What Shoulder Conditions Can Be Treated Without Surgery?

Most people don’t realize just how much they use their shoulder until it becomes injured. When you have shoulder pain, it can feel like even the most insignificant of your daily routines are impossible. From washing your hair to driving a car, countless tasks rely on the shoulder joints. In some cases, shoulder surgery may be unavoidable, but many men and women, understandably, prefer a less invasive and more convenient alternative to joint surgery. For these patients, board-certified physicians Dr. Christie Lehman, MD and the award-winning team at Asheville Regenerative Orthopedics & Sports Medicine in Asheville, NC are proud to offer a comprehensive range of nonsurgical treatments and procedures for shoulder pain. Keep reading to learn more about which types of shoulder pain and shoulder conditions may be treatable with these groundbreaking nonsurgical solutions.

What causes shoulder pain?

Shoulder pain comes in all different forms, from sudden and sharp to chronic and dull – and everything in between. There are a number of potential causes of shoulder pain, some of the most common of which include:

• Overuse
• Sports-related injury
• Trauma
• Muscle strain
• Joint sprain
• Torn tendon or ligament
• Torn rotator cuff
• Tendonitis
• Fracture
• Arthritis
• Bursitis

What is the best treatment for shoulder pain?

Before deciding which shoulder pain treatment is right for you, it is critical that the cause of your shoulder pain is determined. During your initial consultation for shoulder pain treatment in Asheville, NC, Dr. Lehman will thoroughly evaluate your joint, discuss your symptoms, review any imaging studies you may have, and order any new studies that may be warranted, such as a dynamic diagnostic ultrasound or an MRI. Based on the findings of this evaluation, the doctor will recommend the most appropriate course of action for you. Common approaches for shoulder injuries or shoulder pain include:

• Surgery
• Injection therapy
• Physical therapy
• Rest
• Oral medications

Can my shoulder condition be treated without surgery?

At ARO, we understand that many patients prefer a less invasive, more convenient, and more natural approach to treating shoulder pain compared with traditional surgery. While surgery may be unavoidable in more extreme cases, many shoulder conditions can be improved with revolutionary nonsurgical treatments, such as Regenexx® procedures. Regenexx uses your body's natural healing ability to repair damage to bones, muscles, cartilage, tendons, and ligaments non-surgically. Compared to shoulder surgery and other procedures, nonsurgical Regenexx procedures offer a more natural approach with virtually no downtime required. Examples of common shoulder conditions that may be suitable to treatment with nonsurgical therapies include:

• General shoulder pain
• Shoulder sports injury
• Arthritis pain in shoulder
• Tendonitis
• Tendon tear
• Labral tear

If you are interested in learning more about if nonsurgical joint therapy may help your specific shoulder condition or general shoulder pain, don’t hesitate to discuss this with Dr. Lehman at your next appointment.

Surgery isn’t the only solution for shoulder pain. Consider nonsurgical shoulder treatments in Asheville, NC

If you have been putting off an orthopedic visit because you are afraid surgery is your only option, you may be surprised to learn about the wide array of nonsurgical orthopedic solutions that are available today. To learn more about how these exciting treatments may help improve your shoulder condition, call Asheville Regenerative Orthopedics & Sports Medicine to schedule your one-on-one consultation with board-certified physician and orthopedic expert Dr. Christie Lehman today.