Shoulder Pain Specialist Q&A

Shoulder pain can be pretty common and has many different causes, but some are more common than others. It’s pretty common for the cause to be tendonitis, a fracture, bursitis, a tendon tear, or arthritis. Depending on the cause, the treatment could be something like simple pain medication or interventional treatment. We offer many different treatment options as well as customized treatment plans here at Modern Pain Management.

Sometimes surgery is the best option for a patient with chronic pain, but often it isn’t. Here at our clinic, we want to treat your pain with minimally invasive and noninvasive solutions, so we provide these here.

There are actually lots of treatments available, like physical therapy and more. Sometimes the interventional approach is the best one, and this approach may include treatments like:

• Intraarticular steroid injections – These injections can offer short-term but immediate and significant pain relief for osteoarthritis patients with moderate to severe pain.
• Suprascapular nerve block – A safe and effective way to treat pain caused by a chronic condition that affects the shoulder of a patient; an anesthetic/steroid is used for this treatment.
• Suprascapular nerve radiofrequency ablation – This may offer longer-lasting pain relief than the suprascapular nerve block; with this treatment, radiofrequency is used to reduce or stop the transmission of pain.
• Cervical epidural steroid injections – Injections to relieve pain in the shoulder that’s caused by a pinched or inflamed nerve in the cervical spine; this can help many patients with herniated discs, spinal stenosis, or arthritis.
• Stellate ganglion block – An injection of a local anesthetic to block nerves, reduce symptoms like pain, swelling, and sweating, and improve mobility in the affected area.
• Spinal cord stimulator – An implanted device that uses electrical spinal cord stimulation for pain relief.
• Botox for upper extremity spasticity – To treat upper limb spasticity due to stroke or another issue.

One of the most common causes of shoulder pain involves the rotator cuffs when their tendons become trapped under the bony area in the shoulder. The tendons become inflamed or damaged. This condition is called rotator cuff tendinitis or bursitis and makes up a large portion of shoulder pain cases.
Shoulder pain may also be caused by:

• Arthritis in the shoulder joint
• Bone spurs in the shoulder area
• Bursitis
• Broken shoulder bone
• Dislocation of the shoulder
• Shoulder separation
• Frozen shoulder, which occurs when the soft tissues inside the shoulder become stiff, making movement difficult and even painful
• Overuse or injury of nearby tendons
• Tears of the rotator cuff tendons
• Poor shoulder posture and mechanics

The symptoms of shoulder arthritis vary from person to person and may include:

• Pain — The major sign of arthritis in the shoulder joint is pain. It can be present in any area of the shoulder, including the front, side, or back of the shoulder. Some people have pain only when using the muscles in their shoulder, while others have pain even when they are not using their shoulder muscles.

• Stiffness — Another sign of the progression of shoulder arthritis is stiffness. This may be experienced as a loss of range of motion in the shoulder joint. As the motion decreases, it may be harder to perform activities with the arm, which may be limited due to pain.

• Grinding — A clicking or cracking sound, also known as crepitus, may be experienced because the surface of the cartilage is irregular with arthritis. It may or may not be painful. Sometimes the shoulder may “lock up.” Occasionally, because the surfaces are no longer smooth, the shoulder may slide in certain positions.

To relieve shoulder pain:

• Ice the shoulder area for 15 minutes at a time, then leave it off for another 15 minutes. This can be repeated 3 to 4 times a day for a few days. Wrap the ice in cloth. Do not put ice directly on the skin as this can result in frostbitten skin.
• Rest the shoulder joint for the next few days
• Slowly return to regular activities
• Take ibuprofen or acetaminophen to help reduce inflammation and pain, if recommended by a doctor

Yes, we do! Our shoulder pain specialist is experienced in evaluating, diagnosing, and treating shoulder pain from a wide range of causes. If you are experiencing shoulder pain, visit our pain management clinic today.

At Modern Pain Management, we are dedicated to helping patients manage and overcome their pain using a variety of different treatment options. We have two Texas locations to better serve you: one in Houston and one in Sugar Land. Residents in Houston, TX can call us to book an appointment, or they can visit our clinic located at 902 Frostwood Drive, Suite 235, Houston, TX 77024. Residents of Sugar Land, TX can call us to book an appointment, or they can visit our clinic at 12930 Dairy Ashford Rd, Units 501-504, Sugar Land, Texas 77498. . We look forward to serving you!

You can find these treatments here at Modern Pain Management, and we have two locations. You’ll find us either at 902 Frostwood Drive, Suite 235, Houston, TX 77024, or at 12930 Dairy Ashford Rd, Units 501-504, Sugar Land, Texas 77498. To learn more about us, and our treatments for shoulder pain, and to book a consultation, give us a call today. We serve patients from Houston TX, Sugar Land TX, Stafford TX, Pearland TX, Missouri City TX, Jersey Village TX, and Richmond TX. We hope to hear from you and help you with your pain very soon!