Shoulder Pain Specialist

What could be causing my shoulder pain?

Sudden shoulder pain could result from a traumatic injury when playing sports or after an accident. Overuse of the joint or repetitive strain (making the same movements repeatedly over long periods) also causes shoulder pain, while degenerative conditions account for many instances of chronic shoulder pain. Common shoulder pain conditions include:

• Rotator cuff tears
• Bursitis
• Tendinitis
• Shoulder instability
• Arthritis
• Fractures
• Dislocations
• Frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis)
• Cuff tear arthropathy
• Shoulder impingement

Your shoulder is able to move in multiple directions, more than any other joint. While this has many advantages, it also leaves you exposed to joint damage and shoulder pain.

How is shoulder pain diagnosed?

To diagnose shoulder pain, you need to undergo a thorough examination of the joint. Your provider at SOUTHERN WESTCHESTER ORTHOPEDICS AND SPORTS MEDICINE asks about your symptoms and checks your medical history as well.

Diagnostic imaging tests can also be useful. X-rays and CT scans are often best for bones, while ultrasound and MRI are good for soft tissue damage.

If it's not clear what's causing your shoulder pain, you might need to undergo an investigative procedure called arthroscopy. This is a minimally invasive process where your surgeon inserts a tiny camera and a flexible tube into the shoulder for a detailed look. They may be able to make some repairs and remove loose cartilage or bone.

What treatments could help with my shoulder pain?

Your provider at SOUTHERN WESTCHESTER ORTHOPEDICS AND SPORTS MEDICINE typically approaches shoulder pain treatment with nonsurgical options to begin with, such as:

• Rest
• Use of a sling, cast, or splint
• Activity modification
• Physical therapy 
• Pain-relieving medications
• Anti-inflammatories

These treatments are effective in relieving or reducing most patients' shoulder pain. For others, long-acting anti-inflammatory steroid injections into the joint might be necessary.

If you find they're not working so well for you, or your condition is severe, your provider at SOUTHERN WESTCHESTER ORTHOPEDICS AND SPORTS MEDICINE might suggest surgery.

What sort of surgery would I need for shoulder pain?

The surgery you might need for shoulder pain depends on the nature of the damage. Minimally invasive arthroscopic surgery can repair the ruptured tendons in a rotator cuff tear, while severe osteoarthritis might require total shoulder replacement surgery.

Conditions that cause shoulder instability, like repeated dislocations and rotator cuff tear arthropathy, might also benefit from shoulder replacement surgery. However, in these cases, the SOUTHERN WESTCHESTER ORTHOPEDICS AND SPORTS MEDICINE surgeons may perform reverse total shoulder replacement.

This involves switching the position of the replacement components so the ball is in your shoulder blade and the socket is at the top of your arm bone.

For expert relief from your shoulder pain, call SOUTHERN WESTCHESTER ORTHOPEDICS AND SPORTS MEDICINE today or book an appointment online.