Shoulder Pain

Shoulder Pain

Shoulder pain is a very common complaint. The shoulder has the greatest range of motion of any joint in the body, so it is no surprise that this opens up the joint to all types of complications.

At NEXGEN Orthopedics, we have great success relieving shoulder pain for all types of patients, ranging from professional athletes to seniors who may be suffering from arthritis or just wear and tear over the years.

Here are three common reasons patients with shoulder pain come to see us:

• Bicep tendonitis: This condition is an inflammation of the tendon that attaches the bicep muscle to the shoulder. It is typically the result of overuse from repeated overhead motions or an injury to the tendon itself.
  Symptoms may include irritation, swelling, weakness in the arm, and pain that is made worse when the arm is raised above the head.

• Labral tears: The labrum is a soft, fibrous tissue that surrounds the socket of the joint in the shoulder, which helps to stabilize the joint. The labrum can become injured from repetitive shoulder motions, falling onto an arm that is stretched out, or a direct blow to the shoulder.
  Symptoms may include weakness or instability of the shoulder, a popping or clicking sensation during movement, pain when the arm is lifted above the head, or aching of the shoulder.

• Rotator-cuff injuries: This collection of muscles and tendons that surround the ball-and-socket joint of the shoulder provides stability and rotation. Rotator-cuff injuries are very common and can be caused by repetitive motion or acute trauma to the area.
  Symptoms may include weakness in the shoulder and oftentimes pain that can make simple activities such as combing your hair incredibly difficult.

How they treat it

The go-to remedies for conventional doctors include drugs, both OTC and Rx. Taking these drugs to mask the pain carries plenty of risks even with well-known over-the-counter drugs such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen. The risks include harm to the liver and stomach, bleeding, kidney, and more.

How we treat it

At NEXGEN Orthopedics, we treat shoulder pain using an integrative approach which in some cases may include ultra-minimally invasive surgery. Using physical therapy and other therapies, we aim to accelerate and enhance the recovery process for our patients.