Shoulder Injury

Sore muscles or aches in your shoulders plague nearly everyone. The shoulder joint has the greatest range of motion of any joint in your body, and that makes it susceptible to injury or overuse. Problems such as wear and tear or the natural process of aging also create discomfort and lack of mobility.

Your shoulder is a ball-and-socket joint with three main bones: the humerus or upper arm bone, the clavicle or collarbone and the scapula or shoulder blade. Ligaments, tendons and muscles hold these bones together. The bones and soft tissue also protect the large nerve bundles running from your neck down into your arms.

Each element of this complex joint has the potential for injury. And if one part fails, for whatever reason, you may end up with shoulder instability. Then you need the expertise of our top-rated pain specialist in NYC.

Causes of Shoulder Injury

A shoulder injury can result from an acute injury, from overuse injuries or from other related causes. Even poor habits contribute to the possibility of injury or shoulder instability. Acute injuries include:

Falling on an outstretched arm
A direct blow to your shoulder
Abnormal twisting or bending
Sports or recreational injuries
Injury to the ligaments, resulting in a sprain
Injury to the nerves of your shoulder
Separation or dislocation of the shoulder joint
Torn rotator cuff

Types of Shoulder Injury

The range of motion of your shoulder makes it very vulnerable to various injuries. Using advanced technology, we can accurately diagnose the type of injury you have and develop individualized treatment programs based on the data collected.
The most common shoulder injuries include:

Too much stress placed on the joint by overdoing an activity or by repetitive motion
Bursitis
Tendonitis
Frozen shoulder
Impingement syndrome

Other causes include:

Muscle tension
Poor posture
Osteoarthritis
Calcium buildup
Herniated disc in your back

These are just some of the possible types of shoulder injuries. Each case requires individualized treatment and attention. See a shoulder injury doctor for evaluation and treatment if you or someone you know has suffered a shoulder injury.

Symptoms of Common Shoulder Injuries

Symptoms of shoulder instability and shoulder injury vary widely in severity, depending on the cause. Common symptoms include:

Pain
Swelling
Numbness
Tingling
Weakness
Changes in temperature and color of your arms or hands
Changes in range of motion

Diagnosis of Common Shoulder Injuries

Our pain care specialist begins diagnosis with a complete medical history, including any traumas or injuries, especially recently. He conducts a thorough physical exam of your shoulder, testing for tenderness, numbness, and weakness.

Your doctor may also order imaging tests such as x-rays, ultrasound, computed tomography, or magnetic resonance imagery (MRI). These pinpoint whether bones, discs or soft tissue such as ligaments or tendons are causing your pain.

Shoulder Injury Treatment

Treatment depends on the cause and severity of your pain and injury, but your shoulder injury specialist often recommends a personalized combination of the following treatments:

Rest and restricted movement, the first step for shoulder injuries treatment
Ice in the first few days to reduce inflammation and then heat afterwards to stretch muscles and increase blood flow, which helps with pain
Keeping your shoulder and arms or hands slightly elevated on pillows to reduce swelling
Physical therapy for shoulder instability treatment, including stretching and strengthening exercises, to stabilize damaged soft tissue
Over-the-counter pain relievers such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen and naproxen sodium for the pain
Prescription painkillers and muscle relaxants, if necessary, for short-term use
Joint or soft-tissue injections
Surgery, a more extreme shoulder instability treatment, to remove bone spurs
Arthroscopic or open tendon repair surgery as a shoulder tendon injury treatment
Shoulder joint replacement surgery for significant shoulder injuries or debilitating deterioration

Your pain specialist always recommends the most conservative, but effective treatment for shoulder instability and all other shoulder injuries. Surgery is a last resort, due to the risks and extended recovery time. Should you require replacement surgery, recovery can take up to six months, including the accompanying rehabilitative physical therapy.

Prevention and Aftercare for Shoulder Injuries Treatment

Whether you’re trying to prevent shoulder injury or working to take special care after your shoulder injury treatment, some basic habits can be beneficial to alleviate or avoid future pain and shoulder instability issues. These preventative steps include:

Stay in good health by stretching and doing daily range-of-motion exercises.
Maintain good posture at all times.
Warm up before any activity.
Wear protective gear during sports or recreational activities.
Always wear your seat belt.
Don’t carry objects that are too heavy.
Use a step stool when reaching for objects.
Use correct lifting techniques.
Reduce repetitive motion activities.

Your sports medicine doctor knows and understands the mechanics of your shoulder. He works to find the best treatments for your shoulder injury. If you follow his guidance, ‘ll get you back to a pain-free, active lifestyle, full of health and with a full range of motion.

FAQs

How Is a Shoulder Injury Diagnosed?

Diagnosing a shoulder injury usually starts with a conversation about your symptoms and a physical exam. Your doctor will check how your shoulder moves, where it hurts, and how strong it feels. To get a clearer picture, they might order imaging tests like an X-ray, MRI, or ultrasound.

These help spot problems like rotator cuff tears, joint damage, or inflammation. In more complex cases, additional tests may be needed to guide treatment.

How Can You Prevent Shoulder Injuries?

The best way to prevent shoulder injuries is to keep your shoulder muscles strong and flexible. Stretch regularly, especially before workouts or physical activity. If your job or sport involves repetitive motion, take breaks and avoid overdoing it. Good posture also goes a long way, whether you’re sitting at a desk or lifting something heavy. And if you’ve had a shoulder issue in the past, stick to your rehab exercises and follow your doctor’s advice to avoid setbacks.

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.