Shoulder Tendonitis
Treatment should be performed as soon as you realize there's a problem. Otherwise, it can lead to permanent disability. Tendonitis shoulder pain doesn't have to disrupt your life.
Shoulder Tendonitis NYC — SPIN Sports Pain Specialists
Ready to get relief from shoulder tendonitis?
Same-day shoulder tendonitis appointments available.
Inflammation at the Core
Tendons are the thick, fibrous, cordlike structures that connect muscles to bones. They help you properly position your bones, maintain your posture and perform all kinds of movement. When tendons become inflamed, it's called tendonitis.
Tendonitis can occur in any part of your body, but most often it occurs in joints that are constantly in use. Joints in your shoulder, arm, wrist, knee and ankle are the most common sites of tendonitis. The condition occurs when you engage in repetitive movements that stress a joint, such as during sports and fitness activities, or when you have a physically demanding job.
Tendonitis in the shoulder involves the muscles that aid the movement of the shoulder — the rotator cuff muscles – so it's often called rotator cuff tendonitis. Our sports medicine team sees these injuries in baseball pitchers, swimmers, and quarterbacks.
Shoulder Tendonitis Symptoms That Affect Your Life
All of the symptoms of tendonitis shoulder issues revolve around pain and mobility. The key symptoms of tendonitis in the shoulder include:
- Tendonitis shoulder pain that's both acute and throbbing
- Shoulder clicking
- Shoulder pain when your arm is raised to shoulder level
- Swelling in your shoulder or upper arm
- Shoulder stiffness
- Decreased range of movement or strength
Tendonitis shoulder pain can be characterized in different ways. The pain may occur at different times, in positions, and in different areas of your shoulder or arm. Common symptoms include:
- Pain while lying on your shoulder
- Pain when lifting with a straight arm
- Pain as you move your arm behind your back or head
- General pain in shoulder or arm
- Discomfort at rest
Historical Significance
History of trauma to the shoulder area along with the specific pain and decreased joint function point to tendonitis shoulder. If your history includes a repetitive action or constant use of your shoulder, that gives your doctor clues that point toward a diagnosis. A physical examination is important for shoulder tendonitis treatment. It consists of certain specific joint and limb movements that tell the doctor:
The location of the tenderness
If there's any physical deformity
Whether you feel a decrease in muscle tone or power
If there's any nerve involvement
Your Manhattan sports medicine physician may suggest tests like x-rays, an MRI or CT scan to rule out other causes of shoulder pain like shoulder arthritis, bone spurs, bursitis, or deformities. An ultrasonogram, or USG, is used to visualize inside the shoulder joint.
Medical and Surgical Treatment for Shoulder Tendonitis
Medical shoulder tendonitis treatment is mostly pain management and reduction of joint swelling. This is done with over-the-counter NSAIDs like naproxen or ibuprofen. Swelling in the joint is reduced by steroid injections.
In cases where there's muscle injury or a tendon tear, surgical shoulder tendonitis treatment may be required. If muscles need to be repaired or a tendon needs to be reattached, arthroscopy is often recommended.
Recovery depends on the severity of the tear, but with proper rest, pain management and physiotherapy, you should maintain or even improve your joint function within a few months.
Ready to find relief from shoulder tendonitis?
Dr. Melepura's Midtown Manhattan clinic offers same-day appointments for evaluation and treatment.
It's in Your Hands… and on Your Shoulders
You can prevent tendonitis in the shoulder and the tendonitis shoulder pain associated with it. Proper technique, refraining from the strenuous joint activity, and quick treatment by your Midtown Manhattan team of specialists if you get injured prevent chronic pain and disability.
Real Stories from our Patients
Dr. Febin Melepura, MD
Double Board-Certified Pain Specialist
Meet Dr. Febin Melepura — Your Shoulder Tendonitis Specialist in NYC
Dr. Febin Melepura, MD is a double board-certified interventional pain management specialist and the founder of the Sports Pain Institute of New York. He completed his residency and fellowship training at New York Presbyterian Hospital / Columbia University Medical Center, one of the nation's leading academic medical centers.
He holds dual board certifications from the American Board of Anesthesiology and the American Board of Pain Medicine, and has treated more than 7,500 patients and performed over 5,250 procedures throughout his career. He has been named a Top Pain Management Doctor in New York and one of America's Top Doctors™ by Castle Connolly.
Dr. Melepura's approach to shoulder tendonitis is rooted in precision: identify the exact source, treat it with a targeted injection, and get you back to your daily life as quickly as possible.
Ready to Book an Appointment?
Same-day appointments available. Call (212) 621-7746 or book online.
What Our Shoulder Tendonitis Patients Say
"Able to make an appointment to see Dr. Melepura on short notice… attentive to my concerns… Jazmin was also very kind and helpful."
"Excellent hospitality, listener and explainer… highly recommend the doctor and the place."
"Dr. Melepura is the best! He worked with me to find the optimal solution to my shoulder pain while I was preparing for a fight!"
"Lovely, bright and modern… doctor and staff were kind… felt my concerns were heard."
"Helpful and friendly staff who gladly follows up with you if and when needed. Dr Melepura was very helpful and professional as well as provided me with excellent information and feedback."
"Dr Febin is fantastic! Highly recommend him and his practice the Spin clinic. The doctor is a good listener, kind, attentive and gave me great advice. "
"Dr.Melepura was very efficient and interpersonal, felt like he was understanding the problems I was having and explained the processes to take to rehabilitate. I would recommend."
"I felt listened to and truly understood by Dr. Melepura. Started PT the very next day. They were very friendly and I didn't feel rushed at all. Already recommended them to my friends who have or continue to play through pain."