Shoulder pain can make it difficult to reach overhead, lift objects, get dressed, exercise, sleep comfortably, or complete everyday activities. Some patients experience a deep ache and stiffness, while others develop sharp pain, weakness, or discomfort that worsens with specific movements.
Our pain management team helps identify the likely source of your symptoms and recommend treatment options based on your condition, medical history, and goals.
Click on the tiles below to jump to the common shoulder pain conditions we treat:
Shoulder arthritis develops when the joint surfaces become irritated or worn over time. It may cause aching, stiffness, grinding, reduced mobility, and pain with reaching, lifting, or rotating the arm.
Adhesive capsulitis, commonly called frozen shoulder, causes progressive stiffness and loss of motion in the shoulder joint. Pain may be worse at night or during sudden movements, and routine activities such as putting on a shirt, reaching behind the back, or lifting the arm overhead may become difficult.
Treatment options may include:
Image guidance helps the provider accurately place treatment within the affected shoulder joint or targeted area. The recommended injection will depend on the suspected source of pain, the severity of stiffness, prior treatment, and the patient’s overall diagnosis.
PRP may be considered in appropriate cases as part of a targeted treatment plan.
The rotator cuff is a group of muscles and tendons that help stabilize the shoulder and control arm movement. These tendons can become painful due to irritation, overuse, age-related changes, repetitive activity, or injury.
Tendinopathy and tendinosis may cause pain along the outside or front of the shoulder, weakness, and discomfort when lifting or reaching. Symptoms may worsen when placing the arm overhead, reaching behind the body, or sleeping on the affected side.
The subacromial bursa is a small fluid-filled sac that helps reduce friction around the shoulder. When it becomes inflamed, patients may develop bursitis and experience pain with movement or pressure.
Treatment options may include:
A subacromial or bursa injection may be used when inflammation in the surrounding tissues appears to be contributing to pain. Tendon-targeted injections may be considered when symptoms and imaging suggest a specific tendon is involved.
Rehabilitation may also be coordinated to improve shoulder strength, mobility, and function as part of the overall treatment plan.
The suprascapular nerve helps provide sensation and movement around the shoulder. Irritation or dysfunction involving this nerve may contribute to persistent pain, weakness, or discomfort around the back or upper portion of the shoulder.
Some patients continue to experience significant shoulder pain despite medications, therapy, injections, or other conservative care. This may be described as chronic refractory shoulder pain.
Treatment options may include:
A suprascapular nerve block may be used to help determine whether the nerve is contributing to the pain while also providing targeted relief.
When a diagnostic nerve block produces meaningful temporary improvement, suprascapular radiofrequency ablation may be considered in selected cases to reduce pain signals from the nerve.
Peripheral nerve stimulation may also be evaluated for certain patients with ongoing shoulder pain that has not responded adequately to other treatment options.
Shoulder pain can come from several nearby structures, including the joint, bursa, rotator cuff tendons, and surrounding nerves. Image guidance allows the provider to visualize the treatment area and place the injection more precisely.
Your evaluation may include a physical exam, a review of your symptoms and medical history, and a discussion of whether imaging, prior records, or additional diagnostic steps are needed to better understand your condition and recommend appropriate next steps.
We may ask about:
Your provider may also evaluate your shoulder range of motion, strength, areas of tenderness, pain with specific movements, and signs of joint, tendon, bursa, or nerve involvement.
From there, we can discuss which treatment options may be appropriate for your specific diagnosis and goals.
Not all shoulder pain comes from the same source. Arthritis, adhesive capsulitis, rotator cuff tendinopathy, bursitis, or suprascapular nerve pain may require different treatment strategies.
Our approach focuses on:
