Shoulder Pain Treatment NJ | Shoulder Doctors New Jersey

You’ve just finished helping your best friend move and are now experiencing acute shoulder pain. Someone just rear-ended you at a stoplight, and your seat belt is now causing pain in your left shoulder. That last golf shot triggered noticeable right shoulder pain, and you’re worried about maintaining your handicap.

All of these factors, and more, may contribute to your need for shoulder pain treatment. Redefine Healthcare’s pain management doctor in NJ works hard to treat the underlying cause of your pain so you can get back to doing what you enjoy. Identifying whether your shoulder pain is caused by a muscle or ligament injury or an injury to the shoulder joint allows your physician to provide you with the best treatment possible.

Causes of Shoulder Pain

The shoulder is one of the body’s most commonly used joints. As a result, shoulder pain can result from various problems and medical conditions that cause 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 shoulder pain can be caused by arthritis or even a heart condition as you age, it is more commonly caused by an injury or strain when you are younger. Our physicals will look for conditions such as injuries 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 restricts joint movement and causes pain when the joint is moved.

Osteoarthritis develops as the cartilage in the joint wears down due to usage. This type of arthritis causes inflammation and pain when the joint is moved, and it can also cause 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, for example, can result in torn muscles and tendons. Aside from the direct injury, the joint’s tissues may become inflamed, causing shoulder pain.

Overuse

Despite the fact that the primary function of the shoulder joint is to move and support activity, overuse can cause shoulder pain. This is a common problem among athletes who perform shoulder activities, such as javelin throwers. Manual laborers may overuse 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 occurs when a tendon swells due to overuse, whereas bursitis occurs when the bursa becomes inflamed.
These issues are known as rotator cuff tendonitis and bursitis because they affect the rotator cuff.

Instability

Shoulder instability occurs when the shoulder joint does not move as it should. In the worst-case scenario, the humerus ball pops out of the shoulder blade socket, causing the joint to dislocate completely. More frequently than not, there is only some difficulty or obstruction in the movement of the joint. Instability is most commonly caused by trauma that knocks the joint out of place, although it can develop gradually and naturally. In either case, it results in shoulder pain that requires medical attention.

Immobility

When the shoulder area remains immobilized for an extended period, such as after surgery, a severe injury, or a stroke, it can stiffen and become painful, resulting in a condition known as frozen shoulder. Inflamed muscles and tendons, such as those seen in bursitis or tendonitis, can also 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. Tendons, muscles, and skin surround it. When you move the joint, the bursa helps lubricate it and reduce friction. Shoulder bursitis is often caused by recurring shoulder joint damage or overuse of this joint.

Because your shoulder joint has bones, cartilage, tendons, ligaments, and muscles that allow for such a wide range of motion, pinpointing the exact reason for shoulder pain requires experience and detective work. Activities as simple as scratching your back or throwing a ball in the yard may cause soft tissue inflammation or impingement.

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 NJ shoulder pain experts. We can help you.

Despite the source of your shoulder pain, you should seek medical attention at one of our nearby clinics. In many cases, conservative treatment is required, which includes applying warm or cold packs, taking over-the-counter pain relievers and prescription painkillers 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.

Symptoms of Shoulder Pain

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.

If you have sharp pain after an injury or experience nausea, dizziness, shortness of breath, or unexplained weight loss, consult your healthcare provider because these could be symptoms of referred shoulder pain. In most cases, referred pain indicates a serious underlying medical condition.

How Is Shoulder Pain Diagnosed?

Your local pain specialist will perform a physical examination and review your medical history before establishing a customized plan to treat your symptoms and facilitate rehabilitation. In addition, your doctor will do a range of motion tests to check the strength and resilience of your shoulder. A specialist will use detailed pictures of your shoulder obtained through diagnostic tests such as x-ray studies, MRI, CT scan, or ultrasound to determine a precise diagnosis.

Getting Treatment for Your Shoulder Pain

Based on an evaluation of your symptoms and a discussion of your medical history, your pain specialist may order imaging tests such as x-rays, MRIs, CT scans, and electrical testing to evaluate your nerves and muscle response. In some cases, exploratory surgery using arthroscopy is required to establish the source of your pain. A diagnosis must precede treatment for shoulder joint pain or shoulder muscle discomfort.

Conservative shoulder pain treatment is usually effective. Your physician prescribes rest and activity restrictions for a specified length of time. The reduced activity allows inflamed muscles, tendons, and ligaments to heal. Pay close attention to which activities aggravate your pain; reducing these activities also lets your shoulder 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. Prescription medication, such as pain relievers or muscle relaxants, may be helpful if other methods do not relieve your pain. Your doctor also offers steroid injections to combat inflammation and reduce pain.

How Is Shoulder Dislocation Treated?

If you suspect you have a shoulder dislocation, you should seek medical attention immediately. Typically, you will be in excruciating pain and unable to move your shoulder, requiring professional medical care. Maintain as much stability and immobility as possible in your shoulder until you see a nearby specialist.

The reduction is necessary to return the displaced humerus to its proper position in the bone socket. To avoid further damage to the shoulder and surrounding structures, a trained medical professional or our doctor should perform shoulder reduction as soon as possible. An X-ray of the injured shoulder is required to rule out any fractures. The patient’s reduction process is quite painful in rare cases, necessitating general anesthesia. A surgical reduction is also an option, particularly for young people who are also physically active. Repeated shoulder dislocations are joint.

Following shoulder reduction, the injured shoulder must be immobilized. You will most likely need to rest your shoulder for the next 5 to 7 days. Any fracture usually requires a lengthier period of immobility.

Because shoulder dislocation is often quite painful, we recommend over-the-counter and more potent prescription medications.

When conservative treatment has failed to treat a shoulder dislocation followed by a fracture of the bones or damage to the surrounding tissues such as ligaments, tendons, nerves, or blood vessels, as in repeated shoulder dislocations, surgery is the option, the goal of surgical treatment is to stabilize the shoulder joint as much as possible and repair any joint structures that have been injured.

Surgical Treatments for Shoulder Pain

If you experience recurring dislocations or rotator cuff injuries, your doctor may recommend you have surgery. Surgery, often performed arthroscopically, repairs tendon tears, removes bone spurs, or reduces impinging scar tissue. Larger reconstructions or shoulder joint replacements rarely require open surgical procedures.

The best pain management specialist at Redefine Healthcare focuses on symptom relief while treating the underlying cause. Conservative shoulder pain treatments benefit the vast majority of people. Your doctor is well-versed in non-invasive therapies and surgical procedures to provide you with the best results possible and return you to the activities you enjoy the most. To enhance your chances of a speedy recovery, contact Redefine Healthcare at the first sign of shoulder pain.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to Get Rid of Shoulder Pain?

If you experience dull or aching pain in your shoulder, our doctors recommend the following ways to relieve your symptoms at home:

Rest and gentle range-of-motion exercises are essential to reduce pain and keep the muscles strong and flexible. Stretches you can try include pendulum and across-the-chest stretch.
Over-the-counter pain relievers or anti-inflammatory drugs like aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen can help ease painful inflammation in the affected shoulder.
Heat and cold therapy can help relieve pain and swelling by promoting blood flow to your bad shoulder.
Correct your posture by keeping your shoulder blades back and together when sitting or standing.

Our physicians can advise you on an appropriate exercise program and which medications to use for your specific symptoms. Schedule an in-person consultation now to take the first step toward enjoying a pain-free life.

How to Sleep With Shoulder Pain?

Sleep on your back and avoid putting stress on your shoulders to maintain the correct sleeping posture. To keep your shoulder joint in the proper position, consider sleeping on your non-affected side with a pillow tucked deep under your arm.

How Do I Know if My Shoulder Pain Is Serious?

Seek immediate medical attention if you cannot move your shoulder or are experiencing persistent bruising, heat, or tenderness around the joint. We also recommend contacting a doctor if you are in excruciating pain that does not go away after a few weeks of home treatment. If you have sudden and severe pain without injuries, dial 911 immediately.

How Long Does Shoulder Pain Last?

Pain in your shoulder can take weeks, months, or even years to heal, depending on the severity of the underlying condition. In some cases, the symptoms will go away on their own. If the pain persists despite rest and medication, see a doctor in New Jersey.

Why Do I Experience Shoulder Pain When Lifting My Arm?

A common known cause of shoulder pain when the arm is lifted away from the body is shoulder impingement. It happens when the shoulder’s tendons catch or rub against nearby bone and tissues, resulting in weakness, limited mobility, and severe pain.

How to Prevent Shoulder Pain?

To help prevent shoulder problems, our physicians recommend starting a shoulder strength and flexibility program. To learn more about the program, speak with our physical therapist. We also recommend being aware of your posture throughout the day, both during exercise and at rest, to avoid putting additional strain on the shoulder due to misalignment of the bones and soft tissues.

Shoulder Pain Treatment in NJ | Shoulder Doctors Specialists

What is Shoulder Pain?