Shoulder Injury Treatment in Buffalo, NY

You don’t realize how much you use your shoulder until you injure it. When that happens, you’re faced with countless questions. Do you need to seek medical care? Will you be overrun by doctor’s appointments that will interfere with your life? How can you pay for the care? These questions might seem overwhelming, but seeking treatment for a shoulder injury doesn’t have to be.

Medical Care of Western New York at Buffalo will evaluate your shoulder injury to determine if treatment is necessary. If it is, you can receive all the treatments you need at one location. We even accept no-fault and worker’s compensation claims.

Don’t let your shoulder injury hold you back any longer. Get the treatment you need so you can enjoy your favorite activities once again.

What Are Some Common Causes of Shoulder Injuries?

Millions of people suffer from shoulder injuries each year. These injuries are often caused by excessive and repetitive motions, such as tennis, pitching, and swimming. You can even get injured by gardening, washing walls, or painting. Then, of course, some people injure their shoulders from work injuries or car accidents.

What Are Some Common Shoulder Injuries?

The staff at Medical Care of Western New York at Buffalo sees an assortment of shoulder injuries each year. Common shoulder injuries include:

• Bursitis
• Rotator cuff tears
• Labrum tears
• Frozen shoulder

What Is Bursitis (Impingement Syndrome)?

Bursitis of the shoulder, referred to as impingement syndrome, is a common issue that people in Buffalo and around the rest of the country face. Impingement is the word used to describe what happens when the shoulder muscles excessively rub against the top of the shoulder blade. If you engage in lots of activities that require overhead arm motion, you could end up with impingement syndrome (bursitis). This is diagnosed when the tendons and bursa that are located in the tip of the shoulder and top of the arm bone become irritated and swell.

This makes it difficult for the tendons to move freely in the space. This, in turn, irritates the bursa and tendons even more, restricting the movement of the tendons even further. Every time the tendon moves, it gets pinched in between the bone.

If you have bursitis, you might notice swelling, redness, and tenderness. Pain and issues with range of motion are also common. In some cases, people develop fever and feel sick as well. If that occurs, it’s important to seek medical attention immediately since this is a sign that the bursa is infected. You need to treat the infection before it spreads to other parts of the body.

What Is A Rotator Cuff Tear?

Approximately 2 million adults in the United States go to a doctor due to a rotator cuff issue each year. If you’re diagnosed with a rotator cuff tear, it means that at least one of the rotator cuff tendons is torn and can’t fully attach to the humerus. This makes the shoulder very weak and can make the smallest activities, such as brushing your hair, painful and impossible to accomplish.

Rotator cuff tears are divided into two categories. You’ll be evaluated to determine if you have an acute or a degenerative tear.

An acute tear can occur if you use a jerking motion when lifting something heavy or if you fall when your arm is outstretched. People who have acute rotator cuff tears often have other injuries as well, such as broken collarbones.

A degenerative tear occurs when the rotator cuff tendons wear out over time. This can happen if you repeat the same motion over time. You can also end up with a degenerative tear if your rotator cuff doesn’t get enough blood or if you have bone spurs. Degenerative tears often occur in the dominant arm.

What Are Labrum Tears?

The rim of your shoulder socket has a piece of rubbery tissue attached to it. This rubbery tissue is called the labrum, and it’s responsible for keeping your shoulder’s ball joint in place. Aging can cause labrum tears, but others tear the tissue by falling on an outstretched arm or sustaining a blow to the shoulder. You can also tear your labrum through repetitive shoulder motions or sudden pulls or reaches.

If your labrum is torn, you’ll likely notice that your shoulder no longer feels stable. You won’t have as much strength in your shoulder, and your range of motion will decrease. Pain is also common with this shoulder injury, but the pain might only be present when you put your arms over your head.

Labrum tears are more difficult to diagnose than other shoulder injuries, so it is essential to go to a office that has the proper equipment. Medical Care of Western New York at Buffalo is a medical office that has everything from acute general medicine to MRIs (offsite) and other diagnostic options. We can quickly diagnose your shoulder injury and devise a treatment strategy.

What Is A Frozen Shoulder (Adhesive Capsulitis)?

Your shoulder capsule is made up of connective tissue that surrounds the rotator cuff tendons and shoulder joint. The capsule and joint are lubricated with synovial fluid. This allows the shoulder to move without force.

Frozen shoulder occurs when the capsule thickens, and you develop thick bands of tissue around it. You might also lose some of the synovial fluid that lubricates the joint. This is a very painful condition and makes it hard to move the shoulder.

Right now, researchers are still trying to find the cause of frozen shoulder, but they have identified several risk factors, including diseases like diabetes and immobilization. This condition is also more common in people between the ages of 40 and 60 than any other age group.

There are three stages to frozen shoulder. During the freezing stage, you will lose some range of motion and start to experience pain. This stage lasts for six weeks to nine months. Then, during the frozen stage, you might not feel as much pain, but your range of motion will get even worse. This lasts for four to six months, and you’ll likely notice that it’s difficult to conduct daily activities.

The third stage is referred to as the thawing stage. Your symptoms will start to improve, and your range of motion will get better as the days pass. This stage can take up to two years. After you make it through the last stage, you might have a break for a while before entering stage one again.

Get Your Shoulder Injury Treated At Medical Care of WNY

Dealing with a shoulder injury isn’t just painful. It can greatly impact your quality of life. You want to get your shoulder injury treated and go back to enjoying your life, and we can help. With a full range of treatment options, including diagnostic services and physical therapy, our office is the only one you’ll need.

We accept a variety of insurance options, as well as no-fault and workers’ compensation claims. We can even provide you with the documentation you need for your no-fault or workers’ compensation claim.

Our traditional approach will help you overcome your shoulder injury and heal from the inside out. If you want to put this shoulder injury behind you, contact us today. Walk-ins are welcome, and no one is turned away. Stop by and find out why so many patients are feeling better about our natural approach to medicine.

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