If your shoulder is painful, stiff and not getting better, a pain specialist is often the most direct doctor to see. A pain specialist can relieve the pain and treat the stiff joint, often with an ultrasound-guided injection, and plan the exercises that help you recover.
Signs it is time to see a pain specialist
- Shoulder pain and stiffness have lasted more than a few weeks
- Pain at night is stopping you from sleeping
- Pain is stopping you from doing your exercises, or from dressing, washing your hair or working comfortably
- You have diabetes and your shoulder has become stiff and painful
- Rest, simple pain relief and gentle movement have not settled it
The sooner pain is under control, the easier it is to keep the shoulder moving. See our guide to the symptoms and stages of frozen shoulder if you are not sure that is what you have.
What a pain specialist can do for frozen shoulder
- Examine your shoulder and confirm whether it is a frozen shoulder or another problem, such as a rotator cuff problem
- Treat pain with options such as a corticosteroid injection or shoulder hydrodilatation, guided by ultrasound
- Advise on exercises and daily activities, and work with your physiotherapist if you have one
- Review your progress and adjust treatment as the shoulder moves through its stages
What to expect at your first visit
At your first visit, we ask about your pain, sleep and daily activities, and examine how far your shoulder moves. We explain what we think is going on and which options suit you, so you can decide what to do next.
What about other doctors?
Your family doctor is a good first stop for a check-up and pain relief. Most patients who visit a shoulder pain specialist respond well to conservative treatment (i.e. injections and exercises). A small number of patients may need a referral to an orthopaedic surgeon, who can consider an arthroscopic capsular release.
Cost and insurance
At Alleviate Pain Clinic, the professional fee for shoulder hydrodilatation alone usually starts from $350, and the final price depends on the setting, the medications used and whether image guidance is required. In most circumstances, shoulder hydrodilatation is covered by insurance, and MediSave can cover most of the fees if the cost is under the minimum deductible of your insurance plan.
Book a consultation
Dr Christopher Liu is a pain physician at Alleviate Pain Clinic, Farrer Park Hospital. Call 8655 5722 or WhatsApp us to book. You can also read about frozen shoulder treatment in Singapore.
This article gives general information and is not a substitute for medical advice.
