Shoulder Pain Q & A

What causes shoulder pain?

Your shoulder is capable of an extensive range of motion, but this mobility also increases your risk of painful injuries. You could also develop damage to the tissues from overuse or degenerative diseases. Common causes of shoulder pain the AABP Integrative Pain Care and Wellness team sees include:

Bursitis

Bursitis is inflammation in the small sacs of fluid (bursae) that cushion the joint.

Tendonitis

Tendonitis is usually due to repetitive strain, which causes multiple tiny tears in the tissue.

Rotator cuff injuries

The muscles and tendons surrounding your shoulder are called the rotator cuff, and they enable you to raise and rotate your arms. The rotator cuff can stretch too far or tear under enough force — something that often happens when you dislocate your shoulder.

Chronic shoulder instability

Shoulder instability develops if you have repeated dislocations or rotator cuff injuries. These traumas cause a long-term loosening of the connective tissues securing your shoulder joint, which makes it more likely to dislocate again. In time, you could develop a degenerative condition called cuff tear arthropathy.

Arthritis

Like most joints, your shoulders are vulnerable to arthritis. It takes numerous forms, but osteoarthritis is the most common. This disease develops over the years as constant use of your joints wears down the cartilage protecting the bones in your joints.

How is shoulder pain treated?

The treatment you need for your shoulder pain varies depending on what’s causing the problem and how badly it’s affecting you.

You might need to wear a cast or sling that keeps your arm still while your shoulder heals. Pain relief medicines, anti-inflammatories, and muscle relaxants might be helpful in some cases.

Physical therapy is nearly always critical to successful rehabilitation from shoulder pain.

What other options are available if my shoulder pain doesn’t improve?

AABP Integrative Pain Care uses advanced interventions for severe or persistent shoulder pain. Biologic treatments like platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and bone marrow aspirate concentrate (BMAC) injections, which use growth factors and stem cells from your body, support tissue healing.

Steroid injections, which often contain a local anesthetic as well, offer both pain relief and long-term reduction in inflammation. If you have arthritis, hyaluronic acid injections help by lubricating the joint.

Your provider uses cutting-edge ultrasound guidance imaging to perform injections and other minimally invasive procedures accurately.

You can overcome shoulder pain and loss of function with help from the team at AABP Integrative Pain Care. To find out how the team can assist you, call their office today or book an appointment online.