Ĭorticosteroid injection – Steroid injections into the joint (+/- local anaesthetic) may be offered.
More Advice on solutions to help you with activities of daily living can be found here: Adjusting how you do certain tasks can help manage your pain, for example, putting your sore arm in first to a jumper or jacket and taking it out last. However, you may want to avoid doing tasks that aggravate your pain too often. With a frozen shoulder pain doesn’t equal damage therefore maintaining movement within the limits of your pain is important. Shoulders are designed to move and inactivity is harmful to the tissues around the joint. No one treatment has been shown to cure a frozen shoulder and on average a frozen shoulder can last about two and a half years.