Shoulder Pain

Chronic shoulder pain can become more common as you get older, especially if you have arthritis or a history of shoulder injuries. At North Point Orthopaedics, the experienced orthopedic specialists offer a range of testing services to give you a fast and accurate diagnosis. The providers tailor a care plan using nonsurgical treatments like medications and regenerative medicine therapies. They also provide minimally invasive surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff or replace a diseased joint. Schedule a diagnostic evaluation for shoulder pain online or call the office in Munster, or Crown Point, Indiana, today.

What causes shoulder pain?

Your shoulder is a complex joint that gives you a wide range of motion, so you can reach behind your back and put your arms over your head. Damage to this joint can cause persistent pain and reduce your joint flexibility.

Acute shoulder pain results from overuse or minor injuries. This type of pain generally lasts six weeks and resolves with rest and over-the-counter (OTC) medications.

Chronic shoulder pain lasts six months or longer. This type of shoulder pain may result from falls, sports injuries, or degenerative conditions like arthritis that affect your joints.

North Point Orthopaedics offers diagnostic testing and treatment services for common causes of shoulder pain, including:

• Osteoarthritis
• Osteoporosis
• Labrum tears
• Frozen shoulder
• Shoulder instability
• Rotator cuff injuries
• Joint separation injuries

If you have shoulder pain that you can’t treat with rest, ice or heat therapy, or over-the-counter medications, you should schedule a diagnostic evaluation at North Point Orthopaedics.

How is shoulder pain diagnosed?

During your diagnostic evaluation for shoulder pain, the North Point Orthopaedics physicians spend time reviewing your medical history and performing a physical exam.

They assess your shoulder’s range of motion, and to see the inner structures of your shoulder joint, your orthopedic specialist may order X-rays or other diagnostic imaging tests.

Based on the result of your evaluation, the physicians design a treatment plan to ease underlying inflammation and pain.

How is shoulder pain treated?

Your treatment plan for persistent shoulder pain may start with prescription anti-inflammatory medications and pain relievers.

Once your pain subsides, you can participate in the physical therapy services available in-office at North Point Orthopaedics. Physical therapy helps strengthen the muscles that support your shoulder joint.

Other treatments available for shoulder pain include:

Regenerative medicine therapies

Injections of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and stem cells that are harvested from your blood trigger your body to produce new, healthy cells.

Over time, new cells replace cells damaged by injury or disease, so you can heal from the inside out.

Shoulder surgery

If medications aren’t enough to relieve your pain or if you have severe joint damage, you may be a candidate for surgery. The skilled orthopedic surgeons use minimally invasive and robot-assisted surgical techniques to perform:

• Shoulder arthroscopy
• Shoulder replacement
• Rotator cuff repair
• Reverse shoulder replacement

The surgeons also offer revision shoulder replacement surgery to repair complications that result from a previous surgery.

To schedule a diagnostic evaluation for persistent shoulder pain, call the North Point Orthopaedics office nearest you today or book an appointment online.