In short,
- Understand the causes and symptoms of shoulder tendonitis.
- Explore non-surgical and surgical treatment options.
- Learn about the role of physical therapy in recovery.
Shoulder tendonitis, an inflammation or irritation of the tendons in your shoulder, can cause significant pain and limit your range of motion. Finding the best treatment option means understanding the root cause of the problem, recognizing the symptoms, and exploring different ways to treat it.
Often, the best approach starts with simpler treatments but may involve more complex procedures.
Understanding Shoulder Tendonitis
Shoulder tendonitis often happens from doing the same motions repeatedly or overusing the shoulder joint. After a while, repetitive motions can lead to tendons becoming inflamed and irritated.
Sometimes, shoulder tendonitis is linked to shoulder impingement syndrome. This is when the tendons are squeezed within the shoulder joint, which makes the pain worse and limits movement.
What Causes Shoulder Tendonitis?
Several things can lead to shoulder tendonitis. Knowing common causes is important for preventing and treating it.
- Repeating overhead activities, like painting, swimming, or throwing.
- Sudden injuries to the shoulder, like falls or hits.
- Bad posture or lifting things the wrong way, which can strain the shoulder muscles and tendons.
- Wear and tear over time, as tendons become less flexible and more likely to get hurt.
Recognizing the Symptoms
The symptoms of shoulder tendonitis can be different depending on how bad the inflammation is. Spotting these symptoms early can help you get treatment sooner and keep the problem from getting worse.
- Pain in the shoulder, especially when you move it or lie on that side.
- Stiffness or not being able to move your arm as far as usual, making it hard to raise your arm or reach behind your back.
- Soreness when you touch around the shoulder joint.
- Pain that gets worse at night, making it hard to sleep.
Exploring Treatment Options
The main goal of treating shoulder tendonitis is to lessen pain and inflammation while getting the shoulder joint working fully again. Treatment usually involves a mix of non-surgical methods and, in some cases, surgery.
Talk to your doctor to figure out the best treatment plan for you.
Non-Surgical Treatments
Many times, shoulder tendonitis can be well-managed with treatments that don’t involve surgery. These try to ease pain, lower inflammation, and restore movement without needing an operation.
- Rest and changing activities: Avoiding things that make the shoulder hurt can help lower inflammation and help it heal.
- Physical therapy: Exercises to make the shoulder muscles stronger and more flexible can help steady the joint and reduce pain.
- Pain medicine: Over-the-counter pain relievers, like ibuprofen or naproxen, can help with pain and inflammation.
- Corticosteroid injections: Shots of corticosteroids into the shoulder joint can give temporary relief from pain and inflammation. But these shots are usually used carefully because they can have side effects.
The Role of Physical Therapy
Physical therapy is a key part of treating shoulder tendonitis. It can be used by itself or as part of recovery after surgery. A physical therapist can create a workout plan just for you to meet your specific needs and help you get your shoulder working fully again.
Key Elements of a Therapy Program
Good therapy programs for shoulder tendonitis often include a mix of exercises and methods that aim to reduce pain, improve strength, and restore movement.
- Stretching exercises to make the shoulder joint more flexible and less stiff.
- Strengthening exercises to support the shoulder muscles and improve stability.
- Posture correction to reduce strain on the shoulder and prevent future problems.
- Activity changes to avoid making the problem worse and help it heal.
When is Surgery Necessary?
Surgery is usually only considered if other treatments aren’t helping enough after a few months. The kind of surgery depends on what’s causing the tendonitis and if there are other problems, like rotator cuff tears or bone spurs. Talk to your orthopedic doctor to discuss the best surgical options for your situation.
Common surgeries for shoulder tendonitis include:
- Arthroscopic surgery: A surgery using small cuts to remove inflamed tissue or bone spurs.
- Open surgery: May be needed for more complicated situations or when additional procedures need to be done.
When to Seek Professional Care
It’s important to see a doctor or other healthcare provider if you have shoulder pain that doesn’t go away or if you can’t move your arm as well as you used to. Getting diagnosed and treated early can help prevent long-term problems, like lasting pain and not being able to use your arm properly.
Warning Signs
Get medical help right away if you have any of these warning signs, as they could mean there’s a more serious problem:
- Sudden, intense shoulder pain that starts for no clear reason.
- Not being able to move your arm or shoulder at all.
- Signs of infection, like fever, redness, or swelling around the shoulder joint.
Managing Shoulder Tendonitis in Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia
If you have shoulder pain and think you might have shoulder tendonitis, it’s important to get professional care. Our orthopedic doctors and orthopedic providers at Watauga Orthopaedics in Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia are dedicated to giving you complete and personalized treatment plans to help you move without pain and improve your life.
Questions? Call us at (423) 282-9011 or use our online appointment request form.
