Shoulder Pain Specialist

What is shoulder pain?

Any discomfort you feel in or around your shoulder joint is shoulder pain. You may feel pain only when moving your shoulder or all the time. The pain may be dull and achy or sharp and severe.

Your shoulder is a complex joint that forms the connection between three bones. Ligaments, tendons, muscles, and cartilage hold the shoulder joint together, giving you the ability to move the joint in all directions. 

Any injury or disease that affects any of the components that make up your shoulder may cause pain.

What causes shoulder pain?

You may develop shoulder pain from an injury, overuse, or underlying medical condition. Common causes of shoulder pain include:

• Rotator cuff tears
• Tendonitis 
• Bursitis
• Arthritis
• Fracture
• Dislocation
• Sprains or strains
• Bone spurs
• Frozen shoulder (stiffening of the muscles, tendons, and ligaments)

Whatever the cause, shoulder pain can affect your daily activities. Though you may be able to treat minor shoulder pain at home, if your shoulder pain is severe or an ongoing problem, schedule a consultation at Southern Tennessee Spine and Pain Center.

What happens during a shoulder pain evaluation?

The Southern Tennessee Spine and Pain Center team conducts a comprehensive evaluation when you come in for help with your shoulder pain. They aim to understand the root cause of your discomfort to develop an effective pain management plan.

Your provider asks detailed questions about your pain, including when it started, the type of pain you feel, and activities that exacerbate your pain. They review your medical history and examine your shoulder.

The team may request diagnostic tests to confirm or rule out the cause of your shoulder pain, such as blood work, X-rays, or an MRI. 

How is shoulder pain treated?

The team at Southern Tennessee Spine and Pain Center customizes your shoulder pain treatment plan based on the cause and severity of your symptoms. The pain management practice offers a full spectrum of treatment options, including the most cutting-edge minimally invasive procedures. 

Initially, the team may recommend conservative medical interventions to manage your shoulder pain, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), activity modification, and physical therapy.

If medical interventions fail to provide relief from your shoulder pain, the team may talk to you about interventional pain management treatments that may reduce your discomfort such as  joint injections or NALU peripheral nerve stimulators.

Find out more about pain management treatments for shoulder pain at Southern Tennessee Spine and Pain Center by calling the office or scheduling a consultation online today.