Shoulder Pain Specialist

What is shoulder pain?

Your shoulder is a ball-and-socket joint with the widest range of motion of all the joints in your body. It connects your humerus, or upper arm bone, to your scapula (shoulder blade) and clavicle (collar bone). Shoulder pain can happen due to injuries or certain conditions causing long-term damage.

Like pain in other joints, shoulder pain often comes with other symptoms like stiffness, swelling, and inflammation. During your initial evaluation with Dr. Philip at Midwest Sports and Interventional Spine, he assesses your shoulder mobility and may use imaging tests like X-rays or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans to view the internal structures. 

Shoulder pain can originate in any of the parts of the joint, including the bones, cartilage, tendons, or ligaments. Sometimes, shoulder injuries involve multiple areas of damage. Dr. Philip creates an individualized treatment plan according to the underlying cause of your shoulder pain. 

What causes shoulder pain?

Various injuries and conditions can result in shoulder pain that needs careful assessment and individualized treatment. The most common cause of shoulder pain is called rotator cuff tendinitis. The rotator cuff is a group of tendons supporting the shoulder joint, and tendinitis happens when they become swollen. 

Other possibilities include:

• Shoulder dislocation
• Arthritis
• Torn cartilage
• Rotator cuff tear
• Bursitis
• Bone spurs
• Pinched nerve in the neck or shoulder
• Bone fractures

Many of these conditions and injuries share the same symptoms, so imaging tests are often an important part of diagnosis. While shoulder pain often starts with damage in the shoulder, it can also be referred pain from an injury in the upper portion of your spine. 

What are my treatment options for shoulder pain?

At Midwest Sports and Interventional Spine, Dr. Philip uses many advanced, evidence-based treatments to relieve shoulder pain. He prioritizes minimally invasive procedures in order to minimize your reliance on pain medications. 

Typically, a care plan with multiple treatments works best for shoulder pain and pain in other joints. Depending on your shoulder pain diagnosis, Dr. Philip may recommend:

• Joint injections
• Physical therapy
• Medication management
• Activity modification
• Bracing
• Shoulder arthroscopy

Throughout your treatment, Dr. Philip visits with you regularly to reassess your shoulder pain and mobility. If you’re not experiencing significant improvement from your treatment, he can change your treatment plan or recommend more intensive care, like surgery. 

If you have persistent shoulder pain or immobility, call Midwest Sports and Interventional Spine for an evaluation or schedule an appointment online today.