Shoulder Pain

Your shoulder is an essential part of your arm, so pain or immobility in it can hinder many of the tasks you perform every day. Family and Sport Medicine Institute of NJ, with offices in Summit and Montclair, New Jersey, sports medicine specialists Melissa Mascaro, MD, Joelle Stabile Rehberg, DO, and Christina Hector, DO, thoroughly evaluate your shoulder pain to narrow down its cause and offers fast-acting treatment strategies to improve your condition. To review your options for shoulder pain relief, request an appointment by phone or online today. 

Should I visit a doctor about my shoulder pain?

Shoulder pain can be mild, moderate, or severe. In some cases, it limits your movement. However, it doesn’t always call for a visit to the doctor as it is often temporary and goes away quickly with home care. 

You should visit Family and Sport Medicine Institute of NJ for an assessment regarding your shoulder pain if:

• You can’t lift objects with your arm
• You can’t raise your arm
• The pain persists for longer than a couple of days
• Your shoulder joint looks abnormal or deformed
• Your shoulder joint is swollen, red, or warm
• You have other seemingly unrelated symptoms (e.g. dizziness, breathing problems)

Of course, if you know that your shoulder pain is linked to a recent sports injury, you should visit your doctor as soon as the injury occurs. 

The team at Family and Sport Medicine Institute of NJ can pinpoint the type of injury or condition you’re suffering from and form a treatment plan accordingly.

What’s causing my shoulder pain?

Your shoulder pain could stem from one or several of many causes. Some typical shoulder pain causes include:

• Bone fractures
• Osteoarthritis
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Pinched nerve
• Dislocated joint
• Tendinitis
• Spinal cord injury
• Joint calcification

There are many other potential causes of shoulder pain. Your provider at Family and Sport Medicine Institute of NJ may order imaging tests and other diagnostic methods to get a better view of the joint.

How can I manage my shoulder pain?

Bed rest, heat and cold packs, and over-the-counter medications can ease your pain temporarily, but sometimes shoulder pain requires more rigorous treatment. 

 Family and Sport Medicine Institute of NJ offers several unique but effective treatments to ease your pain without invasive surgery. Depending on the cause and severity of your shoulder pain, your physician may add these or other procedures to your plan:

Shockwave therapy

Shockwave therapy involves bursts of high-pressure energy going deep within your tissues to stimulate healing.

Platelet-rich plasma injections

Platelet-rich plasma is a substance from your own blood with a high concentration of growth factors and platelets. When injected, it helps your injuries heal faster.

Chiropractic care

Your provider may be able to relieve some of your shoulder pain with chiropractic adjustments to your spine.

Physiotherapy

Physiotherapy, or physical therapy, involves functional movements that optimize your mobility and relieve stiffness associated with pain.

If your shoulder pain persists without relief, call Family and Sport Medicine Institute of NJ or book your appointment online for evaluation and effective treatments today.