Innovative Procedure Offers Pain Relief for Frozen Shoulder
Real Estate Broker, WellSport Hydrodilation Patient
“Today, my shoulder pain is gone and my range of motion is back. My entire experience at WellSport was great and I couldn’t be happier.”
Persistent shoulder pain doesn’t always require surgery. When Sandy Meyer was diagnosed with adhesive capsulitis, commonly known as frozen shoulder, Non-Surgical Musculoskeletal Care & Sports Medicine Specialist Daniel Diaz, D.O., offered her an innovative, advanced treatment called hydrodilatation.
Having cared for her ailing parents who were in and out of hospitals, Meyer, a 57 year-old real estate broker, pushed the limits when it came to seeking treatment for her own condition. She waited until the pain in her left shoulder began waking her up at night and making daily activities difficult before she agreed to a magnetic resonance imaging (an MRI). She was referred to an orthopedic surgeon initially, but the physician sent her for a consult with Dr. Diaz. She was leery.
“I really don’t like taking any medications or having to go to the doctor,” Meyer admitted. “I tried chiropractic care for my shoulder, but my pain level kept increasing while my range of motion was decreasing. I had trouble getting in and out of the car or simply applying underarm antiperspirant without pain. I knew I needed a physician but wasn’t looking forward to it. What a pleasant surprise Dr. Diaz was!”
Dr. Diaz specializes in treating both sports injuries and providing non-surgical musculoskeletal care. He consulted with Meyer and after reviewing her MRI, he recommended hydrodilatation to treat her frozen shoulder. “Hydrodilatation involves stretching the capsule of the joint by injecting a mixture of sterile saline, local anesthetic and steroid,” Dr. Diaz explained. “Many people feel immediate relief and have improvement in range of motion right after the procedure. When paired with physical therapy, it can often keep a patient from needing surgery.”
Meyer commented that Dr. Diaz’s expertise and calm demeanor made her feel instantly at ease. “He talked with me, not at me,” said Meyer. “He explained everything about the procedure in detail, very calmly and the level of comfort he created was unbelievable. He welcomed and answered all of my questions and I knew I was in good hands.”
Meyer is happy to have regained roughly 80 percent of her range of motion back so far and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Dr. Diaz. “I think many of us have a fear of the unknown when it comes to medical issues,” Meyer shared. “Everyone who helped lessen my worries and stress levels is appreciated. The nurses were fantastic and helped me stay relaxed, the office was punctual, and Dr. Diaz’s communication was perfect; he didn’t talk down to me nor go over my head. I could not have had a better experience.”
In addition to injury prevention, MyMichigan Health’s WellSport Program is specifically designed to assess and provide non-surgical treatment to patients suffering from pain originating from the tendons, nerves and joints. The program specifically provides innovative, advanced treatments for knee, elbow, wrist, shoulder, ankle, and hip pain. Those who would like more information on WellSport or Dr. Diaz, may visit www.mymichigan.org/wellsport.
