Restore comfortable shoulder movement when pain, stiffness, weakness, or instability keeps you from training or performing. Board-certified orthopedic surgeon Dr. Stephanie Buza provides individualized care for frozen and dislocated shoulders, focused on your specific recovery goals.
Move Your Shoulder Freely Again
Frozen shoulder, or adhesive capsulitis, develops when the connective tissue surrounding your shoulder joint becomes inflamed, thickened, and tight. This can progressively limit your range of motion and make everyday movements painful or difficult. You may struggle to raise your arm overhead, reach behind your back, get dressed, exercise, or perform daily tasks.
Signs & Symptoms of Frozen Shoulder:
- Persistent shoulder pain or aching
- Increasing stiffness in the shoulder
- Progressive loss of range of motion
- Difficulty raising your arm overhead
- Trouble reaching behind your back
- Pain or stiffness when getting dressed
- Difficulty performing sports, dance, or exercise movements
- Limited shoulder movement even when someone else moves your arm
Treatment Options for Frozen Shoulder
Treatment begins with confirming that the frozen shoulder is responsible for your pain. Dr. Buza reviews your symptoms, examines both active and passive shoulder motion, and considers whether another condition could be contributing to your limitations. Your treatment plan is individualized around your symptoms, stage of the condition, and goals.
Physical Therapy
Physical therapy uses carefully selected stretching and mobility exercises to gradually improve movement in the stiff shoulder capsule. Your therapist may work on flexion, rotation, and other restricted motions while progressing exercises according to your tolerance. Rehabilitation aims to restore mobility progressively while helping you maintain shoulder function.
Corticosteroid Injections
A corticosteroid injection delivers anti-inflammatory medication into the shoulder joint. By reducing inflammation and pain, the injection may make it easier for you to move the shoulder and participate in physical therapy. Corticosteroid injections can be useful during the painful stages of frozen shoulder, although the decision to use one depends on your specific needs.
Hydrodilatation
Hydrodilatation involves injecting fluid into the shoulder joint under imaging guidance. The added fluid expands and stretches the tight joint capsule that is restricting your movement. A local anesthetic and corticosteroid may also be used. By reducing tightness, hydrodilatation may improve mobility and make subsequent stretching and physical therapy easier.
Return to Activity With a Stable Shoulder
A dislocated shoulder occurs when the upper arm bone comes out of its normal position in the shoulder socket, often after a fall, collision, or forceful movement. The injury can cause intense pain, visible deformity, swelling, weakness, and instability. A dislocation may also damage the labrum and other stabilizing structures, increasing your risk of recurrent shoulder instability.
Signs & Symptoms of a Dislocated Shoulder:
- Sudden, severe shoulder pain
- A visibly deformed or out-of-position shoulder
- Swelling or bruising around the joint
- Inability or difficulty moving your arm
- Weakness in the affected shoulder or arm
- A feeling that your shoulder is unstable
- Numbness or tingling in your arm or hand
- Muscle spasms around the shoulder
- Repeated sensations of the shoulder slipping or giving way after the initial injury
Treatment Options for a Dislocated Shoulder
Treatment starts with evaluating the injury and determining whether the shoulder’s stabilizing structures were damaged. Dr. Buza assesses your pain, motion, stability, and activity demands, and uses imaging to evaluate the joint and surrounding tissues. Your treatment depends on the extent of damage, whether instability is recurring, and your goals for returning to activity.
Shoulder Reduction and Rehabilitation
An acute dislocation first requires the upper arm bone to be returned to its normal position in the shoulder socket, a process called reduction. Afterward, a period of protection may be followed by physical therapy. Rehabilitation progressively restores range of motion and strengthens the muscles supporting the shoulder, helping improve dynamic stability over time.
Labral Repair
A dislocation can tear the labrum, the rim of cartilage surrounding the shoulder socket that helps provide stability. During labral repair, Dr. Buza accesses the joint through small incisions and uses a camera to identify the tear. The damaged labrum is then secured back to the socket, typically with small sutures, helping restore the structures that stabilize your shoulder.
Bankart Repair
A Bankart lesion occurs when a shoulder dislocation tears the front-lower portion of the labrum away from the socket. Dr. Buza uses arthroscopic techniques to reposition the detached labrum and secure it to the bone. Restoring this tissue tightens the stabilizing structures and reduces recurrent instability, particularly during demanding athletic or overhead movements.
Let’s Get You Moving Again.
Schedule Your Consultation for Frozen & Dislocated Shoulder Treatment in NYC
Dr. Stephanie Buza is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon specializing in sports medicine and shoulder care. Whether stiffness limits your movement or instability keeps you from training or staying active, Dr. Buza provides individualized treatment focused on your condition and goals. Schedule your consultation for frozen or dislocated shoulder treatment in New York City today.
