What Is Chronic Shoulder Pain?
Chronic shoulder pain is ongoing pain and stiffness that affects the shoulder joint and surrounding tissues. It can interfere with sleep, work, exercise, and everyday activities such as dressing, reaching overhead, or lifting objects.
The shoulder is the most mobile joint in the body. It depends on the rotator cuff, shoulder capsule, muscles, tendons, and other soft tissues to support movement and stability. When these structures become inflamed or damaged, shoulder pain can become persistent and difficult to treat.
Two common causes of chronic shoulder pain are adhesive capsulitis (frozen shoulder) and rotator cuff tendinopathy.
Adhesive Capsulitis (Frozen Shoulder)
Adhesive capsulitis occurs when the capsule surrounding the shoulder joint becomes thickened, tight, and inflamed. This condition causes pain, stiffness, and progressive loss of shoulder motion. Adhesive capsulitis is more common in people with diabetes.
Rotator Cuff Tendinopathy
Rotator cuff tendinopathy develops when the tendons that help stabilize the shoulder become irritated or damaged. It can result from overuse, age-related changes, or partial tendon tears. Many patients experience ongoing pain that limits daily activities and physical function.
Why Does Chronic Shoulder Pain Persist?
Researchers now understand that chronic shoulder pain involves more than inflammation alone. In some patients, the body creates abnormal blood vessels called neovessels within the tissues around the shoulder joint. These abnormal blood vessels are often accompanied by new nerve fibers that become highly sensitive to pain.
Together, these abnormal blood vessels and nerve fibers can create an ongoing cycle of inflammation and pain signaling. As a result, shoulder pain may continue even after physical therapy, medications, or injections have provided only limited relief.
What Are the Symptoms of Chronic Shoulder Pain?
Patients with chronic shoulder pain may experience:
- Deep aching pain in the shoulder
- Shoulder pain that worsens at night or disrupts sleep
- Difficulty raising the arm overhead
- Difficulty reaching behind the back
- Pain when dressing, lifting, or performing daily activities
- Shoulder stiffness and reduced range of motion
- Pain that continues despite physical therapy, medications, or injections
If shoulder pain has persisted for several months and has not responded to conservative treatment, minimally invasive procedures may offer another treatment option.
What Minimally Invasive Treatments Are Available?
UHealth offers several minimally invasive procedures for patients with chronic shoulder pain that has not improved with traditional treatments. These treatments target different sources of pain and inflammation. Your doctor may recommend one procedure or a combination of procedures based on your diagnosis, symptoms, and treatment goals.
Transarterial Embolization (TAE)
Transarterial embolization (TAE) reduces inflammation by targeting the abnormal blood vessels that contribute to chronic shoulder pain. TAE is commonly used for conditions such as adhesive capsulitis (frozen shoulder) and rotator cuff tendinopathy when inflammation and abnormal blood vessel growth are believed to be driving symptoms.
Nerve Blocks
A nerve block uses a targeted injection of numbing medication around specific nerves that carry pain signals from the shoulder. A nerve block can provide temporary pain relief and can also help determine whether a patient may benefit from a longer-lasting nerve ablation procedure.
Nerve Ablation
Nerve ablation interrupts pain signals by treating the nerves responsible for chronic shoulder pain. Doctors may use radiofrequency ablation (heat) or cryoablation (cold) to target specific nerves around the shoulder joint. Nerve ablation is often considered after a successful diagnostic nerve block.
Which Treatment Is Right for Me?
The best treatment depends on the cause of your shoulder pain, the severity of your symptoms, and your treatment goals. Some patients benefit from a single procedure, while others may benefit from a combination of therapies. For example, a patient with frozen shoulder or shoulder arthritis may undergo transarterial embolization (TAE) to reduce inflammation and then receive nerve ablation to address persistent pain signals.
Your care team will create a personalized treatment plan based on your condition and response to treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Why Choose UHealth for Minimally Invasive Shoulder Pain Treatment?
Chronic shoulder pain can affect every aspect of daily life, from sleep and work to exercise and routine activities. At UHealth, our Interventional Radiology team offers advanced, minimally invasive treatment options for patients who have not found relief with physical therapy, medications, or injections.
Our goal is to identify the source of your pain and create a personalized treatment plan that helps restore function, improve mobility, and reduce discomfort.
Specialized Expertise in Image-Guided Procedures. Your care is provided by interventional radiologists with specialized training in minimally invasive, image-guided treatments. Using advanced imaging technology, our physicians can precisely target the blood vessels and nerves that contribute to chronic shoulder pain while minimizing disruption to surrounding tissues.
Personalized Treatment Planning. Not all shoulder pain has the same cause. Conditions such as adhesive capsulitis (frozen shoulder), rotator cuff tendinopathy, and shoulder arthritis may require different treatment approaches. Our team carefully reviews your symptoms, medical history, prior treatments, and imaging studies to determine which procedure — or combination of procedures — may provide the greatest benefit.
Comprehensive Minimally Invasive Treatment Options. UHealth offers multiple minimally invasive treatment options for chronic shoulder pain, including transarterial embolization (TAE), diagnostic and therapeutic nerve blocks, radiofrequency ablation, and cryoablation. Because these treatments address different causes of pain and inflammation, patients may benefit from a customized treatment strategy designed around their individual condition and goals.
Focused on Function, Mobility, and Quality of Life. Successful treatment involves more than reducing pain. Our team focuses on helping patients improve shoulder mobility, return to daily activities, participate in physical therapy more comfortably, and regain the ability to perform tasks that chronic shoulder pain may have limited.
Minimally Invasive Alternatives to Surgery. Many patients seek treatment because they want to avoid surgery or are not candidates for surgical intervention. Minimally invasive procedures such as TAE, nerve blocks, and nerve ablation may provide meaningful symptom relief without the recovery associated with major shoulder surgery. These outpatient procedures are designed to help patients return home the same day and resume normal activities as directed by their physician.
Take the Next Step
If chronic shoulder pain is preventing you from sleeping, working, exercising, or enjoying the activities you love, a minimally invasive treatment may be an option. Schedule a consultation with a UHealth interventional radiologist to learn whether transarterial embolization (TAE), a nerve block, or nerve ablation may be right for you.
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