Shoulder Pain Specialist

What is shoulder pain?

Shoulder pain is an uncomfortable feeling in your shoulder joint, which is a joint that connects your upper arm to your torso. You may have shoulder pain because of an injury, disease, or age-related wear and tear. Shoulder pain can feel like or cause:

• Dull, aching pain
• Sharp discomfort
• Burning
• Tingling
• Numbness
• Stiffness
• Decreased range of motion
• Weakness 
• Inability to raise your arms above your head

Shoulder pain could be mild, moderate, or severe. It can heal on its own or linger long-term without proper treatment. The experts at Doctors United offer a variety of shoulder pain treatments that provide relief. 

What causes shoulder pain?

Numerous injuries and chronic conditions can cause shoulder pain. Examples include:

• Bursitis
• Tendinitis
• Tendon tears
• Instability
• Arthritis
• Fractures
• Nerve damage
• Infections
• Tumors
• Impingement 
• Rotator cuff injuries

You might develop a shoulder injury at work, in a car accident, after falling down, or when lifting something heavy.

How does my doctor diagnose the cause of shoulder pain?

To find out what’s causing shoulder pain, specialists at Doctors United use a variety of methods. They discuss your medical history and symptoms, check your vital signs, and complete a physical examination — paying close attention to shoulder joint structure, function, and range of motion. 

Your doctor could have you complete nerve tests, blood tests, X-rays, MRIs, CT scans, or other imaging procedures to make a final diagnosis and develop a treatment plan.

What are the common treatments for shoulder pain?

Some of the many shoulder pain treatments your Doctors United provider may recommend include:

Home remedies

Things you can do at home to speed up healing of a shoulder injury include using ice or heat packs, resting your shoulder joint, and wearing a sling or brace.

Medications

Taking certain medications can reduce pain and inflammation due to a shoulder injury and help it heal as quickly as possible. 

Physical therapy

Physical therapy strengthens and stretches the shoulder joint to reduce pain, speed healing, and lower your chance of reinjury. 

Injections

Injections into the shoulder can reduce inflammation, increase joint lubrication, reduce pain, and more.

Chiropractic care

Chiropractic manipulations help better align shoulder joint tissues to reduce discomfort.

Surgery

If you have a serious shoulder injury or ongoing pain that doesn't go away with conservative treatments, orthopedic specialists at Doctors United may recommend you undergo surgery to restore your shoulder and maximize its function.

If you struggle with severe or ongoing shoulder pain, schedule an appointment with Doctors United by phone or online today.