Shoulder Pain Treatment in St. Clair Shores, MI
Shoulder Pain
Shoulder pain most often comes from the rotator cuff tendons, bursitis, a frozen shoulder or arthritis, and sometimes from a pinched nerve in the neck. At Advanced Physical Medicine in St. Clair Shores, Michigan, we find the source and treat it without surgery using ultrasound-guided injections, PRP, MLS laser and physical therapy.
Symptoms of Shoulder Pain
Common shoulder symptoms include:
- Pain when reaching overhead, behind your back or into a back seat
- Pain at night, especially when lying on the sore side
- Stiffness and loss of motion
- Weakness when lifting or carrying
- Clicking or catching
- Pain that spreads down the upper arm
Pain that runs past the elbow into the hand, with numbness or tingling, often points to the neck rather than the shoulder.
What Causes Shoulder Pain?
The shoulder has the widest range of motion of any joint, which also makes it easy to injure. Common causes include:
- Rotator cuff tendinitis, impingement and tears
- Bursitis
- Frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis), more common in people with diabetes
- Shoulder arthritis
- Overuse from work, painting, lifting or sports (see sports injuries)
- A pinched nerve or tight muscles in the neck and upper back (see neck pain and myofascial pain)
How We Treat Shoulder Pain
Dr. Stephen Wilson, MD, is double board-certified in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation and Pain Medicine and has more than 25 years of experience treating pain. We test the strength and motion of the shoulder, check the neck, and plan treatment around the cause. Options include:
Ultrasound-Guided Shoulder Injections
Ultrasound lets us place anti-inflammatory medication exactly into the joint, bursa or tendon sheath. See our interventional procedures.
PRP and Prolotherapy
Platelet-rich plasma and prolotherapy, part of our regenerative medicine program, may support healing in rotator cuff tendons and ligaments.
MLS Laser Therapy
MLS laser therapy reduces pain and inflammation without medication or downtime.
Physical Therapy
Our physical therapy team restores motion and strengthens the rotator cuff and shoulder blade muscles, which is key for lasting relief.
Trigger Point Injections and Massage
Trigger point injections and medical massage therapy ease tight muscles around the shoulder and neck.
When to See a Doctor for Shoulder Pain
Book a visit if shoulder pain lasts more than two weeks, wakes you at night, or makes it hard to lift your arm, dress or reach. Stiffness that keeps getting worse should be checked early, because a frozen shoulder is easier to treat in its early stage.
Do not stop using the arm completely while you wait. Keeping a painful shoulder still for weeks can make it stiffer, so gentle movement within a comfortable range is usually better until you are seen.
Get urgent care after a fall with a deformed shoulder or sudden inability to lift the arm. Call 911 for left shoulder or arm pain with chest pressure, shortness of breath or sweating.
Frequently Asked Questions About Shoulder Pain
Why do my shoulders hurt when I sit on the couch?
Slouching rounds the shoulders forward and strains the muscles of the neck and upper back. Sitting upright with support behind your back and taking breaks to move usually helps.
Can I wrap a shoulder with an elastic bandage?
A wrap or sling can give short-term comfort after an injury, but keeping a shoulder still for too long can lead to stiffness. Gentle movement guided by a therapist is usually better.
What helps pain in the left arm and shoulder at home?
Rest from the activity that hurts, ice or heat, and gentle range-of-motion exercises often help a strained shoulder. Left arm pain with chest pain or breathlessness is an emergency.
Can a rotator cuff injury heal without surgery?
Many rotator cuff problems, including some partial tears, improve with physical therapy and injections. Large, full-thickness tears may need a surgical opinion, and we will refer you if so.
How long does a frozen shoulder last?
A frozen shoulder often moves through a painful stage, a stiff stage and a thawing stage, and the whole course can take many months or longer. Physical therapy and injections can ease pain and help motion return.
Do you accept insurance?
Advanced Physical Medicine accepts most major insurance plans. Some treatments, such as regenerative injections, may be self-pay, and our staff will go over coverage and costs with you before you start.
Get Help for Shoulder Pain in St. Clair Shores
Book a visit with Advanced Physical Medicine at 24345 Harper Ave, St. Clair Shores, Michigan, or call us at (586) 563-3300. We will find out what is behind your shoulder pain and talk you through every option before anything is decided.
