Shoulder pain can be a real nagging issue that can ultimately prevent us from doing basic every day living activities such as brushing our teeth, changing clothes and even sleeping in some cases. The problem with shoulder injuries is that they can go untreated or misdiagnosed as tight muscles. In order to assure that you get the proper treatment, you should see a physician that specializes in pain management so that they can evaluate you and your symptoms and prepare a plan of care specific to you and your pain.

What are some treatments for shoulder pain?

Over-the-counter:
Depending on the severity of the injury, shoulder injuries can be treated with simple over the counter medications such as Motrin, Aleve, and Tylenol. In most cases, over the counter medicine can help with pain tolerance but it won’t solve the problem or prevent it from getting worse.

Physical Therapy:
Primarily athletes who suffer from shoulder injuries tend to take a conservative management approach such as Physical Therapy where they implement and utilize Cryotherapy, lifestyle modifications, stretching and strengthening. With Physical Therapy, athletes are applying ice 20-30mins three times a day, decreasing their sports activity, improving flexibility by stretching, and strengthening the surrounding muscles of the shoulder with functional exercises to help increase stability and mobility. It is still recommended to continue to follow up with a licensed physician who specializes in joint regeneration because Physical Therapy may not solve the underlying issue of possible tissue damage.

Prolotherapy Treatment in Los Angeles & Santa Monica

Prolotherapy:
When athletes suffer shoulder injuries, they don’t realize that they may have caused micro tears to the many ligaments surrounding the shoulder joint, in which is a complex joint in itself. If gone untreated, it can potentially become worse and scar tissue can form therefore decreasing the shoulders full range of motion and surgery would be the only way to remove the scar tissue and to get the full range of motion back. Limited range of motion would then cause the body to over compensate for the weakness and pain with other surrounding muscles in order to perform a specific motion.

Prolotherapy at our Los Angeles pain management clinic, can be highly beneficial because where the micro tears are, Prolotherapy will help not only with pain relief but in rebuilding newer and stronger ligament tissues. Prolotherapy, also known as Regenerative Joint Injection utilizes the body’s inflammatory response (healing processes) to strengthen and repair injured joints and damaged connective tissues. This treatment is in the same category as PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma) because they both act as regenerative therapy to joints. Within the healing mechanism, the body is laying down new tissue in the damaged or weakened areas. This occurs when a Licensed Physician that specializes in pain management and joint regenerative therapy injects the injury site with a solution containing natural substances such as Dextrose (sugar) and a local anesthetic that stimulates the healing process. The injection inhibits growth of new ligament fibers, resulting in strengthening of the weakened area and causing instant pain relief.