WHAT NON-SURGICAL TREATMENTS ARE AVAILABLE TO REDUCE PAIN AND SWELLING?

Certainly, as a first line of treatment, ice, heat, physiotherapy and over-the-counter pain relief such as Panadol or aspirin can help.

Sometimes, cortisone is a good idea, using ultrasound to ensure the medication gets deep into the shoulder joint. However, cortisone is not always ideal for people with diabetes due to the fact it can raise blood sugar levels, so this needs to be discussed with your diabetes educator or GP.

Brisement (hydrodilatation) is a procedure performed under radiological guidance to inject a large volume of fluid into the shoulder joint and distend the joint, stretching the capsule and providing pain relief and slightly improved motion. This seems to work in about 70 per cent of people in my practice.

After administering a local anaesthesia the radiologist introduces a mix of saline and steroids to stretch out the joint. This is followed up with extensive physical therapy to break down the adhesions or scarring that have occurred on the shoulder joint.

Some patients choose to get this done in the initial stages because the pain is so severe or stops them sleeping, which can then exacerbate depression or make them unable to do their job.