Medically reviewed by: Mark A. Yaffe, MD, certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery, subspecialty certified in hand surgery. Last reviewed: October 5, 2026
FROZEN SHOULDER TREATMENT IN Schaumburg, Buffalo Grove & Elk Grove Village
Frozen Shoulder Treatment in the Chicago Area
Dr. Mark Yaffe(opens in a new tab) is an orthopedic specialist who treats upper extremity conditions, including frozen shoulder. When the shoulder becomes painful and stiff, simple tasks like reaching overhead, putting on a coat or fastening a seatbelt can become difficult, and sleep can suffer. Dr. Yaffe’s goal is to ease your pain and help you regain comfortable shoulder movement with the least invasive approach that will work for you.
Whether your shoulder stiffness came on gradually or followed an injury or period of limited use, Dr. Yaffe offers a thorough evaluation to confirm the cause of your symptoms and a plan matched to them. As part of his broader shoulder care(opens in a new tab), he starts with non-surgical treatment and discusses other options when they are the right next step.
Dr. Yaffe takes the time to listen to your concerns and explains your options so you can decide what fits your goals. If you are ready to find relief with one of the orthopedic doctors serving Schaumburg(opens in a new tab), Buffalo Grove(opens in a new tab), and Elk Grove Village(opens in a new tab), request your first appointment with Dr. Yaffe today.
Stiff, Painful Shoulder That Is Hard to Move
Signs and Symptoms of Frozen Shoulder
Frozen shoulder, also called adhesive capsulitis, happens when the tissue surrounding the shoulder joint becomes inflamed and tight, limiting how far the shoulder can move. Other shoulder problems can look similar, so an exam is important. Common signs include:
- Shoulder stiffness: A shoulder that moves less and less, both when you try to move it and when someone else moves it for you.
- Raising the arm overhead, rotating it outward and reaching behind the back are often the hardest motions.
- Dull, aching pain: Pain felt deep in the shoulder, sometimes spreading into the upper arm, that may be worse with movement.
- Night pain: Shoulder pain that interferes with sleep or is worse when lying on the affected side.
- Trouble with daily tasks: Difficulty dressing, brushing hair, reaching a shelf or reaching into a back pocket.
- Symptoms that change over time: The pain and stiffness often develop gradually and may change in intensity.
- Because other conditions, such as arthritis or rotator cuff problems, can cause similar stiffness, persistent shoulder pain is worth evaluating.
THERAPY, INJECTION OPTIONS & NEXT STEPS FOR A STIFF SHOULDER
Frozen Shoulder Treatment Options
The right treatment depends on how stiff and painful the shoulder is, how long symptoms have been present and how much they limit your daily life. Most patients begin with non-surgical care. Dr. Yaffe’s options include:
- Non-surgical care: Gentle, guided stretching and physical therapy to work on shoulder motion, activity changes, heat or ice, and anti-inflammatory medication to help manage discomfort. Progress varies from person to person, and recovery can take time.
- Evaluation and imaging: A hands-on exam and imaging such as X-rays help confirm the diagnosis and check for other shoulder problems that can cause similar symptoms.
- Biologic Injection Therapy(opens in a new tab): Dr. Yaffe offers injection options, including platelet-rich plasma (PRP), a non-cortisone injection, that may be discussed based on your exam. Relief varies from person to person.
- Procedures when needed: If pain and stiffness do not improve with non-surgical care, Dr. Yaffe can discuss whether a procedure is appropriate for you and, if so, how to prepare. You can read more in our guide to preparing for surgery or a procedure(opens in a new tab).
Many people with frozen shoulder are first treated without surgery, and there is no single right time to consider other options. Dr. Yaffe will walk through your options with you. This page is for education and does not replace an examination, so an in-person evaluation is the way to confirm your diagnosis and the best plan for you.
About your surgeon. Dr. Mark A. Yaffe is certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery in orthopaedic surgery, with a subspecialty certification in hand surgery, and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. He earned his M.D. at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, completed his orthopaedic residency at Northwestern, and trained in hand and upper extremity surgery at The Indiana Hand to Shoulder Center. He was named a Castle Connolly Top Doctor in 2026 and a Chicago Magazine Top Doctor in 2025. Read Dr. Yaffe's full bio.(opens in a new tab)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is frozen shoulder and what causes it?
Frozen shoulder, or adhesive capsulitis, occurs when the tissue around the shoulder joint becomes inflamed and tight, which limits movement and causes pain. It can develop without a clear cause, and it may follow an injury, surgery or a period when the shoulder was kept still. Dr. Yaffe evaluates each patient to understand what may be involved.
What are the symptoms of frozen shoulder?
Common symptoms include a stiff shoulder that is hard to move in every direction, dull aching pain, pain at night and difficulty with everyday tasks like dressing or reaching overhead. Arthritis and rotator cuff problems can cause similar symptoms, so an exam and imaging are important.
How is frozen shoulder diagnosed?
Diagnosis starts with your history and a hands-on exam, including checking how far the shoulder moves on its own and when someone else moves it. X-rays can show whether another problem, such as arthritis, may be contributing, and additional imaging may be used if other conditions are suspected. This helps Dr. Yaffe recommend the right treatment.
Can frozen shoulder be treated without surgery?
Often, yes. Guided stretching and physical therapy, activity changes, anti-inflammatory medication and injections help many patients. Progress varies from person to person, and recovery can take time. If symptoms do not improve, Dr. Yaffe will discuss other options with you.
Do injections help frozen shoulder?
Injections can help reduce inflammation and ease pain for some patients, but relief varies from person to person and may be temporary. Dr. Yaffe offers biologic injection therapy using platelet-rich plasma (PRP), a non-cortisone injection, and can explain whether an injection makes sense for you based on your exam.
How long does frozen shoulder last?
The length of time varies a great deal from person to person, and frozen shoulder can take a long time to improve. Dr. Yaffe can discuss what to expect in your situation after examining your shoulder, and he will check whether another condition could be contributing. You can also read more about his shoulder care(opens in a new tab).
When should I see a specialist about a stiff shoulder?
Consider an evaluation if shoulder pain and stiffness are getting worse, are keeping you awake at night, or are limiting everyday tasks. Because several shoulder conditions look alike, an in-person exam is the best way to find out what is going on and to start the right treatment.
How can I get started with the best shoulder specialist near me?
At Dr. Yaffe’s practice, we want it to be as easy as possible to get started on your road to relief. Just use our simple online appointment request(opens in a new tab) tool, and it helps to note which movements are most limited and when the stiffness began.
Get Your Stiff Shoulder Evaluated by an Orthopedic Specialist
Expert Orthopedic Care from Mark A. Yaffe, M.D.