Shoulder pain and physical therapy: Your best option to avoid orthopedic surgery

By Dr. Adam Cramer, PT, DPT; MyoFit Clinic

If all the joints in your body, the shoulder has the greatest range of motion. Our shoulders sustain sprains and strains, dislocations, tendinitis, torn rotator cuffs, bursitis, frozen shoulder, fractures, arthritis and a host of other injuries and conditions.

Because it is such a mobile joint, you can hurt it in falls, when you strain to try to reach something, when you lift something heavy, and even when you throw a ball or play a game. Sometimes it becomes injured and painful just from a gradual irritation or deterioration over time.

If you don’t get it treated when the pain starts, it has the potential to lead to larger problems.

You typically do not need an X-ray or MRI to diagnose shoulder pain. Often when specialists rely on imaging for diagnosing it can open up a “can of worms” because there can be false positives. We all have abnormalities within our muscles and joints but the “abnormal” structures found on X-rays and MRIs don’t necessarily correlate to the limited function at hand. They often get misdiagnosed, then patients have a higher likelihood of receiving invasive procedure such as surgery and injections which the majority of the time are not needed for most shoulder pain patients.

A properly trained doctor of physical therapy will be able to diagnose specifically what structure is limiting the function by performing various tests on your muscles, ligaments, joints and tendons throughout the initial evaluation process, pinpointing the problem so you can receive a proper diagnosis and same-day treatment.

Where do you look for relief of shoulder pain?
Too often when twinges of pain erupt from the shoulder, busy people just pop a pain-killer and push on through their day. The next day hurts even more, so they take a few more pills and continue without seeking help, or they seek out a surgeon who can only provide surgery as an option when they actually don’t want or even need surgery. Seeing a physician-owned therapy service will also limit your potential for success in avoiding surgery because these physical therapists only see postoperative patients and are not equipped to help you avoid surgery.

How your independent physical therapist can help your shoulder pain
When you consult with an independent doctor of physical therapy because of shoulder pain, you can expect you will first be evaluated so they can determine the cause of your pain and an effective way to treat it the same day. Some common shoulder problems we treat include rotator cuff tendinitis, bursitis, frozen shoulder, stroke recovery and shoulder fracture.

We employ a combination of hands-on treatment to loosen the muscles and joints combined with dry needling, laser therapy, electrical stimulation, hot and cold treatments, and Kinesio taping. Add to this stretching and strengthening exercises, including gentle exercises and education on proper posture and movement to decrease the pain.

What you can expect from your physical therapy
With each visit you will receive pain-relieving treatment to control pain and inflammation—without pharmaceuticals. You will also be given exercises to do at home between visits to continue to heal and strengthen your shoulder.

Your independent physical therapist can help you heal from your shoulder pain, thus avoiding surgery, saving you money, and returning you to your normal life. Just leaving your shoulder alone to heal won’t help you at all. Seeing a provider who offers surgery will not help you avoid surgery. Instead, see a physical therapist and think physical therapy first.

Dr. Adam M. Cramer, PT, DPT, is a licensed physical therapist, shoulder specialist and founder of MyoFit Clinic located in Chardon, Middlefield, and Ashtabula,Ohio. Physical therapy, occupational therapy and preventative check-ups are covered by insurances, and the clinics accept Medicare, Medicaid and all commercial insurances. Visit MyoFitClinic.com to find out more. Call MyoFit Clinic at 440-286-1007 so you can successfully avoid orthopedic surgery.