Shoulder Pain Specialist

What might be causing my shoulder pain?

Shoulder pain could be due to a fall, sports injury, auto accident, or other trauma. Or you might have a chronic condition involving tissue deterioration and inflammation. Some of the conditions that often cause shoulder pain include:

• Bursitis
• Tendinitis
• Dislocation
• Subluxation (partial dislocation)
• Shoulder impingement
• Fractures
• Frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis)
• Labral tear
• Shoulder separation

Rotator cuff tears affect the network of muscles and tendons surrounding your shoulder. They’re one of the most common shoulder injuries. If you suffer severe damage to your rotator cuff, it can trigger a form of arthritis called cuff tear arthropathy.

Repeated dislocations can lead to shoulder instability. This is where the connective tissues and cartilage become so stretched and weakened they can’t hold the humeral head (the ball-shaped top of your upper arm bone) in its socket.

Another frequent cause of chronic shoulder pain is osteoarthritis. In this condition, the cartilage that normally protects the ends of your bones where they form a joint wears away over the years. The bones catch and rub on each other without the slippery cartilage, causing chronic inflammation, pain, stiffness, and loss of function.

What treatments can ease my shoulder pain?

Dr. Flanagan usually prescribes physical therapy for patients with shoulder pain. In most cases, a combination of appropriate exercises, hot and cold treatments, rest, and activity modification, can resolve shoulder pain quite effectively.

You might need to wear a sling or splint for a while and use medication if necessary – although Dr. Flanagan’s expert treatments typically minimize the need for pain-killing medicines. Some patients may benefit from low-dose steroid injections.

How does regenerative medicine help with shoulder pain?

Regenerative medicine is a safe, effective way of encouraging natural healing. Dr. Flanagan offers several types, including:

Prolotherapy

Prolotherapy is a technique that introduces a harmless irritant substance to your body. The irritant triggers a healing response that makes your body flood the area with cells designed to repair and regenerate healthy tissues.

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy

PRP consists of concentrated platelets taken from your blood. The platelets contain growth factors, which your body uses to repair damaged tissues. Injecting extra platelets supercharges your ability to heal.

Stem cell therapy

Stem cells can turn into other types of cells when your body needs them to replace damaged tissues. Injecting concentrations of stem cells from your bone marrow or fatty tissues increases the efficiency of tissue regeneration.

Viscosupplementation

Viscosupplementation is an injection of hyaluronic acid to lubricate your joints. Hyaluronic acid is present throughout your body, but you may not have enough to prevent joint inflammation as you get older.

Find effective non-surgical solutions to your shoulder pain by calling Naples Regenerative Institute today or book an appointment online.