What causes shoulder pain?
Your shoulder joints move quite a bit every day, which means that these very flexible joints may be prone to wear and tear as well as injury. Some of the most common sources of shoulder pain are:
- Rotator cuff injuries
- Labral tears
- Osteoarthritis
- Bursitis
- Fractures
- Sprains
- Dislocations
- Bone spurs
- Bicep tendinitis
- Adhesive capsulitis (frozen shoulder)
- Pinched nerve
- Thoracic outlet syndrome
In some cases, shoulder pain can start somewhere else. For example, whiplash injuries start with neck pain but may include referred pain that moves into your shoulders and upper spine.
When should I seek treatment for shoulder pain?
If your shoulder pain occurs suddenly following an accident, seek medical care promptly. You also need to schedule an office visit at Rogozinski Orthopedic Clinic if your shoulder joint is extremely painful, swells suddenly, accompanies arm weakness, becomes immovable, or changes dramatically in appearance.
For shoulder pain that occurs along with shortness of breath, chest pain, or chest constriction, you need emergency medical care immediately. These symptoms could indicate a heart attack.
How is the cause of shoulder pain diagnosed?
Your Rogozinski Orthopedic Clinic provider reviews your medical history, current shoulder symptoms, and shoulder function to make a preliminary determination. In many cases, you need special tests, such as nerve conduction tests or X-rays, to find the reason for shoulder pain.
Rogozinski Orthopedic Clinic has a state-of-the-art diagnostic imaging facility on its campus, so you can get your diagnosis faster and more conveniently.
What might my shoulder pain treatment involve?
Your Rogozinski Orthopedic Clinic provider recommends a shoulder pain plan based on your diagnosis and individual needs. Usually, conservative (nonoperative) care is the first approach for shoulder pain.
That typically includes rest, physical therapy, medication, shoulder immobilization (sling or brace), and possibly other pain relief options such as joint steroid injections or viscosupplementation (hyaluronic acid joint injections).
Structural issues or severe trauma in the shoulder may require surgery. The board-certified and fellowship-trained Rogozinski Orthopedic Clinic surgeons offer a wide range of surgical interventions, many that they pioneered themselves.
If you need arthroscopic surgery, minimally invasive surgery, or traditional surgery for rotator cuff repair, shoulder stabilization surgery, shoulder joint replacement, or any other reason, you’re in the best hands at Rogozinski Orthopedic Clinic.
If you have recurrent shoulder pain, call Rogozinski Orthopedic Clinic or use the online scheduling feature to arrange your appointment.
