Shoulder Joint Injections and Suprascapular Nerve Ablations

Inoperable shoulder pain is a frustrating source of disability. Fortunately, we have several options to treat that problem.

The suprascapular nerve provides the nerve supply to the bulk of the shoulder joint. It is an isolated nerve located by the shoulder and is relatively easy to locate and treat. Its primary function is to transmit sensory function, with minimal motor functions, so that we can safely ablate the nerve, using either cryoablation or pulsed radiofrequency.

Our protocol is to try to ablate the nerve twice. If pain remains, we can proceed to a local anesthetic/steroid/hyalgan injection of the shoulder joint or to ablations of the acromioclavicular joint.

With these relatively simple procedures, we can diminish the pain associated with shoulder disorders.

Note that before proceeding to these procedures, we want you to have seen a shoulder surgeon to ensure that there is no surgical cure for your problems.