What is shoulder pain?
Your shoulder is a joint that attaches your humerus (upper arm bone) to your scapula (shoulder blade). The joint is held in place by a network of tendons and muscles known as the rotator cuff, which helps to stabilize your shoulder and enables the full range of motion in your arm.
Injuries from falls or auto accidents can damage the bones and soft tissues and lead to shoulder pain. Degenerative changes due to age and overuse can also cause shoulder pain. These changes affect your body's healing abilities because of the reduced blood supply in your joints.
What conditions might be causing my shoulder pain?
Some of the most common problems that can cause shoulder pain include:
- Arthritis
- Bursitis
- Tendinitis
- Fractures
- Dislocations
- Chronic shoulder instability
- Frozen shoulder
- Shoulder impingement syndrome
- Bone spurs
- Biceps tendon tears
- Rotator cuff tears
- Superior labrum anterior and posterior (SLAP) tears
The sooner you get the right treatment for your shoulder pain, the quicker you can return to action and be free from pain. Left untreated, shoulder pain is likely to worsen over time, and could become a chronic problem.
How is shoulder pain diagnosed?
To diagnose your shoulder pain, Dr. Dewan examines you and looks at how well you can move your arm. Along with the details you provide about your symptoms and a review of your medical history, Dr. Dewan can likely determine the cause of your shoulder pain.
To rule out any other causes, confirm the diagnosis, and assess the extent of the damage, Dr. Dewan might ask for diagnostic imaging studies like X-rays, a CT scan, or an MRI scan.
How is shoulder pain treated?
Once he has a diagnosis, Dr. Dewan develops a personalized treatment program for you to resolve your shoulder pain. Depending on the reason for your shoulder pain, treatment could include:
- Immobilization of your shoulder
- Physical therapy
- Anti-inflammatory medications
- Cortisone injections
- Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy
- Stem cell therapy
Nonsurgical treatments like these most often result in significant improvement in range of motion and a reduction or resolution of shoulder pain.
If your condition doesn't improve with conservative treatment or is unlikely to heal without surgery, then Dr. Dewan discusses surgical options with you. These options could include:
- Ligament reconstruction
- Artificial joint replacement of the shoulder
- Biceps repair
- Reverse shoulder arthroplasty
- Shoulder arthroscopy
- Acromioplasty
- Labral repair
- Rotator cuff repair
- SLAP repair
- Subacromial decompression
- Total shoulder replacement
Dr. Dewan uses minimally invasive techniques wherever possible to minimize tissue damage and pain and promote faster recovery.
If you have shoulder pain, call Ashvin K. Dewan, MD today or book an appointment online.
