Shoulder Tendinitis

About Shoulder Tendinitis

Whether your shoulder hurts due a sudden injury or has gradually been worsening due to repetitive motions, treatment for what may be shoulder tendinitis is effective if you catch it early enough. Don’t wait to call on the expert spine doctors at the Spine & Rehab Group, with offices in New York City’s Financial District, Greenwich Village and Midtown Manhattan. In New Jersey, contact the nearest office in Paramus, Riverdale, Englewood Cliffs, Cranford or East Brunswick. Don’t suffer the pain and limitations of shoulder tendonitis; get immediate relief and the best advice to keep you pain free. Call for an appointment today.

What Is Shoulder Tendinitis?

Shoulder tendinitis is irritation or inflammation of the rotator cuff and biceps tendon, which are structures that keep your shoulder in place. If you have shoulder pain that’s making it difficult to do everyday activities, you may have shoulder tendonitis.

Your shoulder is vulnerable to injury and inflammation because of how much you use it every day. Shoulder stiffness and pain may indicate that you’ve developed shoulder tendinitis, shoulder bursitis or a frozen shoulder. It’s time to visit a spine specialist who deals with these conditions on a daily basis. In New York City or northern New Jersey, consult with Dr. Amr Hosny and his team of experts at the Spine & Rehab Group for an accurate diagnosis and treatment for shoulder tendinitis or other conditions that trigger shoulder pain.

What Are the Symptoms of Shoulder Tendinitis?

Symptoms of shoulder tendonitis can vary from one person to another. What you feel can range from mild to severe. Signs and symptoms you may experience include:

• Difficulty holding your arm in certain positions
• Sudden sharp pain when raising or lowering the arm
• Shoulder stiffness
• Swelling at the front of the shoulder

While certain activities can worsen the pain of shoulder tendinitis, you also may have pain even when your shoulder is still. As your condition worsens, the pain may even wake you up during the night. You may experience loss of mobility and strength, which degrades your quality of life.

What Causes Shoulder Tendinitis?

Tendonitis in the shoulder is usually caused by a tendon that’s pinched by the structures surrounding it. Possible causes include:

• Overuse from repetitive motions
• An injury, such as falling on an outstretched arm or a direct blow to the shoulder area
• Work that requires you to do overhead lifting
• Painting
• Weightlifting

Athletes who participate in sports that involve repetitive movements are particularly vulnerable. Sports such as swimming, baseball, tennis and golf make you susceptible to a shoulder injury. The risk of developing this condition is high for occupations that require overhead work, such as assembly line work or construction. In some people, tendinitis shoulder pain develops with no apparent cause.

How Is Shoulder Tendinitis Diagnosed?

To find out whether you have shoulder tendinitis, your doctor asks questions about your symptoms and medical history. Because each person is unique and the goal of the Sports & Rehab Group team is to provide you with the least invasive treatment, your doctor seeks to know more about your work and lifestyle. The examination of your shoulder includes:

• Checking for tenderness
• Measuring your range of motion and arm strength
• Checking to see if the pain is radiating from your neck
• Discovering if your shoulder pain is being triggered by another condition, such as arthritis or degenerative disc disease

Your doctor may also order imaging tests. An x-ray doesn’t identify problems with soft tissue, but it may show a small bone spur. An MRI or ultrasound can better show soft tissue damage, such as fluid or inflammation in the rotator cuff or bursa.

What’s Involved in Shoulder Tendonitis Treatment?

Shoulder tendonitis treatment aims to reduce pain and inflammation while restoring function. Dr. Hosny strongly encourages the use of interventional treatments that are the least invasive before suggesting more invasive shoulder tendonitis treatments. You may respond well to treatments such as:

• Rest and modification of activities that worsen the pain
• Applying ice packs to your shoulder for 15-minute intervals several times a day
• Anti-inflammatories to reduce the swelling
• Physical therapy, including range-of-motion exercises
• Strengthening exercises

Over-the-counter pain creams containing capsaicin or menthol may also help provide some relief from pain. If your symptoms aren’t relieved after trying a conservative approach, your doctor may recommend a cortisone shot. If your pain continues or if your rotator cuff has been torn, your doctor may consider whether you’d benefit from surgery to repair the damage.

Where Can I Get Tendonitis Shoulder Treatment in NYC?

Don’t try to ignore shoulder pain if it interrupts your sleep or keeps you from doing normal activities. If you think you may have shoulder tendinitis, a spine doctor who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of sports injuries, joint problems, back pain and pain management is your best bet. And the sooner you start interventional treatment, the better chance you have for a successful recovery.

The Spine & Rehab Group provides expert diagnosis and treatment of back pain, neck pain, hip pain and knee pain. They offer same-day and next-day appointments and have eight locations in NJ and NYC. Contact the nearest office today and let them help you get started on a path back to a life free from pain.