Shoulder Pain

Shoulder Pain services offered in Rancho Mirage and Palm Springs, CA

Each time you carry a bag of groceries, scratch your back, or toss a baseball, you use your shoulder. Board-certified orthopedic surgeon Hansel E. Ihn, MD, diagnoses and treats all types of shoulder pain at his office in Rancho Mirage and Palm Springs, California. If you’re experiencing chronic shoulder pain from an accident, injury, or degenerative condition, call the office or request an appointment online today.

Shoulder Pain Q & A

What is shoulder pain?

Three main bones make up the shoulder: the upper arm bone, the collarbone, and the shoulder blade. At the top of your upper arm bone is a joint that connects to a rounded socket inside your shoulder blade, allowing your arm’s range of motion. A series of muscles and tendons support the shoulder.

Damage to any of the shoulder’s components can lead to pain and poor range of motion. Without treatment, chronic shoulder pain can even diminish your quality of life.

What are the symptoms of shoulder pain?

While shoulder pain often resolves on its own, certain injuries and degenerative conditions can lead to lasting symptoms, such as:

Poor range of motion
Dull ache or sharp pain
Intermittent pain
Difficulty lifting arms
Pins-and-needles sensation
Burning sensation
Visible dislocation

Seeking treatment at the first sign of shoulder pain may accelerate healing and improve your recovery outcome.

What causes shoulder pain?

Shoulder pain typically stems from damage to the joint or the soft tissues that support it. Common causes of shoulder pain include:

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is a degenerative form of arthritis that causes the deterioration of the pliable cartilage that protects your joints. When cartilage degrades, it leaves your joints vulnerable to wear and tear, poor range of motion, and chronic pain.

Tendon damage

Inflamed or torn tendons in the shoulder from overuse, sports injuries, accidents, or bursitis can cause significant shoulder pain.

Rotator cuff injury

The rotator cuff contains a series of tendons and muscles that stabilize your shoulder joint. Without a healthy rotator cuff, the bones in your shoulder can destabilize and increase your risk of injury.

Fractures

A fracture is a bone break. While degenerative conditions like arthritis can increase your vulnerability to fractures, these breaks typically occur from direct impact to the shoulder.

What are the treatments for shoulder pain?

The first step in treating shoulder pain is diagnosing its cause. Dr. Ihn may order imaging tests, such as X-rays, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, and computed tomography (CT) scans, to diagnose your condition.

At his office, Dr. Ihn uses advanced technology and the latest minimally invasive and surgical techniques to treat shoulder pain. Common treatments for shoulder pain include: