Shoulder Pain Treatment Specialist in San Ramon, CA

There are a number of concerns that can cause shoulder pain. The most common of these is tendinitis in the rotator cuff. Tendinitis is swelling of the tendons. Another cause of shoulder pain is impairment syndrome, where the rotor cuff gets caught in the shoulder being pinched as the arm moves.

Sometimes the cause of shoulder pain is due to an injury in another part of your body, normally the neck or biceps. This is commonly called “referred pain.”. This type of pain doesn’t generally get worse when you move the shoulder.

There are several other causes of shoulder pain, such as arthritis, torn rotator cuff, torn cartilage, bone spurs, pinched nerves, dislocated shoulder, repetitive use, or heart attack. Several other factors can be the cause.

If you are experiencing intense pain from an injury, it is recommended that you seek medical attention. If the pain isn’t severe, it may be a good idea to rest and see if the pain goes away. If the problem persists, then it is a good idea to see a doctor. The doctor will examine to evaluate the cause of the problem and determine appropriate treatment options for you.

The doctor will go through your medical history as part of the process of determining what the problem may be. The doctor will ask how and when the pain started. They will ask to find out if this has happened before or is a recurring issue. Many shoulder issues can be exacerbated by certain activities, so a thorough medical history is essential for identifying the underlying cause.

A physical examination will be a part of the determination process. The doctor will check for physical abnormalities, deformity to the muscle, swelling, weakness, and tenderness in the area. They will also check the range of motion and strength in the shoulder.

The doctor may also want to run some tests to identify what the cause of the problem may be. Most of these tests are imaging-type tests, like X-rays, MRIs, or CT scans. If these don’t give a good indication of the cause of the problem, the doctor may want to check for nerve function, an arthrogram, or arthroscopy to try and find any damage that may be hidden from other tests.

You should be concerned about your shoulder pain if you can’t move your arm over your head or perform normal movements. If your shoulder feels like it is not in its socket, it is probably a serious issue. If you look in the mirror and your shoulder doesn’t look right, it may be time to be concerned. If your hand or arm is numb or weak after sustaining an injury, you should be concerned. Another, and often overlooked, issue is if you have pain in your shoulder that interferes with sleep.

As with many things in life, if it is left untreated, it is very likely to get worse. If the pain hasn’t gone away in a short time after an injury has taken place, there is a good chance that this may be something more serious. If left untreated, conditions like bursitis or tendonitis can lead to deterioration of the rotator cuff. Neglecting shoulder issues may result in chronic problems down the line.

The dedicated and compassionate team at Golden State Medical Center is here to help you overcome shoulder pain! Our clinic is located at 2551 San Ramon Valley Blvd, Suite 108, San Ramon, CA 94583. For more information, please contact us or request an appointment online. We proudly serve patients from San Ramon CA, Dublin CA, Blackhawk CA, Danville CA, Alamo CA, Diablo CA, Dougherty CA, Tassajara CA, Livermore CA, Pleasanton CA, and the surrounding areas. Visit us today for professional care and a customized plan to get you back on track!