Midtown Manhattan 36 W 44th St Ste 1416 New York, NY 10036

Shoulder Arthritis Treatment

Arthritis in shoulder symptoms usually doesn’t appear until later in life, but you can develop a need for shoulder arthritis treatment when the condition develops after a shoulder injury. In Midtown Manhattan, your sports medicine and pain management doctor can help you keep up with the activities you enjoy while providing arthritis-in-shoulder treatment in a variety of ways. Make your appointment today to get the pain relief you need in the safe, reassuring hands of the best sports pain management specialists in NYC.

Your shoulder is made up of three bones and various muscles and tendons that keep it tightly articulated:

  1. The upper arm bone or humerus
  2. The shoulder blade or scapula
  3. The collarbone or clavicle

Shoulder Arthritis TreatmentThey move in two places: the glenohumeral joint and the acromioclavicular joint. The overall shoulder joint is one of the more mobile joints in your body. Even though it’s pretty stable, it can still be affected by various injuries and medical conditions, such as arthritis.

When you have arthritis in shoulder pain, your quality of life is greatly affected. The term arthritis refers to inflammation of the joint; it actually describes a group of conditions. There are more than 100 different types of arthritis, and it’s the leading cause of disability in the United States. Midtown Manhattan pain and sports medicine team is well-versed in treatment for shoulder arthritis and can help you immediately.

Types of Shoulder Arthritis

Not only is your shoulder an important joint, but it can be affected by arthritis in many different ways. Although several named conditions fall under the umbrella of arthritis, the disease itself can be categorized into four main categories. Some fall into one or two categories, while others are completely independent. The main categories of arthritis are:

  • Degenerative, which includes osteoarthritis and post-traumatic arthritis
  • Inflammatory or auto-immune, such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
  • Infectious, also called septic arthritis
  • Metabolic, which includes gouty arthritis

Degenerative arthritis is the most common type and affects mostly older people. It’s most often due to the normal wear and tears a joint suffers when the cartilage slowly becomes thinner with age. Degenerative arthritis also includes arthritis that occurs after a trauma, like a fall or sports injury.

My experience with SPIN/ Dr. Melepura and his staff was really great! His approach to treating my shoulder arthritis was very helpful in ultimately resolving the chronic pain I was having and I’m definitely feeling much better now than when I first started treatments in early February. The office is very comfortable and pleasant. I would definitely recommend their services to anyone looking for pain treatment.

HN Smith

The Symptoms of the Four Types

The hallmark symptoms of arthritis in the shoulder are pain, swelling, stiffness, and decreased range of movement or function. The characteristics of the pain can vary, although the other symptoms stay relatively the same. If you think you have shoulder arthritis, look for pain that has:

  • Variation. It may come and go.
  • Progression. The pain remains the same or worsens as time goes by.
  • Severity. Your pain may be mild, moderate or severe.
  • Chronicity. The pain may be present at all times.
  • Association. The pain appears with movement that gradually affects the shoulder function.

Family history increased age and weight, and previous injuries are all factors that predispose you to risk for degenerative shoulder arthritis. Some conditions, like your weight, are under your control. Others, like your family history, you can’t do anything about.

Quick and Painless

The diagnosis of arthritis in shoulder conditions is relatively simple for your NYC doctor. The physical exam tells the doctor where you’re tender, how much power and range of motion your affected limb has and if any nerves or vessels are involved. If you have the symptoms and history of a fall or injury, a quick diagnosis is made, and shoulder arthritis treatment can start immediately.

Your doctor may also suggest additional tests like x-rays, an MRI, and blood work. These tests tell him whether there are bone spurs or decreased joint space. The tests also reveal if your arthritis in the shoulder is due to auto-immune, inflammatory, infectious, or metabolic arthritis.

Lifestyle Modification

Even though there’s no cure for shoulder arthritis, several treatment options are available to maintain your quality of life. The goals of treatment are to reduce pain and maintain joint function and mobility. You may need to make lifestyle modifications, submit to medical treatment or even succumb to surgery.
Lifestyle modifications can work medicine and surgery can’t. It’s your responsibility to rest your shoulder, do the prescribed physical therapy, maintain an appropriate weight and stop aggravating factors like smoking and excessive shoulder strain.

Arthritis in Shoulder Treatment

Medical arthritis in shoulder treatment includes pain medications like NSAIDs or opioids, and specific arthritis medications if you have auto-immune, infective or metabolic arthritis. Steroid Injections can decrease inflammation and pain.

Surgical shoulder arthritis treatment, if necessary, consists of either arthroscopy or arthroplasty. Arthroscopy uses a scope to visualize and sometimes repair damage in the joint. Arthroplasty is needed when the joint surface is replaced or remodeled because it’s too damaged.

Pain Management and Recovery

Pain is the most aggravating arthritis in the shoulder problems. The management of your pain by your Midtown Manhattan pain management team aids in recovery and improves your quality of life. Heat and ice packs, NSAIDs, opioids, and local anesthetics help decrease pain and improve joint mobility.

Recovery from surgery depends on the type of surgery that’s done and how closely you follow your doctor’s post-operative instructions. Shoulder arthritis, as inevitable as it sometimes is, doesn’t have to derail your life. Get arthritis in shoulder treatment and get back to your life.

Do you have any questions about the treating shoulder arthritis we offer in NYC? Would you like to schedule an appointment with the best-rated specialist in NYC Febin Melepura MD of sports pain management clinic in New York? Please contact our office for a consultation with the pain relief specialist in Midtown Manhattan.

Page Updated on Oct 28, 2022 by Dr. Melepura (Pain Management Doctor) of Sports Injury & Pain Management Clinic of New York Sports Injury & Pain Management Clinic of New York
36 W 44th St #1416
New York, NY 10036
(212) 621-7746
Sports Injury and Pain Management Doctor NYC - Febin Melepura, MD

Febin Melepura, MD is a top rated, best in class interventional pain management doctor. He is a nationally recognized pain relief specialist and is among the top pain care doctors in New York City and the country. He is an award winning expert and contributor to a prominent media outlets.

Dr. Febin Melepura has been recognized for his thoughtful, thorough, modern approach to treating chronic pain and, among other accolades, has been named a “top pain management doctor in New York”, and one of “America’s Top Doctors™” for an advanced sports injury treatments.

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