What Is Shoulder Pain?
Shoulder pain is one of the most common regional pain syndromes, affecting as many as 18 – 26% of adults in the U.S. Shoulder pain is often persistent and can be debilitating, reducing the range of motion and seriously impacting a person's ability to work, exercise, engage in hobbies, get good sleep, and even psychological well being. At Ospina Medical in Midtown Manhattan, Dr. Matthew Kohler, along with their experienced team, offers cutting-edge treatments for a wide range of shoulder issues, including pain from rotator cuff tears, frozen shoulder, and more. If you're experiencing shoulder pain, contact our office today to learn more about treatment options and schedule a private consultation.
How Is Should Pain Treated?
At Ospina Medical, we employ traditional treatments and ground-breaking alternative therapies that are customized for each patient's specific needs. These may include injecting medications to reduce pain and inflammation or the innovative Regenexx® treatment that uses injections to enhance the body's own ability to heal. During your consultation with Dr. Kohler, he will examine your shoulder, listen to your medical history, and then be able to decide which treatment or combination of treatments is best to relieve your pain and begin the healing process.
Two common shoulder issues we see are rotator cuff tears and frozen shoulder.
What is a rotator cuff tear?
Different factors can contribute to torn or injured tendons in the rotator cuff. Anyone at any age can suffer a rotator cuff tear from an injury. The most common cause is falling on an outstretched arm, tearing tendons. Repetitive use can also damage the tendons and cause shoulder pain and dysfunction. Another contributing factor is aging, as tendons are susceptible to degenerative issues that weaken the tendons.
Rotator cuff tears or injuries can cause pain and limit the mobility of the shoulder joint. Some common symptoms of a rotator cuff tear include:
- Reoccurring shoulder pain, especially when lifting the arm
- Weakness in the shoulder
- Limited mobility in your arm
- Pain in the shoulder when sleeping on that side
- Crackling or grinding sounds when using the shoulder
Mild rotator cuff injuries can heal with rest, followed by strengthening exercises. Pain for mild conditions can be managed with NSAIDs and heat/cold therapy. For more serious rotator cuff tears, medical intervention may be needed to relieve shoulder pain and improve mobility.
What is a frozen shoulder?
The cause of frozen shoulder is not always known. Those who are middle-aged or older are more prone to frozen shoulder, and certain health conditions can put you at higher risk. Diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, cardiovascular problems, and hyperthyroidism can all impact the risk for frozen shoulder. Patients may experience worsening pain and limitation on shoulder movement. Frozen shoulder can also be caused when the shoulder joint is immobilized after an arm or hand injury, causing the shoulder tissues to tighten, stiffen and become less mobile.
Frozen shoulder can limit how you can use your arm, usually on only one side. It can be painful to lift or rotate the arm, impact mobility, and lifting the arm or hand above shoulder level can be difficult or very painful.
Frozen shoulder usually occurs over time, and it also requires time to recover. At Ospina Medical, we offer frozen shoulder treatment plans to address the tightened bands in the shoulder and strengthen the shoulder tendons, ligaments, and muscles to regain mobility. Treatment can include exercises and injection therapy to relieve inflammation and improve healing.
Other shoulder conditions
Other conditions that Ospina Medical treats that can cause shoulder pain and affect mobility include:
- Myofascial Pain/Muscle Spasms
- Piriformis Syndrome
- Shoulder Arthritis and Osteoarthritis
- Shoulder Impingement Syndrome
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Shoulder Pain FAQ
What are the most common causes of shoulder pain?
- Rotator cuff tears
- Muscle strains
- Ligament sprains
- SLAP tear (labrum tear in the shoulder joint)
- Frozen shoulder (stiffening of the joint)
- Bursitis
- Tendonitis
- Osteoarthritis or joint inflammation
Will my shoulder pain go away on its own?
Depending on the cause of your shoulder pain, you may find that the discomfort subsides on its own over time. To give yourself the best chance at shoulder pain relief, be sure to allow the shoulder to rest, use ice and compression, and elevate if appropriate. In more severe or prolonged cases of shoulder pain or injury, our team can help offer a number of innovative solutions to give you the relief you deserve.
How can shoulder pain be treated without surgery?
At Ospina Medical, we are proud to offer a number of nonsurgical and minimally invasive solutions, like Regenexx injections, to help patients manage their shoulder pain without the inconvenience, downtime, and expense of invasive surgery.
Do Regenexx SCP injections hurt?
Most patients don't experience any more discomfort with a Regenexx SCP injection for shoulder pain than they would with any other shot.
How long does it take to see results with SCP injections for shoulder pain?
How quickly you see results depends on a number of factors, including the condition causing your shoulder pain and your body's response to treatment. Many patients can begin to see positive results within about 2 – 6 weeks after treatment.
How can I help prevent shoulder pain?
One of the most effective ways to prevent shoulder pain is to stop it before it begins. Aside from an injury, most shoulder pain results from repetitive motion or problems with your posture. By resting your shoulder or using the RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation) method to heal any overuse and engaging in shoulder strengthening and flexibility training, you can dramatically reduce shoulder pain. Also, remaining aware of good posture throughout the day will help to improve and prevent shoulder pain.
Get Advanced treatment For Shoulder Pain
Shoulder issues can involve damaged cartilage, ligament injuries, arthritis, inflammation, and more. Finding the right combination of treatments can help to relieve pain and may slow degenerative issues for better mobility. Ospina Medical has experienced pain specialists that can accurately diagnose major shoulder problems and recommend an effective treatment option at our state-of-the-art NYC clinic. Contact us today to learn more about our treatment options for shoulder pain and schedule a consultation. Let us help treat your shoulder issue, regain your mobility, and get you back to living your life free from pain.