Shoulder Pain Specialists

The shoulder is one of the most commonly used joints in the body. Hence, shoulder pain can be caused by a variety of problems and medical conditions that involve swelling, difficulty moving the shoulder in various directions, impaired motility, etc. Pain occurs when the shoulder joint or the tissues around it get irritated.

Although arthritis or a heart condition might trigger shoulder pain as you age, it is more commonly caused by an injury or strain when you are younger. Our physicals will look for conditions like those caused by:

Arthritis in the Shoulder

Arthritis can manifest itself in various ways, all of which can affect the shoulder joint. For example, rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disorder caused by the immune system attacking the synovium. When this occurs in the shoulder joint, the inflammation limits joint movement and causes pain when.

Osteoarthritis develops as the cartilage in the joint deteriorates from its use. This type of arthritis causes inflammation and pain when the joint is moved, potentially resulting in shoulder pain. Unfortunately, there is no cure for either type of arthritis.

Injury and Trauma

The shoulder joint is surrounded by muscles, tendons, and ligaments, which allow the arm to move. Pain can occur when these tissues are damaged due to traumatic events. A traumatic impact around the shoulder can result in torn muscles and tendons. Aside from the direct injury, the tissues of the joint may become inflamed, resulting in shoulder pain.

Overuse

Despite the fact that the shoulder joint’s primary function is to move and support activity, overusing it can result in shoulder pain. This is a common issue among athletes that engage in activities involving shoulder movements, such as javelin throwers. Manual laborers are also at risk of overusing their shoulders, causing nerve impingement and pain.

When the muscles contract and relax repeatedly, they rub against the tendons and ligaments, causing inflammation. Overuse can result in two types of shoulder pain: tendinitis and bursitis. Tendonitis is caused by misuse of a tendon, whereas bursitis is caused by inflammation of the bursa. Because they affect the rotator cuff, these conditions are known as rotator cuff tendonitis and bursitis.

Instability

Shoulder instability occurs when the shoulder joint fails to move normally. In the worst-case scenario, the humerus ball pops out of the shoulder blade socket, fully dislocating the joint. Most of the time, there is just some difficulty or obstruction in the joint’s movement. Although it can develop gradually and naturally, instability is most commonly caused by trauma that knocks the joint out of place. In either case, it causes shoulder pain that requires medical attention.

Immobility

When the shoulder area is immobilized for an extended period, such as following surgery, a serious injury, or a stroke, it can stiffen and become painful, resulting in a condition called frozen shoulder. Inflammation of the muscles and tendons, as seen in bursitis and tendonitis, can potentially contribute to the development of this condition. The resulting disability can be severe, and if not addressed, the symptoms tend to worsen with time.

Bursitis

Bursitis is an inflammation of the bursa that leads to shoulder pain, swelling, redness, and a thickening of the affected bursa. Bursa is a fluid-filled sac that surrounds every joint in the human body. It is surrounded by tendons, muscles, and skin. The bursa helps lubricate and reduce friction when you move the joint. Shoulder bursitis is frequently caused by recurrent shoulder joint damage or overuse of this joint.

Because your shoulder joint is made up of bones, cartilage, tendons, ligaments, and muscles that allow for such a wide range of motion, determining the exact cause of shoulder pain takes experience and detective work. Soft tissue inflammation or impingement can be caused by activities as simple as scratching your back or throwing a ball in the yard.

Athletes are especially vulnerable to rotator cuff injury because repetitive motions promote joint wear and tear. If you have rotator cuff pain, visit our clinic and consult one of our shoulder pain specialists. We can help you.

Regardless of the source of your shoulder pain, you should seek medical attention at one of our nearby clinics. In many cases, you would only require conservative treatment, which entails using warm or cold packs, taking over-the-counter and prescription pain relievers for severe pain, and giving your shoulder the time it needs to rest and recover. However, specialized treatment, including surgery, may be required in severe cases.

Whether you have shoulder or shoulder blade pain, our NJ pain management clinic needs to know more about your symptoms, including when they began, what aggravates, and what relieves them.

Some common symptoms of shoulder blade pain include:

• A dull, achy feeling that gets worse with specific movements
• A tingling, pins-and-needles feeling, sometimes accompanied by numbness and weakness that can affect both shoulders
• Grinding, snapping, grating sensations, accompanying dull pain when you move your shoulder
• An achy feeling between your shoulder blades, especially after being in one position for a long time
• Sudden, sharp, and severe pain after a fall, accident, or blow
• Noticeable arm weakness, especially after repetitive motions
• Occasionally dull, aching pain, accompanied by a small, pea-sized lump in the muscle that’s tender and painful to the touch

Consult your healthcare provider if you have sharp pain after an injury or have nausea, dizziness, shortness of breath, or unexplained weight loss. These symptoms could be signs of referred shoulder pain. In most cases, referred pain indicates a serious underlying medical condition.

Before developing a detailed plan to treat your symptoms and facilitate rehabilitation, your local pain specialist will conduct a physical examination and review your medical history. In addition, your doctor will do a range of motion tests to check the strength and resilience of your shoulder. To make a precise diagnosis, a specialist will use detailed images of your shoulder obtained through diagnostic tests such as x-rays, MRI, CT scan, or ultrasound.

Conservative shoulder pain treatment is usually effective. Your doctor will prescribe rest and activity restrictions for a set period. The reduced activity enables for the healing of inflamed muscles, tendons, and ligaments. You should also try to keep track of which activities worsen your symptoms. Eliminating these activities will allow your shoulder to recover.

Along with activity restrictions, our pain doctors may recommend heat, ice, physical therapy, accompanying strength and flexibility exercises, and over-the-counter pain medications. If other methods do not relieve your pain, prescription medication such as pain relievers or muscle relaxants may be helpful. Steroid injections are also available from your doctor to treat inflammation and pain.