Shoulder pain.

Arthritis, especially osteoarthritis, is one of the most common causes of shoulder pain. In osteoarthritis, the cartilage in your shoulder joint breaks down over time, causing bones to rub against each other, which means pain, stiffness, and swelling. If you notice that your shoulder is getting more stiff or painful with age, osteoarthritis might be the culprit. It's often worse with movement, and the pain may come and go or become chronic over time.

Shoulder fractures usually result from an accident or fall, and they can be quite painful. The collarbone (clavicle) or the upper arm bone (humerus) are often most affected. If you've recently fallen or had trauma to your shoulder and you're dealing with severe pain, swelling, or bruising, a fracture might be the cause. With fractures, treatment usually includes immobilizing the area and — depending on the severity — could involve surgery as well. 

A dislocated shoulder occurs when the ball at the top of the upper arm bone (humerus) pops out of its socket in the shoulder blade. This can happen during high-impact activities like sports or accidents. If you've experienced a dislocation, you'll probably notice sudden, intense pain, as well as swelling and visible deformity in the shoulder. You may also feel instability in the joint, and if you're prone to dislocation, you could risk long-term joint issues if left untreated.

The labrum is a type of cartilage that acts like a cup holding the ball of your shoulder joint in place. When the labrum gets torn, typically from trauma or repetitive motions (like swimming or weightlifting), it can cause pain, instability, and difficulty moving your arm. If you've been dealing with a dull ache or discomfort that doesn't seem to go away, you might have a labrum tear. 

The rotator cuff is made up of muscles and tendons that help stabilize your shoulder during movement, especially with overhead motions. Wear and tear or sudden injuries can lead to a tear in the rotator cuff, which is one of the most common causes of shoulder pain. It often leads to weakness, difficulty lifting the arm, and pain (especially at night). Small tears might heal with rest and physical therapy, but larger ones may need surgical repair.

Tendonitis is inflammation or irritation of a tendon, which is the thick fibrous cord that connects muscle to bone. In the shoulder, this condition typically occurs in the rotator cuff tendons due to repetitive motions or overuse (often seen in athletes or people with physically demanding jobs). Symptoms of tendonitis include pain, tenderness, and swelling around the affected tendon, especially when lifting with the arm or overhead motions. If left untreated, tendonitis can lead to further damage, so early intervention, like rest, physical therapy, and other treatments, is important for a full recovery.

Bursitis is the inflammation of a bursa — a small fluid-filled sac that reduces friction and provides cushion for pressure points between the bones, tendons, and muscles around the joint. In the shoulder, bursitis typically occurs in the subacromial bursa, which causes pain and swelling in the upper arm. This condition is often caused by repetitive overhead motions, injury, or pressure on the shoulder. Common symptoms include a dull ache or pain in the shoulder that worsens with motion, and in more severe cases, stiffness and difficulty with any movement.

• Injections: Corticosteroid injections are a popular treatment for shoulder pain caused by conditions like arthritis or inflammation. The goal of these injections is to reduce swelling and provide pain relief.
• Physical therapy.
• Medications.
• Cold or heat therapy.

We provide minimally invasive platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy to utilize the restorative power of your own blood platelets to stimulate a healing response in damaged joints, tissue, or tendons and to aid in pain control for mild to moderate osteoarthritis in areas like the shoulders.

PRP is created by running blood through a centrifuge to concentrate the platelets, and then injecting these activated platelets directly into affected areas to promote regeneration through growth factors and cell-signaling molecules.

PRP therapy is often used to heal joints that have a labral tear or tendinopathy. Labral tears are common in the cartilage around the shoulder joints, and PRP changes the cell-signaling environment to calm down inflammation and promote healing. PRP therapy for tendinopathy is typically effective in healing damaged tissue by regenerating collagen fibers and improving the stress response.

By harnessing the healing properties of your body's own platelets, we can help you get back in the game.

If you have a rotator cuff tear or labrum tear that isn't improving with non-surgical treatments, surgery may be the next step. Tear repair surgery involves reattaching the torn tendons or catilage back into their original position. This surgery is typically done arthroscopically, which means small incisions are used to perform the repair. It's highly effective for restoring function and alleviating pain.

In cases of severe arthritis, where the shoulder joint is badly damaged, total shoulder replacement surgery may be the best choice. This procedure involves replacing the damaged joint with an artificial one. Your surgeon might recommend a total shoulder replacement or reverse shoulder replacement. Both procedures aim to relieve pain and improve mobility, though the type of replacement used will depend on your specific condition.

Reverse shoulder replacement is a specialized surgery for patients with severe arthritis or complex rotator cuff problems. In this surgery, the ball and socket of the shoulder are reversed. This means the ball is attached to the shoulder blade, and the socket is attached to the upper arm bone, or humerus. This technique allows the remaining muscles to compensate and control the movement of the shoulder, offering relief for patients who didn't benefit from other treatments.