Targeted Solutions for Alleviating Pain in Shoulders

At Signature Orthopedics, we understand that shoulder pain can be debilitating, limiting your ability to perform everyday tasks and participate in activities you enjoy. Whether your pain is caused by arthritis, a sports injury, rotator cuff tear, or another condition, Dr. Osuji will take the time to accurately diagnose the issue and create a personalized treatment plan to help you regain strength and mobility.

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Targeted Solutions for Alleviating Shoulder Pain

Understanding Your Shoulder

The shoulder is a complex joint, and pain can arise from various structures, including the bones, muscles, tendons, ligaments, and cartilage. Common causes of shoulder issues include:

  • Rotator cuff tears: Tears in the muscles and tendons that surround the shoulder joint.
  • Arthritis: Osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis can affect the shoulder joint, causing pain, stiffness, and inflammation.
  • Bursitis and tendinitis: Inflammation of the bursae (fluid-filled sacs) or tendons in the shoulder.
  • Frozen shoulder: A condition that causes stiffness and limited range of motion in the shoulder.
  • Dislocations and separations: Injuries to the ligaments that hold the shoulder joint together.

How Signature Orthopedics Can Help

Dr. Osuji and the team at Signature Orthopedics are dedicated to providing comprehensive care for all types of pain. Our approach focuses on accurate diagnosis and personalized treatment, including:

  • Thorough Evaluation: We use a combination of physical exams, medical history, and imaging studies (X-rays, MRI) to pinpoint the source of the pain in your shoulder.
  • Conservative Treatments: We often start with non-surgical options like medication, physical therapy, and injections to manage pain and improve function.
  • Minimally Invasive Procedures: When necessary, Dr. Osuji offers advanced techniques like arthroscopy to repair damaged tissues and alleviate pain.
  • Shoulder Replacement: In cases of severe joint damage, Dr. Osuji performs shoulder replacement surgery, including total shoulder replacement.

Schedule a consultation today and discover how we can help you achieve lasting pain relief and regain your active lifestyle.

Shoulder Pain Q&A

Shoulder pain often begins in the rotator cuff, a group of four muscles and their tendons. These tissues attach to your shoulder blade and the top of your arm bone, creating a cufflike structure around the arm and shoulder joint.

The rotator cuff stabilizes the joint and controls arm movement. Holding the joint together while allowing the arm’s full range of motion causes significant tissue stress. Everyday activities put a lot of pressure on the rotator cuff. The stress increases if you engage in activities requiring overhead arm movement.

The most common causes of shoulder pain include:

  • Osteoarthritis
  • Rotator cuff tears
  • Biceps tendon tears
  • Shoulder dislocations
  • Rotator cuff tendinitis (inflamed tendons)
  • Labral tears (injury to the ring of cartilage around the joint)
  • Frozen shoulder (inner layer of the rotator cuff becomes stiff and tight)
  • Shoulder impingement syndrome (arm and shoulder bones rub the rotator cuff)

You can also have pain in your shoulder if you have a spinal condition pinching the nerves in your neck.

The problems causing your shoulder pain usually come with other symptoms, including:

  • Arm weakness
  • Difficulty lifting your arm
  • Pain when using your arm
  • Joint instability
  • Muscles spasms
  • Joint clicking
  • Limited range of motion
  • Loss of movement
  • Bruising and swelling

Shoulder pain should never be ignored. The longer a shoulder problem goes untreated, the higher your chances of developing chronic instability.

Dr. Osuji and the Signature Orthopedics team begin with conservative treatments targeting the cause of your pain. You could need:

  • Anti-inflammatory medication
  • Shoulder immobilization
  • Steroid injections
  • Physical therapy
  • Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy

Fractures and tears in the ligaments, tendons, or labrum might need immediate surgery. Otherwise, you might need minimally invasive surgery if your pain doesn’t improve with conservative therapies.

Dr. Osuji could recommend a total shoulder replacement if you’ve suffered a severe fracture, have advanced shoulder arthritis, or developed avascular necrosis. This condition occurs when the blood supply to the bone is disrupted.

Shoulder joint replacements are highly technical, and there are several types. You can depend on Dr. Osuji’s expertise to recommend the appropriate replacement procedure and successfully implant a new shoulder joint. The procedure will ease your pain and restore your movement.

Request an appointment online today or call Signature Orthopedics to get relief for your shoulder pain.

You should seek medical attention if your shoulder pain:

  • Is severe or persistent
  • Interferes with your daily activities
  • Is accompanied by swelling, redness, or warmth in the shoulder joint
  • Occurs after a fall or injury
  • Doesn’t improve with home care measures

When conservative treatments are not enough, Dr. Osuji may recommend surgical interventions such as:

  • Shoulder arthroscopy
  • Rotator cuff repair
  • Shoulder replacement surgery