Shoulder Pain

Shoulder pain can be acute if you suddenly tear connective tissues and break bones, or chronic if the damage happens slowly. If shoulder pain is holding you back, visit board-certified orthopaedic surgeon Karl Siebuhr, MD, and Jonathan Kletter, PA-C, at Reconstructive Orthopaedics of Central Florida in Ocala, Florida. They use on-site digital X-rays and arthroscopic techniques to diagnose and treat many shoulder conditions. Call the office today for expert shoulder pain resolution.

What causes shoulder pain?

Sudden shoulder pain is likely to be an acute injury, typically from playing sports, an accident at work, a fall, or an auto accident. Shoulder pain that comes on slowly might be due to an overuse injury caused by repeated arm movements or a degenerative disorder.

Shoulder pain conditions seen frequently at Reconstructive Orthopaedics of Central Florida include:

• Osteoarthritis
• Bursitis
• Rotator cuff tears
• Dislocations
• Labral tears
• Clavicle (collarbone) fracture
• Little league shoulder
• Tendinitis
• Shoulder impingement
• Adhesive capsulitis (frozen shoulder)
• Cuff tear arthropathy
• Biceps tendon rupture

Shoulder instability, where the joint becomes loose and liable to dislocate, can result from repeated injuries.

How is shoulder pain diagnosed?

To diagnose the cause of shoulder pain, your provider examines the joint thoroughly and moves it in various ways. You might need X-rays (available on-site), a CT scan, or an MRI so your provider can see inside the shoulder.

Sometimes these diagnostic images don’t provide enough information, in which case you might need to undergo an arthroscopy (shoulder scope). That is a minimally invasive procedure where your provider inserts a tiny camera into the shoulder through a small incision. They may be able to treat some problems at the same time.

How is shoulder pain treated?

Shoulder pain resulting from a serious injury, such as a fracture, severe rotator cuff tear, or dislocation, might require joint immobilization using a cast or sling. Depending on the injury’s severity, you might need surgery first.

Less severe injuries and chronic shoulder pain usually improve with rest, cold compresses, physical therapy, and anti-inflammatory medications. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) could help by boosting your body’s natural healing abilities. If these measures don’t reduce your symptoms, steroid injections have long-lasting anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving effects.

What surgery might I need for shoulder pain?

Most people with shoulder pain don’t require surgery, but sometimes an operation may be the only solution. For example, your Reconstructive Orthopaedics of Central Florida surgeon might repair injuries like labral cartilage and rotator cuff tears using minimally invasive arthroscopic techniques or robotic-assisted surgery.

Shoulder pain caused by advanced arthritis might benefit from shoulder replacement surgery, where your surgeon removes the damaged bones in the joint and implants artificial components.

If you have shoulder instability, they can perform a reverse total shoulder replacement, switching the implants so you use different muscles and tendons to move your arm.

Call Reconstructive Orthopaedics of Central Florida today, or book an appointment online if you need effective shoulder pain treatment.