Frozen Shoulder

What Is Frozen Shoulder?

Frozen shoulder, or adhesive capsulitis, can significantly limit your mobility and quality of life. At Pedes Orange County, our team offers advanced, image-guided treatments that are designed to restore motion, reduce pain, and support faster recovery — all without invasive surgery.

Frozen shoulder occurs when the connective tissue surrounding the shoulder joint becomes inflamed and thickened, restricting movement and causing pain. This condition typically progresses through three phases:

1

Freezing

Increasing pain and stiffness over time

2

Frozen

Severe restriction in range of motion, often lasting months

3

Thawing

Gradual improvement in movement and reduced pain

Frozen shoulder may develop after an injury, surgery, or prolonged immobility and is more common in individuals with diabetes, thyroid disorders, or autoimmune conditions. The phases often last for months at a time and may worsen at night.

Common Symptoms of
Frozen Shoulder

Persistent pain, especially at night or with movement
Stiffness and limited range of motion
Difficulty performing daily activities (reaching, dressing, driving)
Shoulder weakness or discomfort during physical therapy

Symptoms can persist for months or even years without targeted treatment.

What Causes Frozen Shoulder?

The exact cause of frozen shoulder isn’t always clear, but it often follows a joint injury, inflammation, or disuse. Risk factors include:

Shoulder surgery or injury
Diabetes or other metabolic conditions
Thyroid or hormonal imbalance
Autoimmune or inflammatory diseases
Prolonged immobilization

At Pedes Orange County, we take a comprehensive approach to diagnosis, ensuring we identify the underlying cause and provide care that supports long-term recovery.

Minimally Invasive Frozen Shoulder Treatment Options

If conservative methods like physical therapy and medications haven’t helped, we offer interventional procedures that can address inflammation and promote healing — without open surgery.

Shoulder Artery Embolization

Shoulder artery embolization is an image-guided procedure designed to relieve pain and inflammation associated with frozen shoulder by targeting the abnormal blood vessels that contribute to chronic irritation.

A tiny catheter is inserted through the wrist or groin
Using imaging technology, the catheter is guided to the arteries surrounding the shoulder joint
Microscopic particles are introduced to reduce excessive blood flow and calm inflamed tissues
The result is less pain, improved mobility, and a quicker return to daily activity

Shoulder Capsule Embolization

This advanced variation focuses specifically on the joint capsule, which becomes thickened and inflamed in cases of adhesive capsulitis (frozen shoulder). By carefully reducing the blood supply to these inflamed areas, capsule embolization helps restore comfort and mobility over time.

Minimally invasive and performed under local anesthesia
Typically completed in under an hour
Can enhance the effectiveness of ongoing physical therapy

This approach has shown promising results for patients who haven’t responded to conventional therapy and want a less invasive solution.

Benefits of Minimally Invasive Frozen Shoulder Treatment

Office-based procedure
No general anesthesia required
Minimal downtime — return to daily activities quickly
Preserves shoulder structure and function
Can be combined with physical therapy for even better outcomes

Why Choose Pedes Orange County?

At Pedes Orange County, we’re dedicated to helping patients reclaim their mobility and comfort with safe, effective, and timely care.

Trained specialists in minimally invasive, image-guided procedures
Personalized treatment plans tailored to your symptoms and goals
State-of-the-art outpatient facility designed for your comfort
Same-day or next-available appointments for patients in pain
A compassionate team that’s focused on getting you back to doing what you love

Schedule Your Consultation Today

If a frozen shoulder is limiting your movement and quality of life, you don’t have to wait for it to resolve on its own. At Pedes Orange County, we’re here to offer real solutions that prioritize your comfort and recovery.

Call us today at (949) 997-2418 or reach out to our team online to schedule your consultation. Let’s work together to restore your mobility — without the need for invasive surgery.

What to Expect from Your Visit to Pedes

Ultrasound

Advanced ultrasound-guided examination techniques will be used to visualize the veins, arteries, or both, in your legs. This is often used in the diagnostic process to detect the presence and extent of disease.

Consult

Once we review the results of your diagnostic tests, our physicians will collaborate with you to develop a personalized treatment plan, ensuring the best course of treatment for your specific condition.

Treatment

Your treatment plan will be personalized to you and your individual needs. At Pedes, we specialize in minimally invasive procedures and nonsurgical treatments, all of which are performed by our dedicated vascular physicians within the comfort of our state-of-the-art facility.

Follow up

We ensure our patients receive continuous care and support with regular follow-up visits. Each follow-up visit is scheduled at the time of your in-office appointment. Should you have a concern between
appointments, we encourage you to call our office and get scheduled at any time.

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