Quick thaw for frozen shoulder

Q: I was told that I have frozen shoulder. It’s painful and restricting. What can I do for it, and what kind of specialist should I see for effective treatment? — Roseanna G., Atlanta

A: Frozen shoulder syndrome, or adhesive capsulitis, is a condition in which connective tissue surrounding your shoulder jointthickens and adheres to adjacent structures, making the shoulder so tight that moving it causes pain. An orthopedic doctor who has handled many cases of FSS is your best bet for diagnosis and treatment.

FSS progresses through three stages. No. 1 is called “freezing.” Over six weeks to nine months, pain worsens and motion becomes restricted. The second stage, “frozen,” lasts four to six months; though pain may lessen, it can become even more difficult to use your shoulder or arm. The last stage, “thawing,” is a return to normal or near-normal function, which takes from six to 24 months.

Treatment options: 90 percent of the time, you can improve substantially with physical therapy, using pain-relieving NSAIDS or taking a course of prednisone. There also are injections that can break up adhesions and restore motion.

Surgery may involve manipulation that stretches or tears the capsule and adhesions, restoring movement, or shoulder arthroscopy, in which the surgeon cuts through the tight areas of the joint capsule.

Q: I heard about doctors who set up a fresh-food pharmacy and saw a 100 percent improvement in the health of patients who were formally prescribed a healthier diet. Can you prescribe food as medicine? — Frank G., Lancaster, Pennsylvania

A: There’s no question about it, Frank: When doctors actually write out a prescription for a healthy diet, it does change how people eat and improves their health.

One example is the Fresh Food Pharmacy, started by Dr. Andrea Feinberg, medical director for health and wellness at Geisinger Health System in Pennsylvania. Sixty customer/ patients are now formally prescribed a healthier diet and shop for free veggies at the hospital’s well-stocked farm-acy. “It’s over-thetop successful,” said Dr. Feinberg. “It works for every single patient. We’re talking about reversing diabetes … and moving people from a ‘sick’ to ‘healthy’ category.”

Then talk to your doc. For help finding physicians in your area who will prescribe food as medicine, check out www.wholesomewave.org/ network.

Email questions for Mehmet Oz and Mike Roizen to youdocsdaily@sharecare.com.