Texas Orthopedic
Hospital
7401 South Main Street
Houston, TX 77030
Phone: (713) 799-2300
info@drgartsman.com

Help us diaganose your shoulder pain:

Patients commonly visit our office because of shoulder pain. The three main causes of shoulder pain are rotator cuff problems, shoulder stiffness or shoulder looseness.

Tell us about you:

	First Name*		Last Name*
	Address
	City / State / ZIP	/ /
	Country
	Phone*
	Email*

Please tell us where your pain is by checking the boxes below:

Pain is under the deltoid muscle		Pain is on the side of the arm
Pain is on the front of the arm		Pain is in the shoulder blade area

	Your Age? *
	years old
	How long has the pain been present? *
	years or more
	Did an injury cause the problem our did it start without a specific injury? *

Comments

Rotator Cuff

The rotator cuff tendons are the only tendons in the body that pass between two bones and therefore are prone to develop problems. This can occur due to a single injury but is more common after repetitive use of the arm. Rotator cuff problems can also be a consequence of the normal wear and tear that occurs over time. The tendon can become thickened and compressed between the shoulder bones when the arm is raised or it can tear. It is not necessary to have a major injury to tear the rotator cuff tendon. Most tears occur as a consequence of aging. We normally see rotator cuff problems in patients age 30 and older.

Pain typically occurs at night and with activities in which the elbow is at or above shoulder level. The pain is felt under the deltoid muscle (location 1 on diagram), on the side of the arm (location 2) or down the front of the arm (location 3). Pain in the shoulder blade area (location 4) is usually muscular or nerve related and is best treated by a physical medicine specialist.

Most minor rotator cuff problems will resolve if the patient stops the painful activites and takes anti-inflammatory medicine. If the pain is present for six months or longer, then a visit to our office is appropriate.

Shoulder Stiffness

Shoulder stiffness can occur due to arthritis or a condition called a frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis). This is a very painful condition that we see in patients age 50 and older.

Looseness

An injury to the ligaments that connect the ball to the socket can result in shoulder loosseness. We generally see this condition in patients age 18 to 35. If the ligament damage is severe the shoulder can dislocate (the ball comes totally out of the socket) or if the damage is less severe the shoulder can subluxate (the ball comes part way out of the socket and slips back in). Shoulder dislocation often requires surgical repair but subluxation often can be treated with a home rehabilitation exercise program.