Shoulder RFA Pilot Study

Eligibility Criteria

• 1. ≥50 years old capable of understanding and providing consent in English, and capable of complying with the outcome instruments used
• 2. ≥3 months of shoulder pain refractory to conventional treatment (i.e., physiotherapy, medication, steroid injections)
• 3. Persistent shoulder pain ≥ 4/10 in intensity on a 7-day average
• 4. Shoulder pain refractory to conventional treatment (i.e., physical therapy, oral analgesics, steroid injection)
• 5. Prior consultation with a board-certified orthopedic shoulder surgeon, deemed a non-surgical candidate for the primary diagnosis of glenohumeral joint pain +/- rotator cuff pain
• 6. ≥80% pain relief for at least 30 minutes after a single fluoroscopically-guided block of the sensory branches of the SN, AN, and LPN with 0.5 mL of lidocaine at each nerve
• 7. Scheduled for procedure of interest
• 1. Infection
• 2. Allergy to any medication needed to participate in this study
• 3. Previous partial/total/reverse shoulder arthroplasty. Participants with a history of RTC repair will not be excluded.
• 4. Neurologic disorders including radiculopathy, connective tissue/inflammatory joint disease/widespread soft tissue pain disorder
• 5. Severe, uncontrolled psychiatric disorder requiring hospitalization within 6 months
• 6. Intraarticular or subacromial injection to the study shoulder within 3 months before C-SRFA
• 7. Uncontrolled bleeding diathesis
• 8. Pregnancy
• 9. Pacemaker, neurostimulator, or other implanted device potentially sensitive to RF energy
• 10. Active Worker's compensation claim, litigation, or other possible reason for secondary gain.
• 11. Prior shoulder radiofrequency ablation
• 12. Daily opioid use