You have shoulder pain. It’s challenging to raise your arm over your head, and it’s hard to sleep. It’s time to consult a specialist. Dr. Jose De La Torre, a board-certified physiatrist specializing in interventional pain management and sports medicine, founded New Tampa Interventional Pain & Sports Medicine to provide a holistic approach to patient care.
The following are common causes of shoulder pain. You’re at risk of shoulder injury if you play sports or use your arms and shoulders extensively on the job.
If you love tennis or another racquet sport, play baseball, or are a swimmer or athlete who uses overhead movements of your arms and shoulders, you’re at risk of shoulder tendonitis in your rotator cuff. The condition is also called impingement.
The muscles and tendons in your shoulder comprise your rotator cuff. It joins your upper arm bone, the humerus, to your shoulder blade. Shoulder tendonitis is an overuse injury caused by frequent overhead movement without enough rest to allow the soft tissue to recover from microtears. Your tendons are inflamed, which causes the pain.
You may also have a tendon tear, which means the tendon has come apart from the top of your upper arm bone. Dr. De La Torre also checks for a bicep tear if you have a rotator cuff tear.
Your bursa, a fluid-filled sac between your tendons and your arm bone, may also be inflamed from repetitive overhead motions of your arm. Your shoulder is painful and may be swollen.
Your chances of shoulder instability increase if you’re a swimmer or play baseball, football, ice hockey, or tennis. Almost all competitive swimmers report shoulder problems.
A shoulder dislocation occurs when the top of the humerus — the arm bone — moves out of its socket. When a partial dislocation happens, it’s called a subluxation.
Shoulder dislocations are most frequent in athletes between 30 and 40 years old, but it’s also common in teenagers who play high school and college sports, particularly with contact sports having the highest risk.
If you’ve thrown a ball overhead or played another sport that uses overhead movements, your shoulder can become unstable from the repetition. You’ve stretched the ligaments and loosened the structure of your shoulder. You’ll notice pain and a weakened arm. Getting treatment right away is critical.
Shoulder arthritis can develop as part of normal aging. Your protective cartilage — tissue that cushions the space between your bones — thins and can wear away.
The aftereffects of a traumatic injury can leave you with shoulder arthritis. If you have a large rotator cuff tear, you can develop a form of arthritis. If you’ve received a hard hit or had a fall on your shoulder, the top of your arm bone can lose blood supply, causing the bone to deteriorate.
The first order of business is rest for the injured shoulder. You’ve overused it or have had a traumatic injury.
Dr. De La Torre provides expert diagnosis and individualized treatment for your shoulder condition. If you have tendonitis, bursitis, or arthritis, he may use ultrasound-guided injections to calm inflammation and pain. He may prescribe physical therapy and massage. Acupuncture may also help you. These therapies help you regain strength and range of motion in your shoulder. In addition, gentle shoulder exercises may become a part of your daily routine.
Call New Tampa Interventional Pain & Sports Medicine or book online today for an appointment at our Welsey Chapel, Florida office to receive prompt treatment of your shoulder pain.
