Shoulder Pain Treatment

The shoulder is one of the most versatile parts of the body, which is made up of three main bones: the shoulder blade, the collarbone, and the long bone in your arm, the humerus. These bones are connected by two joints and the rotator cuff, which is comprised of four tendons. This enables us to move the shoulder back and forth, up and down, and in a circular motion. When our shoulder becomes damaged either through a sudden injury or gradual overuse, it can have a severe impact on our range of motion.

• Acute injury in an accident, e.g. playing sports, manual labor
• Injury due to repetitive movement
• Age-related tissue degeneration
• Wear and tear
• Rotator cuff tendinitis, i.e. swollen tendons
• Rotator cuff tear
• Torn cartilage
• Arthritis
• Trapped nerve
• Broken shoulder or arm
• Dislocated shoulder
• Bone spurs

Some seemingly unrelated diseases can also cause pain in the shoulder, including disease of the heart, liver, spinal cord, and gallbladder

When you attend your appointment at Icon Medical Centers, we’ll perform tests to determine the cause of your shoulder problems. This will include an initial consultation and physical examination as well as X-rays, MRIs, and CT scans. The doctor may ask a range of questions to try and ascertain the location and extent of your injury such as:

• Is the pain in both shoulders or just one?
• Did the pain start suddenly or develop gradually?
• Is the pain only in your shoulder or does it move?
• Does the shoulder hurt when not moving?
• Do certain movements hurt more than others?
  Is the pain dull or piercing?
• Does anything ease the pain or make the pain worse?
• Does the shoulder feel hot or look red?

These questions and tools provide us with key information about what is going on in your body and can help us to rule out potential causes, so we can provide the best possible treatment. When we know that your shoulder pain is not being caused by a broken bone, disease or referred pain, we can focus on repairing your muscle, tendons or ligaments. Once the cause of your shoulder joint pain has been identified, our doctors will advise you of your treatment options

The following treatments can be effective in the treatment of shoulder pain. Your doctor at Icon Medical Centers will recommend the best combination of treatments for your specific condition.

Massage therapy and chiropractic treatment can help to ease tension in your muscles, relieve pain, and promote circulation.

If you have been living with shoulder pain for a long time, your injuries may benefit from physical therapy. Physical therapy helps to strengthen muscles and keep them moving while not causing any further damage.

Depending on the cause of your shoulder pain and the severity of the injury, surgery may be an option. Our doctors will take you through what would be involved in any surgery so you can make a fully informed decision about what to do next.

While you are in recovery, you can ease shoulder pain with over the counter medication. This may include prescription anti-inflammatories, such as Naproxen, Ibuprofen, or muscle relaxants. Our doctors and orthopedic surgeons will create a personalized treatment plan with medication based on your symptoms.