If you take a moment to swing your arms around or reach behind you and scratch your back, you begin to realize the incredibly wide range of motion your shoulders allow your arms. This freedom of movement can come at a cost as this joint is pushed beyond its limits, causing shoulder pain.
Shoulder pain often stems from repetitive use injuries, degenerative conditions, and acute injuries, including:
- Instability
- Pediatric overuse injuries due to sports
- Strain or sprain
- Separation
- Dislocation
- Rotator cuff tear
- Labrum tear
- Arthritis, including glenohumeral arthritis
- Fractures of the humerus or clavicle
- Scapula winging
- Rotator cuff tendinitis
- Bursitis
- Frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis)
When it comes to degenerative conditions, shoulder pain often comes on slowly and can progress until it seriously impedes function, which is why you should visit 7 Springs Orthopedics at the first signs of trouble. If you have an acute injury, 7 Springs Orthopedics offers same-day or next-day appointments.
The specialists at any of the 7 Springs’ many locations are equipped with on-site imaging, which is often the first diagnostic stop after reviewing your symptoms. Once your provider has a better idea of what’s going on inside your shoulder, they sit down with you to discuss a treatment plan that may include one or more of the following:
- Medications
- RICE — rest, ice, compression, and elevation
- Corticosteroid injections
- Immobilization
- Physical therapy
- Regenerative medicine, including PRP
How does the shoulder work?
Your shoulder is a large ball-and-socket joint that attaches your arm to your body. By its very design — primarily a shallow socket — your shoulder is inherently unstable, which is what gives you the wide range of motion. Making up this joint are your:
- Humerus (upper arm bone)
- Scapula (shoulder blade)
- Clavicle (collarbone)
- Rotator cuff (muscles and tendons)
- Bursa sacs
These many components come together and hold your arm in place in a delicate balance that still provides freedom of movement.
When is surgery the best option when it comes to shoulder pain?
The providers make every effort to relieve your shoulder pain using nonsurgical methods, but there are times when surgery provides the best remedy, such as with severe degeneration due to arthritis or a rotator cuff tear. In these cases, the board-certified orthopedic surgeons turn to the latest arthroscopic techniques to resolve your shoulder pain and restore function.
If you want to wave goodbye to shoulder pain, call your nearest 7 Springs Orthopedics or request an appointment using our online booking tool.