Shoulder Care and Treatment

Shoulder pain treatment in Creve Coeur and Cape Girardeau, MO may help when pain, stiffness, weakness or injury keeps you from moving comfortably. At OrthoMO, orthopedic shoulder care starts with finding the cause of your pain, then matching treatment to your symptoms, activity level and daily needs.

Find a Doctor Find a Location

What Causes Shoulder Pain?

Pain can come from the joint itself or from the muscles, tendons, ligaments and bursae that help it move. Common causes may include:

Rotator cuff problems, such as irritated, inflamed, pinched or torn tendons
Inflamed cushioning sacs in the joint or irritation in the biceps tendon
A loose joint, dislocation or torn supporting ligaments
Tears in the cartilage rim that helps keep the joint in place
Arthritis, frozen shoulder or pain in the small joint where the collarbone meets the shoulder blade
A broken bone, including a collarbone fracture or a separation where the collarbone meets the shoulder blade
Muscle imbalance, poor movement habits, repeated overhead motion or pain that starts in the neck or spine

When To Worry About Shoulder Pain?

Some cases of shoulder pain may improve with rest and activity changes, but certain symptoms should not be ignored. Seek medical care sooner if your shoulder pain is linked to:

Severe pain after a fall, accident, sports injury or direct hit
Swelling, bruising, bleeding, redness or skin that looks red or blue
A shoulder that looks out of place or feels unstable after an injury
Significant pain even when the arm is gently moved by someone else
Sudden left shoulder pressure or crushing pain with chest pain, shortness of breath, dizziness, sweating or pain moving to the jaw, arm or neck

How To Diagnose Shoulder Pain?

Diagnosing shoulder pain starts with understanding what may be causing it. A shoulder pain doctor will usually ask how the pain started, how long it has been happening, what movements make it worse and whether there was a fall, injury, accident, sport or repeated overhead activity involved.

Your orthopedic shoulder doctor may also ask about your specific symptoms and conduct a physical exam to help narrow down the cause. Your doctor may check for swelling, bruising, deformity, tenderness, muscle weakness, shoulder stability, strength and range of motion. They may compare how far you can move the shoulder on your own with how far it moves when gently guided.

Range of motion can give important clues. Pain with preserved motion may point to rotator cuff irritation, biceps tendon problems or tears. Loss of both active and passive motion may suggest frozen shoulder or shoulder arthritis. Loss of active motion with preserved passive motion may raise concern for a rotator cuff tear.

Imaging may be used when needed. X-rays may show fractures, arthritis, bone spurs or other bone changes. Ultrasound or MRI can help evaluate tendons, ligaments, the rotator cuff and other soft tissues. Additional diagnostic tests or procedures may include CT scans, nerve tests, arthrograms or arthroscopy.

When To See an Orthopedic Doctor for Shoulder Pain?

You may want to see an orthopedic shoulder doctor when the pain may not feel like an emergency but is still affecting how you move, work, sleep or stay active. Consult with an orthopedic shoulder doctor if your pain:

Lasts more than 2 to 4 weeks despite home care
Keeps coming back after activity, work or sports
Causes weakness, stiffness or limited range of motion
Makes lifting, reaching, dressing or overhead movement difficult
Comes with catching, locking, repeated popping or a loose feeling in the joint

Some shoulder problems may improve with rest, activity changes and therapy. Others may need imaging, injections or a more specific care plan based on the cause of the pain.

How To Treat Shoulder Pain?

Shoulder pain treatment depends on what is causing the pain, how long it has been happening and how much it affects movement, sleep, work or daily activities. Many shoulder problems start with nonsurgical care, but some injuries may need surgery depending on the condition and severity.

Nonsurgical Shoulder Pain Treatment

Rest and activity changes: Avoiding painful overhead movement, reducing strain and slowly returning to normal activity
Ice or cooling: Helping with acute pain, swelling or irritation after activity or injury
Medication: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, acetaminophen or other pain-relieving medicines when appropriate
Physical therapy: Improving range of motion, flexibility, posture, rotator cuff strength, deltoid strength and scapular stabilizer strength
Injections: Corticosteroid or numbing medicine injections, which may be ultrasound-guided injections for pain related to bursitis, arthritis, frozen shoulder, biceps tendon irritation, AC joint pain or other shoulder conditions
Hydrodilation: Used in some frozen shoulder treatment plans to help stretch the tight joint capsule
Short-term immobilization: A sling or brace may be used for some shoulder dislocation treatment, AC joint separation treatment, shoulder fracture treatment or clavicle fracture treatment
Biologic options: Platelet-rich plasma or other biologic treatments may be considered in select tendon-related cases, though evidence can vary by condition

Surgical Shoulder Pain Treatment

Surgery may be considered when symptoms do not improve with nonsurgical care or when the injury needs more direct repair. Surgical options may include:

Arthroscopic surgery: A minimally invasive procedure used to examine and treat certain tendon, cartilage or soft tissue problems inside the joint
Rotator cuff repair: Surgery to repair torn tendons that help lift and rotate the arm
Cartilage or stability repair: Surgery to repair torn cartilage or tighten/support the joint if it keeps slipping out of place
Biceps tendon surgery: Surgery to treat a painful, damaged or torn biceps tendon near the shoulder
Collarbone-area joint surgery: Surgery for severe separation or arthritis in the small joint where the collarbone meets the shoulder blade
Fracture or stiffness procedures: Surgery to repair a broken bone or help release tight tissue when frozen shoulder does not improve
Shoulder replacement or reconstruction: Surgery to replace damaged joint surfaces or rebuild support when arthritis, tendon damage or chronic injury affects movement and function

Not every person with shoulder pain needs surgery. The right plan starts with understanding the cause, then matching treatment to the condition, symptoms and daily needs.

Frequently Asked Questions About Shoulder Pain Treatment

OrthoMO provides shoulder pain treatment in Creve Coeur and Cape Girardeau, MO, for many common shoulder injuries and conditions. Care may begin with an evaluation of your symptoms, range of motion, strength and activity limits. From there, your orthopedic shoulder doctor can discuss options such as activity changes, physical therapy, injections or surgery when appropriate.

An orthopedic shoulder doctor can evaluate pain related to the joint, rotator cuff, tendons, ligaments, labrum, bursa or nearby bones. This may include certain tendon tears, cartilage tears, repeated dislocations, severe instability, broken bones, frozen shoulder that does not improve, advanced arthritis or long-term damage that affects movement and function.

It will depend on the diagnosis. Many shoulder pain treatment plans begin with nonsurgical care before surgery is considered.

Shoulder injuries may need earlier evaluation when pain follows trauma, limits movement or comes with weakness, instability, swelling or visible changes.

When nonsurgical care does not help, shoulder procedures may be considered based on the condition and severity of symptoms. Options may include repair for torn tendons or cartilage, treatment to help keep the joint stable, procedures for damaged biceps tendons and more.

Get Help for Shoulder Pain

Shoulder pain can affect the way you move, rest and get through the day. If it has been bothering you, OrthoMO can help evaluate what may be causing your symptoms and discuss care options that fit your needs. Schedule an appointment for shoulder pain treatment in Creve Coeur or Cape Girardeau, MO.