SHOULDER PAIN
Find The Cause.
Restore Function.
Shoulder pain is a symptom, not a diagnosis. The first step is understanding where the pain is coming from, what structures are involved, and which treatment is most likely to restore comfortable shoulder function.
Find The Source
Restore Mobility
Identify Weakness
Treatment That Fits
What Are You Experiencing?
Pain At Night
Shoulder pain that wakes you from sleep or makes it difficult to lie on that side.
Can't Lift The Arm
Weakness, loss of strength, or difficulty raising the arm overhead.
Stiffness & Grinding
Painful loss of motion, catching, grinding, or progressive stiffness.
Pain With Lifting
Pain reaching away from the body, lifting objects, or using the arm overhead.
Shoulder Slipping Out
Dislocation, instability, apprehension, or a feeling that the shoulder may come out.
Front Shoulder Pain
Pain near the biceps tendon, pain with curls, lifting, or reaching across the body.
Common Causes Of Shoulder Pain
Rotator Cuff Tears
Common cause of night pain, weakness, and pain with lifting or overhead activity.
Shoulder Arthritis
Cartilage loss causing pain, stiffness, grinding, and progressive loss of motion.
Frozen Shoulder
Painful stiffness and loss of motion that can mimic other shoulder problems.
Shoulder Instability
Dislocations, labral tears, and recurrent slipping of the shoulder joint.
Labral Tears
Deep shoulder pain, clicking, catching, instability, or pain with throwing.
Shoulder Fractures
Fractures after falls or trauma involving the upper arm bone near the shoulder.
Dr. Streit's Clinical Perspective
I do not treat MRI findings in isolation. I treat patients. Shoulder pain must be understood in context: where the pain is located, what movements cause it, whether weakness is present, whether motion is restricted, and what the imaging actually means for that individual patient.
The goal is to identify the correct diagnosis first. Once the diagnosis is clear, the treatment plan becomes much more focused.
How Shoulder Pain Is Evaluated
History
When the pain started, where it hurts, what makes it worse, and what has already been tried.
Exam
Motion, strength, stability, tenderness, and shoulder mechanics are carefully assessed.
X-rays
X-rays help identify arthritis, fractures, bone spurs, alignment, and joint damage.
MRI Or CT
Advanced imaging is used when needed to evaluate tendons, cartilage, bone loss, or surgical planning.
Treatment Options
Most shoulder pain does not automatically require surgery. Treatment depends on the diagnosis, severity of symptoms, imaging findings, patient goals, and whether the problem is improving or worsening.
Physical Therapy
Focused rehabilitation can improve motion, strength, mechanics, and pain in many conditions.
Injections
Corticosteroid injections may reduce inflammation and pain in selected patients.
Activity Modification
Changing aggravating activities can help reduce symptoms while maintaining function.
Rotator Cuff Repair
Surgical repair may be recommended for symptomatic tears with pain, weakness, or functional loss.
Shoulder Replacement
Advanced arthritis may be treated with anatomic or reverse shoulder replacement.
Revision Surgery
Complex problems after prior shoulder surgery may require specialized evaluation and reconstruction.
Start With The Right Category
Rotator Cuff Symptoms
Night pain, weakness, pain lifting the arm, and difficulty reaching overhead.
Shoulder Arthritis
Stiffness, grinding, loss of motion, and pain that worsens over time.
Shoulder Instability
Dislocations, slipping, labral tears, and unstable athletic shoulders.
Surgical Procedures
Explore shoulder replacement, rotator cuff repair, biceps tenodesis, instability surgery, and fracture care.
Physical Therapy Protocols
Procedure-specific rehabilitation guidance after shoulder surgery.
Shoulder Questions & Education
Patient education on shoulder pain, surgery, recovery, and treatment decisions.
Need Help Finding The Cause?
A shoulder-specific evaluation can help determine whether your pain is coming from the rotator cuff, arthritis, instability, biceps tendon, fracture, stiffness, or another source.
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