Services | Orthopedics and Pain Medicine Physician located in Edison, Clifton, Hazlet, Jersey City and West Orange, NJ | Garden State Pain & Orthopedics

What is shoulder impingement?

Shoulder impingement is closely related to other shoulder conditions, including rotator cuff tendinitis and bursitis. In fact, these conditions may occur at the same time.

The rotator cuff holds your upper arm bone (humerus) in your shoulder socket. The bursa is a lubricating sac located in-between the rotator cuff and the bone at the top of your shoulder (acromion.)

When you have shoulder impingement, the rotator cuff rubs against or catches on the acromion. This causes shoulder pain and weakness, especially when you lift your arm overhead or backward.

What causes shoulder impingement?

Shoulder impingement and rotator cuff pain are common among young athletes and middle-aged adults. You may be particularly susceptible to shoulder impingement if you participate in activities that require overhead arm motions such as:

• Swimming
• Baseball
• Tennis
• Painting
• Construction
• Weight lifting

Having a previous shoulder injury, such as a dislocation, may also increase your risk of developing impingement syndrome.

How is shoulder impingement diagnosed?

First, your physician at Garden State Pain & Orthopedics carefully reviews your symptoms and medical history. Then, they examine your shoulder and move it in different directions to check your range of motion.

They may take imaging tests, like an X-ray or MRI, to rule out other conditions, such as arthritis. They may also administer an anesthetic injection into the space beneath your acromion to determine if this relieves your pain.

Once they diagnose your condition, the team at Garden State Pain & Orthopedics develops an individualized treatment plan to relieve pain and restore function to your shoulder.

How is shoulder impingement treated?

Most cases of shoulder impingement improve with non-surgical treatment. The team at Garden State Pain & Orthopedics creates a treatment plan tailored to your specific activity level. Depending on the severity of your condition, treatment for shoulder impingement may include:

• Rest and activity modification
• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications
• Regenerative medicine, such as PRP therapy
• Steroid injections
• Physical therapy

If your shoulder pain and symptoms persist despite treatment, you may need surgery. The expert surgeons at Garden State Pain & Orthopedics perform minimally invasive arthroscopic surgery whenever possible. However, complex cases may require open surgery.  

To find relief from shoulder impingement syndrome, call Garden State Pain & Orthopedics or book an appointment online today.

Shoulder Pain Doctors that Can Help - Garden State Pain and Orthopedics

Garden State Pain and Orthopedics is a group of Orthopedic and Pain Management Physicians located in Clifton, Edison, Hazlet, West Orange, and Jersey City who have provided the highest quality healthcare since 1994. Garden State Pain & Orthopedics is on the cutting edge of technology in pain medicine with expertise across diverse pain conditions and treatment modalities, including interventional pain techniques, minimally-invasive surgeries, medical management, physical therapy, rehabilitation, and behavioral therapy. You can schedule an appointment with their pain doctors by selecting the “Book Now” button. 

Locations:

Clifton

Address: 1117 Route 46 East, Suite 301, Clifton, NJ 07013

Phone: 973-777-5444

Edison

Address: 25 South Main Street, Suite 12, Edison, NJ 08837

Phone: 732-376-0330

Jersey City

Address: 631 Grand Street, Suite 2-100, Jersey City, NJ 07304

Phone: 973-777-5444

West Orange

Address: 443 Northfield Ave West Orange, NJ 07052

Phone: 732-376-0330

Hazlet

Address: 226 Middle Road, Suite 4, Hazlet, NJ 07730 

Phone: 732-376-0330