Shoulder Pain and Conditions

The shoulder is a complex joint built to allow movement in many directions: forward, backward, around in a circle, and away from the body. Muscles and ligaments help keep the shoulder stable and secure in your socket. We depend on our shoulders to support many of our most basic motions, including pushing, pulling, lifting, and throwing.

Because the shoulder is a very flexible joint, it is highly vulnerable to injury. Whether you’re a competitive athlete or an active elder suffering from years of repetitive motion, our specialists are here to treat a wide variety of shoulder pain and conditions. Learn more about the conditions we treat below.

Arthritis, which is loss of the normal cartilage, or smooth surfaces that line your shoulder joint, makes moving your shoulder and arm painful. In addition to pain, arthritis inflammation can cause swelling and joint damage. Types of arthritis include:

Treatment usually depends on what specific type of arthritis you have, and how severe the shoulder pain is. Nonsurgical options may include:

Our orthopedic surgeons are experienced in the most advanced and innovative surgical procedures for shoulder arthritis treatment, including:

Frozen shoulder occurs when the capsule of connective tissue that surrounds the shoulder thickens and contracts, leading to stiffness and shoulder pain from restricted movement.

This condition generally affects adults ages 40 to 60 and can be caused by diseases such as diabetes, hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, Parkinson’s, or cardiac disease. It can also result from immobilizing the shoulder too long after an injury, which is why a vital part of any recovery is physical therapy.

Physicians typically treat this condition with anti-inflammatory medication and physical therapy, which is successful in 90 percent of cases. For those who don't experience relief for two to three years, surgical options will be explored.

Three bones form the shoulder joint: the collarbone, the upper arm bone, and the shoulder blade. Together, these bones give the shoulder its wide range of motion.  Attached to the shoulder is a group of muscles known collectively as the rotator cuff. These keep your arm in place while allowing it to move up and around. The are several rotator cuff disorders including the following:

Tendonitis and bursitis, both inflammatory conditions, are the most common causes of shoulder pain and stiffness. They can result from repetitive motion, such as in sports, or from a serious, sudden injury. The conditions are most common in adults older than 40, as the tendons have aged and are more susceptible to injury.

Treatment goals include reducing pain and inflammation. Rest, hot/cold compression and splinting usually are recommended. If those treatments are not successful, a physician may provide corticosteroid injections, recommend physical therapy, and in the most severe cases, perform surgery.

Rotator cuff tears are a common cause of shoulder pain and disability in adults and can seriously inhibit many daily activities, like combing your hair or getting dressed. This type of injury typically results from a wearing down of the tendon, which occurs slowly over time, but it can also be caused by a sudden trauma.

Treatment for rotator cuff tears is usually very conservative: rest, sometimes in a sling, hot/cold application, and anti-inflammatory medications are recommended. In the most severe cases, surgery is necessary. Surgeons may perform an arthroscopic surgery or an open surgical repair.

Because the shoulder joint is so mobile, it can be very easy to dislocate the bone from the socket. The top of the upper arm bone (humerus) can partially or completely come out of the socket (glenoid).

Dislocations can occur from falls, car accidents, or strong contact during sports. Those with a dislocated shoulder can experience swelling, numbness, weakness, bruising, pain, instability, and even muscle spasms.

To treat a dislocated shoulder, a physician uses a process called closed reduction that places the upper arm back into the socket. Pain relief is almost immediate. Physicians typically recommend that, after treatment, the shoulder be immobilized in a sling or other device for a few weeks.

Fractures are broken bones and those that affect the shoulder typically involve the:

Fractures may affect anyone but can be common in older adults when linked to osteoporosis. Children are more likely to fracture the clavicle, while adults fracture the proximal humerus more frequently. Some common symptoms of shoulder fractures include:

Most shoulder fractures can be treated by setting the joint into place and using a sling or strap to immobilize it. After a period of healing, rehabilitation exercises are recommended to promote strength and motion. More severe cases, in which fracture fragments have been displaced from their normal position, surgery may be necessary to realign the shoulder.

Shoulder instability develops when your muscles and ligaments are not strong enough to hold the shoulder bones securely in the socket. This can lead to multiple painful dislocations or prevent you from using the shoulder or lifting your arm. Shoulder instability can develop as a result of:

Most cases of instability respond well to conservative treatment involving intensive rehabilitation exercises and physical therapy to strengthen the muscles and help hold the shoulder in place. In cases where nonsurgical methods are unsuccessful, surgical options—such as coracoids transfer for shoulder instability—will be explored.

This is confused with shoulder dislocation, but the two are very different injuries. Shoulder separation occurs when the connection between the shoulder blade and collarbone is disrupted. Typically, this injury occurs after a fall onto the shoulder (common in sports).

Symptoms depend on the severity of the separation, but most always include severe pain, swelling, bruising, and, sometimes, deformity.

Treatment also depends upon the severity of the injury. Physicians categorize shoulder separation into six levels. Depending upon the severity level of the separation, treatment can range from rest, ice, and a sling to surgical procedures.