Top Shoulder Pain Treatments in 2019 For Shoulder Problems
Sep 18, 2019
Few things can stop you in your tracks like shoulder pain. You can be in the middle of a routine task like grocery shopping, and reaching for that jar of pasta sauce on the top shelf makes you squeeze your upper arm in pain. Shoulder problems are not uncommon, and are caused by general wear and tear, acute injuries, overexertion, or degenerative diseases like arthritis. However, when your affected shoulder limits your daily activities or causes excessive pain, it’s time for a consultation to discuss the top shoulder pain treatments in 2019.
At Pain Treatment Specialists, our board certified and Ivy League-educated team of interventional pain doctors consult with patients and create an individualized treatment plan based on their pain concerns. The team’s compassionate doctors utilize top shoulder pain treatments in 2019 that are cutting-edge, highly-effective, and minimally-invasive. The goal is to properly diagnose your shoulder pain concerns, and find pain management techniques that work best for you. Before you shatter that lovely marinara sauce all over the grocery store floor, find the top shoulder pain treatments in 2019 for shoulder pain.
How Much Recovery Time is Needed for Top Shoulder Pain Treatments in 2019?
The answer? Almost none! Since the pain doctors at Pain Treatment Specialists utilize minimally-invasive pain management techniques, most procedures are conducted on an outpatient basis, with clients returning to work the next day. In the United States, surgery is often seen as the only solution for shoulder pain. However, the top shoulder pain treatments in 2019 utilize steroid injections, hyaluronic acid injections, and physical therapy to combat your shoulder pain concerns. Some of the top shoulder pain treatments in 2019 include:
- Steroid Injections/Corticosteroids: The doctor will administer steroid-based steroid injections in the shoulder bursa area, which is just above the tendon. These injections reduce discomfort, alleviate shoulder irritation, and get rid of swelling. At the same time, steroid injections enable you to do, which is an excellent physical therapy tool.
- This type of treatment is advantageous because it targets a specific area for pain relief and provides immediate improvement. A local anesthetic is used at the injection point, so this highly-effective procedure feels no worse than a mild bee sting. Top shoulder pain treatments in 2019 have long-lasting effects, and steroid injections are no exception. The typical length of pain relief lasts weeks, and even months for some patients.
- Hyaluronic Acid Injection/Viscosupplementation: Hyaluronic acid is a key component of the shoulder joint fluid called synovial fluid. It gives the joint fluid its viscous, slippery quality which enables the bones’ cartilage-covered surfaces to glide against each other. This injection treatment reduces joint friction and adds cushion to protect joints during impact.
- This treatment requires 3-5 visits within one week to your pain doctor, involves no prior preparation, and is completed in just a few minutes. As with steroid injections, immediate pain relief is felt, which makes this a top shoulder pain treatment in 2019.
What Makes Up The Different Parts of My Shoulder?
A shoulder completes a wide range of movements when you move your arms, head, and neck. In order to understand the cause of your shoulder pain, learning about your shoulder joint’s anatomy helps narrow down the top shoulder pain treatments in 2019.
Much like your knee joint, your shoulder joint has a ball-socket joint that enables your arm to roll in every direction. Surprisingly, for such a complex range of motion, the shoulder joint only consists of two bones. The top part of the upper arm bone is the humeral head, and it fits into the other bone, called the shoulder blade. The humeral head is held in place by thick layers of cartilage.
Next, rotator cuff muscles provide stability within the shoulder. Rotator cuff tendons are attached to the shoulder blade, and are also affected when the shoulder blade’s range of motion is limited. Rotator cuff tears and injuries are a result of this limited range of motion. If you’re ready to seek treatment for shoulder pain, the Pain Treatment Specialists provide top shoulder pain treatments in 2019 for pain relief.
What are the Medical Causes of Shoulder Pain?
Only your pain doctor can provide a medical diagnosis for your shoulder pain. In addition to the thorough discussion of your specific shoulder pain concerns and top shoulder pain treatments in 2019, your pain doctor also diagnoses the cause of your pain issues. Some common causes of shoulder pain include:
- Shoulder Osteoarthritis: Oѕtеоаrthrіtіѕ, аlѕо known аѕ osteoarthritis, degenerative аrthrіtіѕ оr degenerative joint disease, is the mоѕt соmmоn tуре of аrthrіtіѕ and іѕ раrtісulаrlу seen among older people. Oѕtеоаrthrіtіѕ commonly аffесtѕ thе саrtіlаgе covering the еndѕ оf bоnеѕ whеrе thеу meet tо fоrm a joint. Hеаlthу cartilage lets bоnеѕ glіdе оvеr еасh оthеr and аbѕоrbѕ еnеrgу frоm thе ѕhосk of рhуѕісаl movement. People with oѕtеоаrthrіtіѕ suffer from stiffness and joint pains in various parts of the body, especially the elbow, knees, hips, shoulder, neck, lower back, wrist, and finger joints. Oѕtеоаrthrіtіѕ is a progressive disease and its symptoms worsen over time.
- Shoulder Bursitis/Shoulder Impingement Syndrome: Shoulder Bursitis, also known as Shoulder Impingement Syndrome, affects the shoulder bursa. Due to consistent movements of the shoulder or a mild injury, the bursa can get inflamed and painful. The bursa is padding located between the rotator cuff and the acromion bone. If the rotator cuff tendons get pinched in the thin gap below the acromion, the bursa and tendons can both become swollen and irritated. As a result, the muscles of the shoulder complex and rotator cuff may become weak and let the shoulder slide up in the socket. This can lead to more impingement and substantial shoulder ache.
Don’t wait until shoulder pain makes small tasks like grocery shopping unbearable. Contact the pain doctors at Pain Treatment Specialists to see how our team can provide the top shoulder pain treatments in 2019.
Meet our Harvard trained team
Dr. George Hanna
Harvard Medical School | NY & NJ Pain Specialist
Dr. Hanna received his undergraduate degree from Cornell University and his medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. He completed anesthesiology residency at Massachusetts General Hospital – Harvard Medical School and a pain management fellowship at Brigham and Women’s Hospital – Harvard Medical School. Dr. Hanna was then appointed Clinical Instructor of Anesthesia at Harvard Medical School – training new graduates for over 3 years in anesthesiology and pain management techniques at Massachusetts General Hospital.
