Shoulder Pain

The shoulder joint has a wider range of motion than any other joint in your body, leaving it vulnerable to injury and pain. At Advanced Pain Institute in Arcadia, Encino, and Pasadena, California, interventional pain specialist Isaac Michael MineHart, MD, provides comprehensive care for all types of shoulder pain, whether you have a rotator cuff tear or diabetic neuropathy. Call Advanced Pain Institute today or schedule an appointment online to learn more about shoulder pain.

What causes shoulder pain?

The shoulder joint is one of the largest joints in your body. It provides your arm with a wide range of motion, allowing you to lift and extend your arms in different directions. As a ball-and-socket joint, the top of the arm fits into the shoulder blade. A group of muscles and tendons called the rotator cuff holds the joint in place.

Many injuries and degenerative conditions can cause shoulder pain, such as:

Rotator cuff tear

The rotator cuff supports and stabilizes the shoulder joint. Sports injuries from throwing or twisting your arm are among the most common causes of rotator cuff tears, but gradual wear and tear can also degrade the tissues.

Arthritis

Arthritis is a degenerative condition that affects your joints. The condition can cause either damage to the cartilage that cushions your joints or the lining inside them. Without treatment, arthritis can lead to chronic pain, inflammation, and stiffness.

Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS)

CRPS is a chronic pain condition that typically affects a single arm or leg. Advanced CRPS in your arm can cause pain that travels up to your shoulder.

Diabetic neuropathy

Diabetic neuropathy is a type of nerve damage that can lead to adhesive capsulitis, commonly called frozen shoulder, which restricts movement in the joint.

Bursitis

Bursitis causes inflammation in the bursae, the fluid-filled sacs that reduce friction between the joints and other structures. Repetitive motions can cause the bursae to swell and lead to shoulder pain.

How is shoulder pain diagnosed?

To diagnose the cause of your shoulder pain, Dr. MineHart performs a physical exam at Advanced Pain Institute. 

Next, he works with you to evaluate the range of motion in your shoulder through a series of tests. Dr. MineHart may also order imaging scans, such as an X-ray or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

What are the treatments for shoulder pain?

Dr. MineHart takes a multi-modality approach to shoulder pain treatment that may include:

• Physical therapy
• PRP
• Soft tissue manipulation
• Arthroscopic capsular release surgery to remove scar tissue
• Total joint replacement surgery

With an emphasis on conservative care, Dr. MineHart only recommends surgical intervention when nonsurgical techniques haven’t delivered the lasting relief you need.

Dr. MineHart serves both lien patients and personal injury patients, and offers reasonable pricing for all. Call Advanced Pain Institute today or schedule an appointment online to learn more about shoulder pain.