Shoulder Pain Specialist

What is Shoulder Pain?

Shoulder pain is a common condition occurring from problems within the shoulder joint. The shoulder is made up of a complex structure of bones, ligaments, muscles, and nerve fibers. Attached to the joint are four muscles whose main function is to reinforce the ball and socket joint. This is called the rotator cuff and its job is to maintain shoulder joint stability when performing different actions. Pain in the shoulder can have a significant impact on daily activities especially when the pain is severe.

What Causes Shoulder Pain?

• Pain in the shoulder can be the result of conditions such as:
• Osteoarthritis – degeneration of the bones and reduction in the joint space of the shoulder resulting in painful movement.
• Shoulder dislocation –following some form of trauma or injury in which the upper arm bone comes out of the shoulder blade socket.
• Rotator cuff injury – this type of injury occurs following sudden stress on the muscles that form the rotator cuff.
• Frozen shoulder – characterized by stiffness of the shoulder joint causing pain when attempting to lift the arm above the level of the shoulder.
• Fracture – similar to a shoulder dislocation, a fracture occurs following direct injury to the shoulder.

How is Shoulder Pain Treated?

Treatment for shoulder pain comes from a proper diagnosis first. Medication can be prescribed for pain management or as anti-inflammatories. Other forms of treatment include steroid or cortisone injections directly into the shoulder joint to help reduce inflammation and pain. Effects can be short lived and repeat injections may be required. Physical therapy can help reduce pain and improve range of motion within the shoulder and will offer advice and exercises that will help reduce pain and improve range of moment of the shoulder joint. Surgical treatment is usually reserved for patients who have not responded to any of the treatment measures above. It is also offered for patients who have suffered a dislocated shoulder or fractured shoulder joint.