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Shoulder Pain Specialist

NEIL GHODADRA, M.D. Our Services Shoulder Pain

NEIL GHODADRA, M.D.

Sports Medicine Physician & Orthopedic Surgeon located in West Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA

Your shoulder is the most flexible joint in your body, giving you the ability to wave your hand over your head and scratch that itch in the middle of your back. That type of flexibility, however, makes your shoulder prone to conditions that lead to shoulder pain. Shoulder pain is especially common in athletes that use their arms for their sport. Sports medicine specialist NEIL GHODADRA, M.D., in West Los Angeles, California, specializes in diagnosing and treating shoulder pain. Schedule an appointment by calling the nearest Los Angeles area office or booking online today.

Shoulder Pain Q & A

What is shoulder pain? 

Shoulder pain refers to any type of discomfort that involves your shoulder. Your shoulder is a large complex joint with three bones held together by tendons, ligaments, muscles, and cartilage.

Shoulder pain may range from a dull ache to severe pain. Or, you may only feel pain when moving your arm or when lying down.

If you have shoulder pain that affects your daily life, schedule an appointment at the office of NEIL GHODADRA, M.D. Dr. Ghodadra specializes in joint pain conditions and provides treatments that ease symptoms and restore joint function.

What causes shoulder pain? 

Any injury, damage, or disease that affects any of the components that make up your shoulder may cause shoulder pain. Common causes of shoulder pain include:

  • Arthritis
  • Tendonitis
  • Rotator cuff tear
  • Dislocated shoulder
  • Fracture
  • Bursitis
  • Bicep tendon injury
  • Shoulder impingement
  • Superior labrum anterior and posterior (SLAP) tear

 

Though you can develop shoulder pain from an acute injury, degenerative changes that occur to the joint as you get older are a common cause of shoulder conditions that cause pain.

What can I expect during a shoulder pain evaluation? 

You can expect a patient-centered exam when you visit the office of NEIL GHODADRA, M.D. for a shoulder pain evaluation. Dr. Ghodadra focuses on finding the root cause of your pain to devise a plan that gets you the best results.

He asks detailed questions about your pain, including when your pain started, what caused your pain, the location of your pain, and activities that make your pain worse. Dr. Ghodadra reviews your medical history and usual activities and examines your shoulder.

He performs diagnostic testing to confirm or rule out a diagnosis, which may include X-rays or an MRI.

How is shoulder pain treated?

Dr. Ghodadra creates individualized treatment plans for shoulder pain based on the diagnosis, severity of symptoms, usual level of activity, and medical history. Though a skilled orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Ghodadra may recommend non-surgical treatments first, such as:

  • Activity modification
  • Splinting, bracing, or casting
  • Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
  • Physical therapy
  • Regenerative medicine

 

However, when medical treatment fails to ease your shoulder pain, Dr. Ghodadra may talk to you about surgery. 

He specializes in arthroscopic shoulder surgery, using a minimally invasive technique when repairing a rotator cuff tear, SLAP tear, or shoulder impingement. Dr. Ghodadra also performs shoulder replacement for severely damaged shoulder joints. 

For relief from shoulder pain, call the office of NEIL GHODADRA, M.D., or schedule an appointment online today.

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