Whenever you’re lifting a heavy object, driving, exercising, or playing sports, the shoulders are one of the most important joints that you use in everyday activities. Sudden injury or natural wear-and-tear can decrease your shoulder function and cause a great deal of pain that can be hard to live with.
At Gramercy Pain Center, we can help manage your chronic pain and restore your optimal shoulder mobility and health. We have a team of board-certified pain management specialists who can treat common shoulder tears and injuries that are affecting your daily life. Call our team today to learn how you can get started with your shoulder pain management.
Your shoulders are one of the largest and most flexible parts of the body that allows you to perform a wide range of movements and tasks with ease. It is a complex structure that is made up of different bones including the humerus or upper arm bone, shoulder blade, and collarbone.
To help provide stable movement, the shoulder bones are attached and supported by various soft tissues, tendons, joints, muscles, and ligaments. These important structures are:
While the shoulder bones are prone to fracture and damage, a majority of shoulder problems normally involve the muscle, tendon, and rotator cuff. Our doctors at Gramercy Pain Center are highly trained to help find the exact source of your shoulder tears to determine how it should be treated.
Among the different joint injuries, a shoulder tear or rotator cuff problem is one of the leading reasons why people visit a pain management specialist. A shoulder tear can be classified into two categories depending on its main cause:
This is a type of shoulder tear caused by an acute injury that damages the soft tissue, tendon, and rotator cuff muscle. Anyone can have this when they experience a serious accident such as falling on their arm or exerting too much pressure in lifting a heavy object. This kind of rotator cuff tear can also occur with other shoulder injuries such as broken collarbone or bone dislocation.
A degenerative shoulder tear is caused by the progressive breakdown of the tissues, tendons, and muscles over time. As you get old, the rotator cuff and shoulder joint are also naturally prone to more injuries as they lose their strength and flexibility. Degenerative tears can also be caused by other factors such as:
Anyone can have a rotator cuff tear or shoulder injury at some point in their life. However, your risk increases if you can relate to the following factors:
This occurs when the tendons become damaged or get torn from overuse or acute injury. A rotator cuff injury can occur partially or completely. In a partial rotator cuff tear, the tendons are not severely damaged and there are other parts that are still intact. While in a complete or full-thickness shoulder tear, the soft tissues are torn into two pieces and the tendons often separate from the upper arm bone.
When any of the muscles and ligaments that hold the shoulder in place are stretched to its limits, it can cause the shoulder joint to move away from its socket and result in a dislocation, sprain, or tear.
If you experience stiffness or debilitating pain that limits your arm movement, you most likely have a frozen shoulder. This occurs when the connective tissues that cover the ligaments and tendons tighten around the shoulder joint. Having an untreated rotator cuff tear can increase your risk of developing a frozen shoulder.
Rotator cuff tears can get worse over time and eventually limit your shoulder movement and function. At Gramercy Pain Center, we have a team of doctors who specialize in the treatment of shoulder tears and other related injuries. We suggest going in for an immediate consultation if you experience the following:
Our team at Gramercy Pain Center can help you reclaim your comfort by treating your shoulder tear and pain. We provide customized treatment plans based on the severity of your shoulder pain and the type of rotator cuff tear that you have.
We are trained in the best practices in patient care, physical medicine, and shoulder pain management. We offer a wide variety of interventional pain treatments to address and reduce your symptoms. Some of the pain-relieving services that we offer are:
Schedule your initial consultation with our shoulder specialist today to get a better understanding of your condition and discuss your treatment in detail.
Don’t let your shoulder tear and chronic pain bother you any longer. At Gramercy Pain Center, we know the frustrating impact that a shoulder tear and rotator cuff injury can have on your work and quality of life. With our nonsurgical treatment options and physical therapy, we can restore your shoulder function so you can enjoy your active lifestyle.
With our compassionate and kind medical team, you can expect to get treated with the highest level of care and service. Our doctors will perform a thorough evaluation to identify your source of pain and create a specific plan that works for your condition.
A: For mild rotator cuff tears, shoulder sprains, or acute injuries, it can heal within four weeks. Some severe cases of shoulder tears and torn cuffs may require four months or longer to completely heal. Our doctors will guide you throughout your treatment and ensure that you recover in no time.
A: All patients will undergo a consultation with our orthopedic specialist or shoulder doctor. During your initial evaluation, we may perform a physical exam to assess your shoulder condition. We may also conduct some diagnostic imaging tests and blood work. We’ll then develop a treatment plan based on the results of the tests, your symptoms, and medical history.
A: Most torn rotator cuffs and injuries can get better without shoulder surgery. However, an orthopedic surgery may be advised if you experience persistent pain or shoulder weakness. You can consult with our team for orthopedic urgent care if you notice your symptoms are not improving with our non-surgical pain relief services.
A: A rotator cuff surgery is usually the last option when other treatments are ineffective. Some options for rotator cuff repair are shoulder arthroscopy, tendon transfer, and joint replacement. Our doctors can refer you to an orthopedic surgeon to discuss a potential shoulder replacement or arthroscopic surgery.
Keep your shoulder in good condition with the help of our professional physicians who can provide you with effective pain relief and management solutions. At Gramercy Pain Center, we want you to live your best life without being hindered by shoulder pain and discomfort. Call us today or book your appointment online to start your journey to pain-free living.
