Those who suffer from chronic shoulder pain often find everyday tasks such as reaching for items on a high shelf, putting on their jacket or even sleeping difficult and often agonizing. At SOLUTIONS Pain and Spine Doctors, we understand this limitation on quality of life can severely limit quality of life; that is why our pain clinics provide state-of-the-art ultrasound-guided shoulder injections—a breakthrough treatment which has revolutionized pain management across metro Atlanta, GA.
Understanding Shoulder Pain: More Complex Than You May Think
The shoulder joint is one of the most intricate and mobile in our bodies, comprised of numerous parts working in harmony (bones, muscles & tendons).
This complex design makes the shoulder especially susceptible to damage from impactful events/activities or degenerative conditions. A few of the most common shoulder pain conditions our pain doctors see are:
- Rotator Cuff Tendinitis and Tears: Inflammation or damage to tendons connecting muscles to bones (tendonitis/tears)
- Adhesive Capsulitis: Also referred to as “frozen shoulder,” it causes significant stiffness and pain (known as adherent capsulitis)
- Shoulder Bursitis: An inflammation of fluid-filled sacs which cushion joints, known as bursitis.
- Osteoarthritis: Degenerative wear-and-tear of joint cartilage that gradually wears away when moving over time
- Shoulder impingement syndrome: Compression of tendons when raising an arm
Ultrasound-Guided Shoulder Injections: An Overview for Shoulder Pain
Though oral pain medications, physical therapy, and rest may provide some relief, more targeted interventions such as ultrasound-guided shoulder injections can offer significant advantages in managing pain.
Traditional “blind” shoulder injections rely on the physician’s anatomical knowledge and external landmarks for needle placement guidance. Ultrasound-guided injections have increased pain relief outcomes by our experienced pain specialists in Decatur, Peachtree Corners & Buford, GA.
Precision targeting allows us to precisely target tendons, bursae and joint spaces affected by inflammation with precision, while delicate structures such as blood vessels and nerves remain protected. Furthermore, medication delivery to its exact source of pain is verified as planned and adjusted quickly as necessary during the procedure.
Procedure Overview for Ultrasound-Guided Shoulder Injection: What Patients Can Expect
When visiting one of our pain management centers in Peachtree Corners, Buford or Decatur for an ultrasound-guided shoulder injection procedure, typically these steps will occur:
#1. Comprehensive Evaluation: Our pain doctors conduct a comprehensive examination of your shoulder, reviewing imaging studies and discussing symptoms to assess if an injection would be suitable.
#2. Prep: After cleaning the shoulder area with an antiseptic solution, local anesthetic may be applied to reduce discomfort.
#3. Real-time imaging: To begin the real-time imaging process, an ultrasound probe will be placed on your shoulder, providing clear images of internal structures on a monitor that both you and the physician can view at once.
#4. Precision Injection: Utilizing ultrasound images as a guide, a thin needle is carefully directed toward its target location—whether that means a specific part of the rotator cuff, bursa sac or shoulder joint itself.
#5. Medication delivery: Anti-inflammatory corticosteroids, anesthetics or regenerative therapies may be administered directly to the source of pain.
At SOLUTIONS Pain and Spine Doctors, our entire procedure usually lasts less than 30 minutes, with many patients reporting immediate improvements in comfort and range of motion. We offer various types of ultrasound-guided shoulder injections including:
- Corticosteroid injections: Reduce inflammation and provide pain relief from conditions like bursitis and tendonitis
- Hyaluronic acid injections: Add an additional source of natural joint fluid to increase lubrication and decrease osteoarthritis pain
- PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma) therapy: Utilizes components from your own blood to facilitate healing of damaged tissues,
- Trigger point injections aim at specific muscle knots that cause shoulder discomfort.
Our pain specialists will recommend the appropriate injection type based on your diagnosis, symptoms, and overall health.
Experience Shoulder Pain Relief at SOLUTIONS Pain and Spine Doctors
Don’t let shoulder pain restrict your life any further – with locations in Peachtree Corners, Buford, and Decatur, SOLUTIONS Pain and Spine Doctors offers advanced ultrasound-guided injection therapy close to home for maximum effectiveness against shoulder discomfort. Our experienced pain specialists combine technical know-how with compassionate care in order to effectively address it.
Peachtree Corners, GA: 3780 Holcomb Bridge Rd, Suite D-1, Peachtree Corners, GA 30092
Buford, GA: 3331 Hamilton Mill Road, Suite 1102, Buford, GA 30519
Decatur, GA: 4296 Memorial Dr. Ste C1, Decatur, GA 30032
New patient phone number: 470-275-3626