Shoulder pain is common due to the joint’s wide range of motion and reliance on soft tissue stability.
Causes can be broadly grouped into musculoskeletal (rotator cuff disorders), inflammatory (osteoarthritis, bursitis, tendinitis, etc.), degenerative, frozen shoulder (inflammation and adhesion of the capsule), traumatic, and referred sources.
Management relies on a stepwise approach following assessment, establishing the cause, and ruling out red flags. The approach ranges from analgesics, physiotherapy, and lifestyle modifications, assisted with pain intervention procedures. I offer following interventions tailored to individual need and requirement that can be complimentary to other treatment modalities, aiming towards reducing pain and improvement in quality of life-
- Shoulder joint injection
b. Subacromial infiltration
c. Suprascapular nerve block
d. Cervical dorsal root block
e. Radiofrequency ablation
f. Neuromodulation (spinal cord, dorsal root ganglion, Multifidus stimulation) for refractory pain where all other treatment modalities have proven unsuccessful/limited.
You can request your GP to arrange a named consultant referral to the Barts neuromodulation service to access these advanced treatment options if they are not available in your area.