Anyone who has chronic shoulder pain will agree that the symptoms are hard to manage. If you have pain in your shoulders that hasn’t got better even with conventional treatments, you should see a pain specialist for help. There are interventional and restorative treatments that can come in handy for pain relief and will reduce inflammation that can cause additional symptoms. Before you visit a clinic for shoulder pain woodstock, here are some things to know.
Causes of shoulder pain
The human shoulder has three bones, four joints, and the rotator cuff, along with many ligaments. Most of the common issues happen with the rotator cuff, which has four muscles along with tendons. The cuff-like structure helps control arm movements, but the rotator cuff tendons are also prone to inflammation and tears. Some of the common causes of shoulder pain include biceps tendon tears, osteoarthritis, shoulder dislocations, bursitis, fractures, tendonitis, and frozen shoulder.
Symptoms of shoulder pain
There are several symptoms of shoulder pain, including weakness in the arms, pain while moving or using the arms, reduced motion, triggering pain, bruising, swelling, joint clicking, and muscle spasms.
Treatment for shoulder pain
When you first see a physician for shoulder pain, they will typically start with anti-inflammatory medications. They may also restrict certain motions and rely on steroid injections. If none of the conventional treatments work, the pain specialist may choose treatment options like trigger point injections, nerve blocks, spinal cord stimulation, Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy, radiofrequency ablation, and bone marrow aspirate concentrate (BMAC) therapy. Doctors rely on real-time imaging for interventional procedures to guide and deliver treatment to the targeted nerves. For instance, if your doctor chooses radiofrequency ablation, they will use a specialized needle to deliver radiofrequency energy into the targeted nerves, which blocks signals and provides pain relief for a long time. Regenerative treatments like PRP and BMAC help reduce inflammation.
Things that matter
Chronic shoulder pain could be a reason for many factors, and you need a doctor who can determine the exact cause and do the required imaging tests for an accurate diagnosis. Before agreeing to a treatment plan, ensure that you understand the procedure and the expected results. Don’t shy away from asking questions or discussing the various aspects of your symptoms, which will help the doctor choose a therapy that will work best for your needs.
See a pain doctor now for shoulder pain now!