At Pain Management NYC, our approach to shoulder pathology is defined by a “conservative-first” philosophy. We recognize that effective treatment begins with identifying specific clinical indicators. Unlike general practices, we utilize dynamic musculoskeletal ultrasound and live fluoroscopy to visualize real-time tendon movement and joint space narrowing.
This diagnostic precision allows us to rule out referred pain from the cervical spine and focus on joint preservation. By integrating advanced biologics and regenerative therapies, we successfully resolve over 90% of our orthopedic cases without the need for invasive surgery, ensuring our patients return to peak performance with minimal downtime.
The Most Common Shoulder Pain Causes
Most shoulder pain originates from common damage that may be caused by:
- Injuries. Shoulder ache treatment is often required following a car accident, sports injury or fall that causes damage to any of the structures within your shoulders. If you need emergency shoulder injury treatment in NYC, it’s available at our state-of-the-art clinic.
- Rotator cuff injuries. These are common in athletes and workers who continually raise their arms over their heads — such as carpenters, painters, swimmers, tennis and baseball players. Age also is a factor in rotator cuff injuries.
- Shoulder arthritis. The most common form is osteoarthritis, caused by wear-and-tear over time. It may be age-related or due to infection, work or sports injuries. The pain can be debilitating and severely restrict your mobility.
- Shoulder tendonitis. The strong cords that connect your bones to shoulder muscles are the tendons. They can become inflamed due to a tear or chronic overuse. Tendonitis most commonly appears in the rotator cuff.
- Shoulder bursitis. Fluid-filled sacs that act as cushions between your bones are called bursae. They can become inflamed from overuse. Bursitis often accompanies rotator cuff tendonitis and can be so painful that even brushing your hair is challenging.
- Bicep tendonitis. The pain from a damaged tendon in your arm can radiate to the front of your shoulder. It may be caused by routine repetitive motions or osteoarthritis. Untreated, it can lead to chronic shoulder instability.
- Shoulder impingement. When you lift your arm, it puts pressure on the soft tissues there, like the tendons and bursae in the joint. Without proper shoulder joint pain treatment, this condition can lead to tendonitis and bursitis.
- Rotator cuff tear. Advancing age that weakens the tendons, overuse over a long period of time and sudden injuries can partially or completely tear this tendon in your shoulder.
- Frozen shoulder. You feel stiffness and pain that worsens over time with this condition. Also called adhesive capsulitis, it often occurs after a medical procedure or surgery that leaves your arm immobile. If you have right shoulder pain or left shoulder pain from the inactivity, it usually won’t return to the same arm, but can happen on the other side.
- Shoulder sprain or strain. Usually requiring shoulder muscle pain treatment, a strain or sprain often happens when you don’t warm up appropriately before exercising. The inflammation and pain also can occur if you use improper techniques while exercising, from overuse and through repetitive motions.
Shoulder Pain Treatments We Provide
Once you’ve received a firm shoulder pain diagnosis, your pain management doctor in New York first relies on conservative interventional treatments, such as rest, ice and behavior modifications.
If any discomfort continues, your pain in the shoulder may be treated with:
- Shoulder injections to reduce shoulder blade pain and inflammation
- Physical therapy to restore your shoulder and arms to full mobility
- Nerve block injections to provide pain relief so that you can participate in necessary physical therapy
- Pain medication that also allows you to function while your injury heals
- Minimally invasive arthroscopic surgery to repair tears and remove scar tissue
- Steroid injections
- Radiofrequency ablation to treat shoulder pain and inflammation in the shoulder. Its works by denervation of nerves of the shoulder joint. Its minimally invasive neurotomy technique can provide pain relief in patients with chronic shoulder pain.
- Trigger point injections. It’s a quick outpatient procedure that puts an injectable substance into a contracted muscle, causing it to relax and lengthen.
Medically Reviewed by Dr. Leon Reyfman, MD, FIPP, RPh
(Pain Management Doctor)