If you are looking for a shoulder specialist, we’ve got you covered. Dr. Michael J Bercik is a board-certified orthopedic shoulder specialist who is dedicated to patient success and outstanding outcomes. For residents of Ephrata, PA, look no further than Lancaster Orthopedics for your first appointment.

When it comes to orthopedics, it truly runs in Dr. Bercik’s DNA. As the son of an orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Bercik grew up with a deep understanding of what it means to be a doctor and how to best serve his patients. Dr. Bercik spent years completing domestic and international fellowships to expand his skillset and give himself the opportunity to offer his patients the best treatment methods available.

Outside of fellowships, Dr. Bercik has been recognized for his outstanding patient care and dedication to deeply learning the clinical materials. He was presented with the Mark D Chilton award for his outstanding patient care and the Orthopaedic In-training Examination award for being the highest scorer in his residency program. For orthopedic care, Dr. Bercik truly strives to be the best in his field and the best for every one of his patients.  

Frozen Shoulder – What You Need to Know 

Frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis) is a shoulder condition that leads to immobilization of the shoulder. The most common symptoms are stiffness and pain, and symptoms generally start slowly and progress over time. Symptoms often resolve on their own over a few years.

The risk of a frozen shoulder is highest after recovering from an injury or surgery that leads the shoulder to be immobilized. To treat frozen shoulder, range-of-motion exercises and corticosteroids are used to reduce tightness and increase mobility. For advanced cases, arthroscopic surgery is sometimes used to help loosen the joint capsule, but this is less common.

What are the symptoms of Frozen Shoulder?

Symptoms of frozen shoulder progress in stages, each of which can last for a period of a few months.

Stage 1: Stage 1 is the freezing stage. This stage is characterized by pain in the shoulder when moving your arm and motion becomes more limited.

Stage 2: Stage 2 is the frozen stage. At this stage, you may feel less pain but your range of motion with become severely limited.

Stage 3: Stage 3 is the thawing stage. This is when stiffness begins to reside and shoulder motion begins to improve.

If you have long-term immobility of your shoulder, you are at a higher risk for developing a severe frozen shoulder. Risk factors for this include stroke, broken arms, rotator cuff injuries, mastectomies, shoulder surgery, clavicle surgeries, among other causes.

Diseases that are more likely to result in a frozen shoulder include diabetes, hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, tuberculosis, Parkinson’s disease, and cardiovascular disease.

Prevention

One of the most common causes of frozen shoulder is the immobility that results from shoulder injury recovery, a broken arm, or a stroke. If you’ve had an injury that makes it difficult to move your shoulder, talk to your doctor about exercises you can do to maintain the range of motion of your shoulder joint

Ready to Get Started? 

Having quick care after an injury is important, especially for joints as complex as the shoulder. If you are looking for a shoulder specialist near you, look no further than Dr. Michael Bercik and our team at Lancaster Orthopedics. Residents of Ephrata, PA, should click the “Schedule An Appointment” link in the top right of the website or call (866) 564-1000.