Shoulder Conditions We Treat

The shoulder, the body’s most moveable joint, consists of various joints, muscles, and tendons. Shoulder problems can have a variety of causes and treatments. Some shoulder pain resolves with conservative treatment such as icing, over-the-counter pain relievers, and rest, while other sources of shoulder discomfort require surgery to repair.

Is shoulder pain slowing you down and preventing you from doing things you love, like golfing, tennis or surfing? Hoag Orthopedic Institute (HOI)’s board-certified shoulder surgeons are fellowship-trained to treat shoulder pain and shoulder injuries with the utmost care and expertise. Our shoulder doctors will diagnose your shoulder condition and determine the correct treatment to relieve your shoulder pain and get you back to you.

Shoulder Pain Causes

There are several main causes of shoulder pain:

• Arthritis: The wear-and-tear of osteoarthritis is perhaps the primary shoulder pain cause.
• Bursitis (often associated with rotator cuff tendinitis)
• Degenerative conditions: Pain in one area of the body may travel via nerves to the shoulder
• Fracture: When a shoulder condition results from a broken bone, the cause is generally clear. A fractured shoulder is accompanied not only by pain but also by bruising and swelling. Young people with shoulder pain from a fracture are usually involved in a motor vehicle accident or suffer a sports injury. For older clients, falls are a major cause of shoulder pain.
• Injury: Shoulder injury may result in tendon tears, either partial or complete. Once any of the muscles or tendons around the shoulder are impaired, dislocations may occur frequently. The more often these dislocations occur, the greater the likelihood of developing osteoarthritis in the shoulder.
• Infections and tumors: Although less common, either of these conditions can cause shoulder pain.

Common Shoulder Problems and Conditions

Frozen shoulders are among the most common shoulder problems. This shoulder condition occurs when all of the muscles, tendons, and ligaments stiffen or freeze, making any movement painful.

Other most common shoulder problems and conditions are related to arthritis or damage to the rotator cuff, the muscles and tendons that permit range of motion. At Hoag Orthopedic Institute, our experts are extensively trained at treating a wide range of shoulder conditions using the latest in technology and minimally invasive treatments whenever possible, including:

• AC Joint Separation
• Bicep Tendonitis
• Broken Collarbone / Collarbone Injuries
• Clavicle Fracture
• Cubital Tunnel Syndrome
• Dislocated Shoulder
• Distal Biceps / Triceps Ruptured
• Frozen Shoulder / Adhesive Capsulitis
• Labral Tears of the shoulder / Bankart Lesion
• Osteochondral Defect (OCD)
• Osteoporosis
• Rotator Cuff Tear / Rotator Cuff Injury
• Separated Shoulder
• Shoulder Arthritis / Osteoarthritis
• Shoulder Bursitis
• Shoulder Calcific Tendonitis
• Shoulder Fracture
• Shoulder Impingement
• Shoulder Sports Injuries
• Shoulder Tendinitis
• SLAP Lesion Tear
• Suprascapular Neuropathy / Entrapment
• Throwing Injuries

Shoulder Pain Diagnosis

A shoulder pain diagnosis starts with the doctor taking a medical history and a physical examination to observe your shoulder’s range of motion. The doctor will want to understand when the shoulder pain started and if it has happened before. They may ask you about specific activities that could be the potential source of your shoulder discomfort.

Additional diagnostic procedures may include:

• X-rays: An X-ray can reveal fractures, dislocations, and arthritis.
• MRI: Produces detailed images of bodily structures and organs.
• CT Scan: Computer tomographic images produce more detail than X-rays.
• EMG: Evaluates muscle and nerve function.
• Ultrasound: This procedure may detail rotator cuff injuries.

When To See a Doctor for Shoulder Pain

If shoulder pain is affecting your daily life and conservative treatment has not worked, seek help from our dedicated shoulder surgeons at Hoag Orthopedic Institute to help get you back to you. U.S. News & World Report ranked Hoag Orthopedic Institute as one of the top Orthopedic Hospitals in 2024-2025.

Keep in mind that extreme shoulder pain and immobility can indicate a more serious condition. If your shoulder pain is accompanied by difficulty breathing, or chest tightness, or the result of a fall, call 911 immediately.

At Hoag Orthopedic Institute, we offer state-of-the-art technologies for relieving shoulder pain. In 2024, Dr. Hafiz Kassam, our Director of the Shoulder Reconstruction Division at Hoag Orthopedic Institute, completed the first robotic-assisted reverse shoulder replacement in California. He is only the fifth surgeon in the world to utilize robotic-assisted guidance in shoulder arthroplasty.

Do you have a shoulder injury? Contact us at Hoag Orthopedic Institute for effective shoulder treatment by calling (949) 705-6493

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