Shoulder Pain

Shoulder pain stops you from moving your arms, causing considerable disability. If you develop shoulder pain or suffer an injury, call Jon Thompson, MD, at his office in McKinney or Prosper, Texas. A double board-certified orthopaedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist, Dr. Thompson diagnoses and treats shoulder pain using the most effective techniques so you can regain your mobility without delay. Call Jon Thompson, MD, today or book an appointment online to receive effective relief from shoulder pain.

What causes shoulder pain?

Your shoulders are the most mobile of your joints. They provide your arms with a wide range of motion that serves many uses. But their flexibility means shoulders often suffer injuries. Conditions that frequently cause shoulder pain include:

• Bursitis (inflammation of the bursae, the cushioning fluid-filled sacs)
• Tendinitis (tendon inflammation)
• Fractures
• Dislocations
• Biceps tendon tears
• Labral (cartilage) tears
• Adhesive capsulitis (frozen shoulder)
• Shoulder impingement
• Shoulder instability
• Rotator cuff tears

Your rotator cuff muscles and tendons hold the upper arm bone (humeral head) in its socket in your shoulder blade. They also enable you to raise your arms. Rotator cuff injuries stretch and tear the muscles and tendons, often when you dislocate the joint.

Rotator cuff injuries, labral tears, and dislocations likely cause shoulder instability. This is where your shoulder feels loose, and the humeral head easily pulls away from the socket.

You can also develop arthritis in your shoulder. Arthritis causes incurable, long-term shoulder pain when the cartilage in your joints is irreversibly damaged.

How is shoulder pain diagnosed and treated?

Diagnosing shoulder pain requires a physical exam and symptom assessment. You might also need an X-ray, CT scan, or MRI to provide a detailed view of the joint damage.

The treatment program Jon Thompson, MD, designs for your shoulder pain can consist of:

• Rest
• Physical therapy
• Pain-relieving medication
• Anti-inflammatory medicine
• Steroid joint injections

These treatments effectively relieve pain and restore function for many patients with shoulder pain. But if your symptoms aren’t improving, you might need surgery. Dr. Thompson could perform surgery early on if conservative treatments don’t heal the damage.

What surgery might I need for shoulder pain?

Which surgery Dr. Thompson recommends will depend on the cause of your shoulder pain and how badly it affects you. Surgeries he often performs include:

Rotator cuff repair

During a rotator cuff repair, Dr. Thompson reattaches torn shoulder muscles and tendons.

Labrum repair

The labrum (a band of cartilage) lines the shoulder socket (the glenoid), securing the upper arm bone in place. Dr. Thompson can repair these tears, reducing pain and joint instability.

Biceps tendon repair

The biceps tendon connects the muscle at the front of your upper arm to the bone in your shoulder. Tendon tears often require surgery to reattach the tissue.

Where possible, Dr. Thompson uses minimally invasive arthroscopic surgery. This method reduces tissue damage and pain and helps you recover more quickly.

Call Jon Thompson, MD, today or book an appointment online to learn the cause of your shoulder pain and benefit from expert treatment.