Our Services / Shoulder Pain

Your shoulder supports every arm movement you make, exposing it to significant wear-and-tear each day and a high risk of developing shoulder pain. If you have pain that’s severe or doesn’t improve, don't wait to seek help from Rajiv Sood, DO, and the team at Spine and Orthopedic Center. Dr. Sood has extensive experience providing comprehensive shoulder care that includes insurance-covered treatments, as well as today's most advanced biologic therapies such as platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections. To schedule an appointment, call the office in Jonesboro, Georgia, or use the online booking feature today.

What causes shoulder pain?

Traumatic injuries, the stress of repetitive movement, and degenerative diseases commonly cause shoulder pain. However, the muscles and tendons that form the rotator cuff are at the top of the list when it comes to shoulder pain.

The rotator cuff holds your arm in the shoulder socket. These muscles are also responsible for moving your arm. As a result, they're vulnerable to sports injuries and daily wear-and-tear.

Conditions that often cause shoulder pain include:

• Arthritis
• Rotator cuff tears
• Rotator cuff tendonitis
• Biceps tendon tears
• Shoulder dislocations
• Frozen shoulder
• Shoulder impingement syndrome

The pain you feel in your shoulder may also come from spinal conditions that pinch the nerves in your neck.

What symptoms accompany shoulder pain?

The problems responsible for shoulder pain usually cause other symptoms. You may experience:

• Arm weakness
• Difficulty lifting your arm
• Pain when using your arm
• Joint instability
• Muscles spasms
• Joint clicking
• Limited range of motion
• Loss of movement
• Bruising and swelling

Any time you have shoulder pain that doesn't improve, it's important to get prompt treatment from the experts at Spine and Orthopedic Center. If you keep using a damaged shoulder joint, you can develop chronic joint instability. 

How is shoulder pain diagnosed?

Dr. Sood reviews your medical history and learns about your symptoms. Then he determines the cause of your shoulder pain by performing a physical exam and on-site diagnostic imaging. 

He may take digital X-rays or do an ultrasound. In some cases, you may need an MRI to fully evaluate soft tissue damage.

How is shoulder pain treated?

Your treatment always begins with the most appropriate conservative therapy and may include any of the following:

• Medications
• Shoulder immobilization
• Physical therapy
• Corticosteroid injections
• PRP injections
• Prolotherapy
• Nerve blocks
• Spinal cord stimulation
• Radiofrequency ablation

Interventional pain management therapies, such as nerve blocks, spinal cord stimulation, and radiofrequency ablation, target the nerves at the root of your pain. Dr. Sood uses X-ray imaging to guide your treatment, which stops the nerve from sending pain signals to your brain.

Dr. Sood may recommend arthroscopic surgery if your pain doesn't improve. Arthroscopy allows your surgeon to see the tissues inside the joint and determine if they need surgical repair. For example, your surgeon may need to reattach a torn tendon or reconstruct a ruptured ligament.

Don't wait to get medical care for shoulder pain. Call Spine and Orthopedic Center, or book an appointment online today.