Shoulder Pain

What Does Shoulder Pain Mean?

The reasons for shoulder pain are many including things such as systemic health conditions such as arthritis, trauma, overuse of the joint leading to tendon tears or disruption of the labrum (the “speed bump” of the shoulder which prevents the shoulder from dislocation).

Common symptoms:

Due to the various causes of shoulder pain, it is best to consult with your doctor for a comprehensive work-up in order to adequately determine the cause. To fully address the shoulder pain you are experiencing, a full medical work up including X-rays, MRI, is usually indicated. steroid injections, and/or physical therapy

Treatment:

The treatment for shoulder pain is determined by the diagnosis. Initially, your surgeon will always try to maximize non-operative treatments, and perform surgery as a last resort or when non-operative treatment is not effective. Some non-operative treatment modalities include steroid injections, physical therapy and strengthening exercises. When noninvasive modalities fail, your doctor will discuss surgery. Shoulder surgeries are almost always done non-invasively using arthroscopic techniques.

If you would like more information on shoulder pain, we invite you to review an educational website endorsed by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.

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