Shoulder Pain Specialist

What is shoulder pain?

Your shoulder is a complex joint that forms the connection between three bones, including your humerus (upper arm bone), scapula (shoulder blade), and clavicle (collar bone). Muscles, ligaments, tendons, and cartilage keep the bones in place and support your shoulder’s mobility.

Any condition that affects the joint or supportive tissue may cause shoulder pain. The pain may be severe, occurring suddenly after a bad fall onto the arm or a dull aching sensation that worsens over time. 

Though not all types of shoulder pain need medical intervention, if your shoulder pain limits your mobility or fails to improve within a few days of at-home care, schedule a consultation with the experts at Orthopaedic Institute of Dayton.

What causes shoulder pain?

Injuries, overuse, degenerative conditions, or an underlying disease may cause shoulder pain. Common conditions that cause shoulder pain include:

• Arthritis

• Rotator cuff injuries

• Labrum tear

• Bursitis

• Tendonitis

• Impingement

• Fractures

• Dislocation

• Frozen shoulder

With these types of shoulder problems, your pain may worsen when you move your shoulder. When you have shoulder pain from problems related to your neck or back, movement of your shoulder may not worsen your discomfort.

What happens during a shoulder pain evaluation?

When you visit Orthopaedic Institute of Dayton for a shoulder pain evaluation, you can expect a comprehensive exam. Your provider reviews your symptoms and medical history and examines your shoulder.

They also ask detailed questions about your pain to help determine the underlying cause. 

The shoulder pain experts also run tests to confirm or rule out a suspected diagnosis that might explain your symptoms, such as an X-ray, CT scan, bone scan, MRI, nerve conduction studies, or lab work.

For your convenience, Orthopaedic Institute of Dayton offers on-site MRI scans. 

How is shoulder pain treated?

The board-certified orthopedic surgeons at Orthopaedic Institute of Dayton customize your shoulder pain treatment plan based on the underlying cause of your pain and severity of symptoms. 

In most cases, the experts resolve shoulder pain without the need for surgery using treatments such as:

• Splinting or bracing

• Physical therapy

• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)

• Ultrasound-guided injections

• Platelet-rich plasma

If you need surgery for your shoulder pain, your provider performs your procedure at the on-site surgery center. The type of surgery they perform depends on your diagnosis. In most cases, they use arthroscopic techniques to minimize tissue damage and recovery time. 

The full-service orthopedic practice also performs shoulder joint replacement procedures, including reverse total shoulder replacement for complex shoulder arthritis.

Shoulder pain requires special care but responds positively to conservative care. For management of your shoulder pain, call Orthopaedic Institute of Dayton or schedule an appointment online today.