Can injections help your frozen shoulder?
All you need to know about injections for frozen shoulder treatment? Will an injection work for your frozen shoulder?
The article below explores shoulder injections in brief overview. For much more information you can now download Doctor Cameron's ten page detailed guide to Steroid Injections in Shoulder Pain
What can frozen shoulder injections achieve?
In a real sense, an injection into or around the shoulder is
just another way of delivering medication - targetting it directly to
where it is needed. Injections, like medication described above, provide
pain relief for your sore shoulder.
In my experience they work effectively in all stages of frozen
shoulder, but are particularly effective in the stage two or true frozen
phase of the condition.
What's injected for frozen shoulder treatment?
The injection for frozen shoulder
is usually a mixture of local anaesthetic (such as your dentist would
use) and an anti-inflammatory drug that works where it is placed but
without much effect elsewhere in the body.
Technically the anti-inflammation drug is from the steroid family
but does not carry the same adverse effects as the body building type of
steroid we often read about in the press.
Some doctors are now starting to use a different type of injection for shoulder pain. This is called viscosupplementation and products such as synvisc one, supartz or ostenil injections are commonly used.
Do frozen shoulder injections work?
Injections do indeed work for many patients - but again - only as
effective means of obtaining pain relief. They don't alter the course of
the condition. Some patients do gain a slight easing of the stiffness
after an injection but this is not a consistent outcome. Most patients
who have an injection get substantial or full pain relief that can last
for many weeks or months. It depends a bit on the stage of the frozen
shoulder but one injection is often sufficient to obtain lasting relief.
Some people need a second or even a third injection if they wish to
remain pain free.
Where does the frozen shoulder injection go?
Different doctors will use slightly different techniques to
perform the injection. There is no "right or wrong" approach - only
personal preference on the part of the doctor. I usually perform the
injection from the back of the shoulder. I find it easier this way and
it has the extra advantage that the patient doesn't have to look at the
needle!
The doctor will aim to deliver the injection solution into or
around the capsule of the shoulder joint. Research has shown that it
doesn't really matter if the liquid gets inside the joint or not. The
results are just as good either way.
Are there any side effects of injections for frozen shoulder?
The commonest side effect after an injection into or around the
shoulder joint is a temporary increase in pain. If it happens this will
only last for about twenty four hours before it settles again -
hopefully bringing lasting relief along with it.
Your doctor should be able to explain this to you - in my experience it only happens in about ten percent of cases.
You might experience a sense of flushing or sweating for two or three days. This is an effect of the steroid drug and seems to vary depending on the dose or strength of the steroid used.
If you are diabetic then your doctor should warn you that your blood sugar level might fluctuate for up to two weeks after the injection. If you use insulin then you may wish to check your blood sugar more often than you normally do. Discuss this with your doctor before the injection.
Here's a fun little video I created on the subject:
Summing up on frozen shoulder injections
In summary then, injections are the only frozen shoulder pain
relief treatment that have shown benefits in carefully conducted
research trials. If I'm honest with you, it's the option I would choose
for myself if I had a painful frozen shoulder.