If you have shoulder pain, even simple movements like reaching for an object or brushing your hair can be painful. Fortunately, there are many nonsurgical options that can help. Here are five to consider.
Shoulder pain is a common medical problem for women and men. In fact, nearly three-quarters of Americans suffer from shoulder pain at some point during their lives. While some shoulder pain is only temporary — for instance, after a day of strenuous activity — other pain persists or becomes chronic, interfering with even simple daily activities.
As a leading orthopedics provider in Las Vegas and Henderson, Nevada, Josh Goodwin, MD, helps patients at Regenexx Las Vegas find relief from shoulder pain with nonsurgical treatments that tap into your body’s natural healing abilities.
Why shoulder pain happens
Lots of problems can cause or contribute to shoulder pain. Osteoarthritis — wear-and-tear inside a joint — is a common cause of shoulder pain, especially for older people and people who use their shoulders a lot.
Other causes include:
- Bursitis, inflammation of tiny sacs called bursae
- Torn cartilage
- Torn or damaged ligaments or tendons
- Muscle or tendon strain
- Compressed nerves
Because the shoulder contains many different structures, people who have shoulder pain may have more than one issue that’s causing it. Before Dr. Goodwin prescribes any type of treatment for shoulder pain, he first needs to determine the cause.
To do that, he performs a thorough exam of your shoulder and its functioning, and he often prescribes diagnostic imaging to see inside the joint and the tissues and structures surrounding it. After the examination, he designs a treatment plan tailored to your specific needs.
Treating shoulder pain without surgery
Depending on what’s causing your shoulder pain, your treatment plan might include any combination of these five nonsurgical options.
Hyaluronic acid injections
Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring substance in your body that helps tissues retain moisture. Injected into your sore shoulder joint, it can also help the joint glide more smoothly, decreasing friction that leads to painful inflammation. Hyaluronic acid injections are often used to decrease the symptoms of shoulder arthritis.
Prolotherapy
Prolotherapy uses injections of mild irritants to jump-start natural healing inside a damaged or inflamed joint. These irritants signal your body to initiate a chemical cascade aimed at tissue healing and regeneration.
Platelet-rich plasma injections (PRP)
PRP injections are widely used for many types of musculoskeletal issues, including many types of joint pain. Derived from your own blood, your platelet-rich plasma solution contains high concentrations of growth factors that play a key role in healing and tissue repair.
Platelet lysate therapy
Platelet lysate is another injectable platelet product, infused with growth factors and other chemicals and elements that are essential for healing. Platelet lysate is designed to release its healing factors at a faster and more enriched rate than PRP, making it a good choice for specific types of shoulder pain.
Bone marrow concentrate injections
Bone marrow concentrate contains large numbers of stem cells, special cells that can transform into other types of cells to repair or replace damaged tissue. During a bone marrow concentrate treatment, these cells are harvested from the back of your pelvic bone and then processed and injected into your shoulder joint.
Find relief for your sore shoulders
Often, the above nonsurgical therapies are combined with physical therapy to strengthen the joint and improve mobility, along with at-home exercises. You can find relief for your shoulder pain without surgery!
Most people don’t realize how much they use our shoulders — until they start to hurt. Fortunately, most shoulder pain can be addressed with nonsurgical treatments. To learn how Dr. Goodwin and his team can help, call 702-986-0921 or book an appointment online at Regenexx Las Vegas today.
