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Steroid injection for a suspected frozen shoulder

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karen_86264
karen_86264

Hi I've had really bad pain under and down my arm gradually getting worse from end of November, the shoulder hurts in some parts but the pain down my arm is unbearable at times, burning, stinging and tender to touch, the doctor thinks it's a frozen shoulder and is sending me for a steroid injection even though I haven't had a scan or anything, should I ask for a scan before I have this and also is this injection very painful, would appreciate some advice before my appointment on the 28th march 2018, thankyou, Karen.

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  • sarah72785
    sarah72785 karen_86264

    Posted

    Generally the definitive diagnosis for FS is the loss of PASSIVE movement (ie the doctor can't lift your arm either, it is physically frozen).  Other types like bursitis, rotator cuff etc, you will only lose ACTIVE ROM (you can't lift it yourself but someone else can move it for you).  So if you aren't in the frozen stage at all yet, yes MRI is best because its really difficult to tell.  They type of injection will differ depending on the diagnosis.  For bursitis or rotator cuff they go into the back of the shoulder, towards the bursa.  For FS, it should really be ultrasound guided and they need to go into the front of the shoulder to really get into the capsule.  Also, hydrodilation injections (where they use saline under force to break up the adhesive caspsulitis) is far more effective than just cortisone alone.  Cortisone will just provide a temporary pain relief.

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