Shoulder Pain

After back and knee pain, shoulder pain is the third-most common type of pain in adults who visit their doctor today. At Innovative Pain Medicine, Usman Saleem, MD, MSPT, is both a physician and physical therapist, so he uses the full range of state-of-the-art methods of treating shoulder pain and improving daily quality of life using primarily nonsurgical strategies. The practice has four offices in Williston Park in Nassau County, Bellerose in Queens, Midwood in Brooklyn, and Port Jefferson Station, all in New York. Book your appointment with the online scheduler or call the office nearest you today.

My shoulder hurts. What should I do?

If you’re experiencing shoulder pain, rest and keep your shoulder stable. Cold packs (in 15-minute intervals) and over-the-counter pain relievers may help. 

If the pain doesn’t go away in a few days, or if it’s very sudden and sharp, reach out to Innovative Pain Medicine for help from the shoulder pain pros.

Why am I having shoulder pain? 

The shoulder is a ball-and-socket joint with the widest range of movement of all the joints in your body. While this amazing mobility is great most of the time, the joint’s considerable mobility may unfortunately make it more vulnerable to wear-and-tear damage and injuries such as: 

• Osteoarthritis: wear-and-tear destruction of the protective cartilage over bones
• Bursitis: inflammation in the bursae that help prevent joint friction
• Tendon tears: rotator cuff tendon damage
• Fractures: generally caused by trauma to the shoulder joint
• Labral tears: rip in the ring of cartilage around the rim of the shoulder socket
• Impingement: part of the shoulder blade scrapes against rotator cuff tissues
• Dislocation: ball part of the shoulder joint moves out of the socket
• Instability: repeated dislocations make the shoulder joint unstable

At Innovative Pain Medicine, you’ll get a comprehensive evaluation and definitive diagnosis so you can understand the root cause of your shoulder pain and make recovery plans.

What are the nonsurgical treatment options for shoulder pain?

Medication is often one of the first treatments for shoulder pain. But, it’s a short-term solution to ease pain as you heal. Physical therapy is usually combined with medication to facilitate the healing process. It includes special conditioning, strengthening, and flexibility-building exercises, as well as joint manipulation. 

If medication and physical therapy aren’t successful, a nonsurgical injection may maximize your pain relief. Two options include:

Shoulder joint injections

In shoulder joint injections, an anti-inflammatory medication is delivered to the optimal area using live ultrasound guidance. The injections can quickly calm inflammation and relieve pain. 

Trigger point injections

Conditions such as fibromyalgia can cause trigger points — areas of knotted muscles in and around the shoulder joint. This injection uses anti-inflammatory or anesthetic medication to force the knot to relax. 

At Innovative Pain Medicine, every patient is handled with respect and gentle care. The practice understands what makes your situation unique and helps you choose the ideal treatment. To learn more, call the office or book your appointment online now.