What causes shoulder pain?
Everyday arm movement alone can strain the muscles and tendons that stabilize your shoulder joint. Any extra stress your shoulder endures due to repetitive movement and athletic activities further increases your risk of injuries and pain.
Some of the most common causes of shoulder pain include:
- Arthritis
- Rotator cuff tear
- Biceps tendinitis
- Rotator cuff tendinitis
- Impingement
- Frozen shoulder
- Labrum tear
- Fractures
- Bursitis
Will I have symptoms in addition to pain?
Shoulder pain and difficulty moving your arm go hand in hand. As you stop using your arm due to the pain, the rotator cuff tightens, which further restricts movement. And then the tight muscles often increase your pain.
What type of treatment relieves shoulder pain?
Your initial treatment depends on the cause and severity of your shoulder pain. You may need to change your activities or temporarily immobilize your shoulder to give the tissues time to heal.
Ligament and tendon tears may need surgical repair to ensure they heal properly and you regain optimal strength. As soon as possible following your initial treatment, you’ll start rehabilitation to gradually restore strength and movement.
As your shoulder heals, your doctor may recommend platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections. PRP is obtained from your own blood so you don’t need to worry about side effects.
When your provider injects PRP directly into the damaged tissues, the platelets release growth factors that accelerate healing, regulate inflammation, and recruit stem cells that regenerate new muscles, tendons, and other tissues.
If you need help with severe or chronic shoulder pain, the team at Louisiana Pain Specialists offers several types of interventional therapies, such as:
- Steroid injections
- Steroids significantly reduce inflammation when injected into the shoulder joint.
- Radiofrequency ablation
- Peripheral nerve stimulation