When it comes to joint pain, some common complaints we treat are related to shoulder pain. The shoulders are fundamental to our ability to move. Its main purpose is to twist and rotate. While the shoulder relies on several bones, ligaments, tendons, and cartilage to perform, the shoulders are often prone to injury.

What types of injuries result in shoulder pain?

Adhesive Capsulitis (Frozen shoulder)

Adhesive Capsulitis, also known as Frozen shoulder, can cause stiffness and pain in the shoulder joint. Signs and symptoms typically start small and gradually worsen over time and then resolve themselves, usually within one to three years.

The risk of developing a frozen shoulder increases if you have recently recovered from a medical condition or procedure that prevents you from moving the arm — such as a stroke or a mastectomy.

Treatment for a frozen shoulder usually involves performing range-of-motion exercises and sometimes corticosteroid injections and numbing medications injected into the joint capsule. In a small percentage of cases, shoulder specialists may recommend arthroscopic surgery to loosen the joint capsule so that it can move freely.

While unusual for frozen shoulders to recur in the same shoulder, some people may still develop it in the opposite shoulder.

Labrum tears

The socket of the shoulder, known as the glenoid, meets the humerus bone of the arm, with the Labrum cushioning the area in between. When the Labrum tears, it can cause patients to suffer from shoulder pain or instability. 

The labrum lies at the center of the shoulder and acts as the anchor point for not only the ball-and-socket joint, but the ligaments, rotator cuff tendons, and muscles as well, greatly contributing to shoulder stability and preventing shoulder dislocation.

Patients with a torn shoulder labrum report symptoms that include: 

• Shoulder pain 
• Shoulder instability 
• A feeling of grinding, locking, or catching while moving the shoulder

Shoulder dislocation

Dislocation refers to a joint injury in which the ends of two or more bones forcefully disconnect from their natural positions. This injury temporarily and painfully deforms and immobilizes the joint. A dislocated joint can be caused by traumas such as falling, automobile accidents, motorcycle accidents, or a hard collision. A hard collision could occur during high-contact sports such as football, soccer, or rugby. 

What are the symptoms of a shoulder dislocation?

• Visibly deformed or out-of-place joint
• Numbness or tingling at the joint
• Swollen or discolored
• Limited mobility at the point of dislocation
• Intense pain

What are some non-surgical treatments for shoulder pain?

Steroid Injections

The steroidal medication injected into a painful joint space can help soothe painful joints. Injecting corticosteroids into a joint will not provide permanent relief on its own, but it can dramatically reduce inflammation and pain. The effects can last anywhere between 1 week to 1 year. Injections for joint pain are usually one of the steps taken before resorting to surgery. In some patients, steroid injections can reduce pain to the point where patients are able to participate in Physical Therapy, which in turn can strengthen the surrounding muscles and eliminate the need for further treatment. There are treatments available, non-surgical, and not steroid injection, that are regenerative and solutions to keep you away from surgery. schedule an appointment and ask our providers how we can help.

Physical Therapy

Physical therapists diagnose and treat patients with medical problems or injuries that limit their ability to take part in their daily lives. Patients will usually see a physical therapist after a referral by their primary physician. Physical therapists work with patients who have experienced an injury or disease that has affected their movement and range of motion.

At Nextgen Wellness Group, our team of licensed physical therapists and rehabilitation experts will focus on your total health and wellness. Regardless of the cause or source of your pain, we will develop a treatment plan with your unique issues in mind.

Our treatment philosophy emphasizes evidence-based manual and therapeutic exercise techniques that are tailored toward efficiently returning patients, athletes, and employees to their pre-injury status. We treat orthopedic and sports injuries, provide spinal rehabilitation, post-surgical rehabilitation, and industrial rehabilitation. Personalized physical therapy is used to treat a variety of conditions.

• Chronic and acute medical problems
• Knee pain
• Back pain
• Leg Pain
• Ankle pain
• Sports injuries
• Musculoskeletal injuries
• Chronic medical problems
• Neurological conditions such as spinal cord injuries

If you or a loved one suffers from shoulder pain, schedule an appointment with Nextgen Wellness Group. Our pain specialists are accepting new patients and are ready to help you take the first steps in healing. Contact us now.