Vascular Clinic

What Is Frozen Shoulder?

Frozen shoulder, medically called adhesive capsulitis, is a painful and debilitating condition where the shoulder joint capsule becomes inflamed, thickened, and contracted, severely limiting movement. It typically progresses in three phases freezing, frozen, and thawing and may last months or even years.

Common symptoms include:

Frozen shoulder is more common in women aged 40–65 and is often seen after trauma, surgery, or without a clear trigger.

Traditional Treatment Options from Orthopedics and Physical Therapy

Patients are usually offered the following:

Physical Therapy

Stretching exercises and range-of-motion training
Most helpful in later stages, but often limited by pain

Corticosteroid Injections

Reduce inflammation temporarily
May allow improved mobility for a few weeks
Effect often fades, and repeat injections may lose potency

Surgical Options

Manipulation under anesthesia (MUA)
Arthroscopic capsular release
Require anesthesia, hospital stay, and significant recovery time

For patients who don’t respond to therapy or want to avoid surgery, Vascular Clinic offers a cutting-edge, nonsurgical alternative.

How We Treat Frozen Shoulder at Vascular Clinic

Transarterial Embolization for Adhesive Capsulitis

Transarterial Embolization (TAE) is a minimally invasive outpatient procedure that treats chronic inflammation in the shoulder joint by reducing abnormal blood flow to inflamed tissue. Think of it as shutting off fuel to a fire—limiting blood flow helps reduce inflammation and relieve pain

How the Procedure Works:

Performed under local anesthesia and mild sedation (no general anesthesia required)
A catheter is inserted through a small artery in the wrist or groin
Under live X-ray, the catheter is guided to branches of the subclavian and axillary arteries
Microscopic particles are injected to block abnormal “neovessels” feeding inflamed tissue
Only abnormal inflamed vessels are targeted—normal shoulder function is preserved

What to Expect After Embolization

Pain relief is gradual:

Results and Safety

80–85% of patients experience meaningful pain relief and improved range of motion
Pain scores often drop from 8/10 to 3/10 or less
Side effects are rare and mild: brief soreness, warmth, or low-grade fever for 1–2 days (post-embolization syndrome)
No significant complications reported in large studies or our experience

Frequently Asked Questions

Does embolization cure frozen shoulder?

While it doesn’t “cure” the underlying capsular thickening, embolization reduces inflammation and pain, giving patients a chance to move more freely and participate in therapy often accelerating recovery.

Is this a replacement for surgery?

For many, yes. It’s a low-risk, outpatient option that can eliminate the need for surgery. And if surgery is ever needed later, embolization doesn’t prevent it.

Will I still need therapy after?

Yes. We strongly encourage stretching and physical therapy once pain is reduced—embolization creates the window for therapy to be more effective.

Is this covered by insurance?

Coverage varies. Our staff helps verify benefits and discusses financial options if needed.

Why Choose Vascular Clinic?

Board-Certified Interventional Specialists with expertise in musculoskeletal embolization
High-resolution imaging for accurate, targeted embolization
No surgery, no general anesthesia, no hospital stay
Multidisciplinary collaboration with physical therapists and orthopedic providers
Supportive, compassionate care from start to finish

We understand how frustrating and draining frozen shoulder can be. Whether you’ve struggled with pain for months or have plateaued in therapy, our team is here to offer a new path forward gently and effectively.