What can cause shoulder pain?

It can be caused by tendinitis, tendinosis, subacromial syndrome, osteoarthritis, bursitis, rotator cuff injuries, sports overload, impacts, dislocations or repetitive movements. The exact cause must be assessed during a consultation.

When should I seek medical advice for shoulder pain?

It is advisable to consult a doctor if the pain lasts for several weeks, limits mobility, prevents sleep, appears when raising the arm, reduces strength or does not improve with rest, physiotherapy or conservative treatment.

What is the difference between tendinitis and a rotator cuff tear?

Tendinitis or tendinosis involves inflammation or degeneration of the tendon. A rotator cuff tear involves a partial or complete injury to the tendons that stabilise and move the shoulder. Although they can cause similar symptoms, the prognosis and treatment may differ.

Can regenerative medicine avoid surgery?

It cannot be guaranteed. In some cases it can be an alternative to consider before more invasive options, but it depends on the diagnosis, the degree of injury, mobility, pain and the patient's response.

What treatments can be used for shoulder pain?

Depending on the case, physiotherapy, therapeutic exercise, growth factors, platelet-rich plasma, stem cells or other medical strategies may be considered. The indication depends on the type of injury and the medical assessment.

How long does it take for shoulder pain to improve?

It depends on the origin of the pain, the degree of injury and the state of the tissue. Some injuries improve in a few weeks, while others require more time, monitoring and active recovery work.

Shoulder pain

When the shoulder hurts, lifting the arm stops being a normal movement

Shoulder pain can be caused by inflammation, wear and tear, or tendon injuries, and can limit everyday movements. At EONLIFE Clinic, we investigate its origin to reduce pain, improve mobility, and restore function.

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Reduce pain and inflammation

The treatment aims to reduce the inflammation associated with injured tendons, joints or tissues so that the shoulder hurts less.

Regain mobility

The aim is for you to be able to raise your arm again, get dressed, lift weight, train or carry out everyday movements with more confidence.

Evaluate options

Regenerative medicine may be an option if conservative treatment fails. In some cases, it will be necessary to resort to surgery.

Common pathologies related to shoulder pain

The shoulder is a complex and highly mobile joint. Therefore, pain can have various origins: tendons, the joint, bursa, cartilage, musculature, or the rotator cuff. Properly identifying the injury is key to choosing the right treatment.

Injury or degeneration of the tendon which can cause pain when lifting the arm, exerting force, playing sports or repeating certain movements.

It occurs when there is conflict or irritation in the subacromial space. It can cause pain when raising the arm, functional limitation and night-time discomfort.

Progressive wear and tear of the joint that can cause pain, stiffness, loss of mobility and difficulty in making wide arm movements.

Injury to the tendons that stabilise and move the shoulder. It can cause pain, loss of strength, difficulty lifting the arm and limitation in daily or sporting activities.

Shoulder pain

The exact same shoulder pain can require very different treatments.

The shoulder is involved in everyday movements such as getting dressed, driving or lifting heavy objects. When pain persists or limits mobility, it is important to identify the cause, as tendinitis, a tear or osteoarthritis require different approaches.

At EONLIFE Clinic, we study the tissue condition and characteristics of each patient and take into account previous treatments to assess biological therapy, specific physiotherapy or a combined strategy.

Common symptoms and causes of shoulder pain

Shoulder pain can appear gradually or after an awkward movement, a fall, overloading or a workout. Here are some common symptoms and causes.

Pain when lifting the arm

It can appear when taking something from a shelf, getting dressed, combing your hair or performing movements above your head. It is common in tendon injuries, subacromial syndrome or rotator cuff problems.

Night-time pain or when sleeping on your side

Many shoulder injuries worsen at night or when bearing weight on the joint. This symptom can indicate inflammation, tendon irritation or rotator cuff involvement.

Loss of strength

Difficulty lifting weight, pushing, carrying bags or performing usual movements may be related to tendon injuries or partial tears of the rotator cuff.

Stiffness or loss of mobility

When the shoulder loses range of motion, it may be due to inflammation, osteoarthritis, persistent pain or muscular compensations that limit the normal use of the arm.

Pain after sports, impact or awkward movement

The shoulder is one of the most mobile joints in the body and can be injured by falls, impacts, dislocations, racket and throwing sports, strength training or repetitive movements.

How we assess shoulder pain

Before proposing a treatment, it is necessary to know which structure is affected and the degree of injury that exists. Shoulder pain is not treated the same in all patients.

Medical evaluation and examination

We review your symptoms, when the pain started, which movements make it worse, what treatments you have tried and how it affects your daily life, work or sport.

Testing and diagnostics

We analyse previous imaging tests or reports. We can request further studies to assess tendons, the joint, cartilage or the rotator cuff.

Personalised treatment plan

Based on the diagnosis, we define the most appropriate approach. This may include regenerative medicine, growth factors, stem cells, physiotherapy, and others.

Recovery tracking

Follow-up makes it possible to assess the evolution of pain, mobility, strength and shoulder functionality, adjusting the plan according to the patient's response.

Potential solutions

Treatments that can be considered

Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP): stimulates natural tissue repair

PRP is obtained from a small sample of the patient's own blood. Following a centrifugation process, the platelet-rich plasma is concentrated and applied precisely to the injured tissue to enhance the natural repair mechanisms.

Expectations

What you can expect from the treatment

The progress depends on the type of injury, the degree of involvement, how long the pain has lasted, the condition of the tissue and the patient's commitment to recovery. That is why we work with realistic goals and medical follow-up.

Before treatment

Understand which structure is affected

The first phase consists of differentiating whether the pain comes from a tendon, the rotator cuff, the joint, bursitis, osteoarthritis, or a combination of causes.

First few weeks

Reduce pain and inflammation

Following the biological treatment, it is expected to modulate inflammation and progressively reduce pain. The response varies depending on the lesion and the condition of the tissue.

Subsequent evolution

Regain mobility, strength and function

The goal is for the shoulder to move with more confidence again. In many cases, recovery can be accompanied by physiotherapy, strength exercises and mobility work.

If shoulder pain is limiting your day-to-day life, don't normalise it: find out what's going on

Request a medical assessment to investigate the origin of the pain and find out which options can help you regain mobility and carry out your activities with greater comfort.

Request a medical assessment

FAQs

Frequently asked questions

What can cause shoulder pain?
It can be caused by tendinitis, tendinosis, subacromial syndrome, osteoarthritis, bursitis, rotator cuff injuries, sports overload, impacts, dislocations or repetitive movements. The exact cause must be assessed during a consultation.
When should I seek medical advice for shoulder pain?
It is advisable to consult a doctor if the pain lasts for several weeks, limits mobility, prevents sleep, appears when raising the arm, reduces strength or does not improve with rest, physiotherapy or conservative treatment.
What is the difference between tendinitis and a rotator cuff tear?
Tendinitis or tendinosis involves inflammation or degeneration of the tendon. A rotator cuff tear involves a partial or complete injury to the tendons that stabilise and move the shoulder. Although they can cause similar symptoms, the prognosis and treatment may differ.
Can regenerative medicine avoid surgery?
It cannot be guaranteed. In some cases it can be an alternative to consider before more invasive options, but it depends on the diagnosis, the degree of injury, mobility, pain and the patient's response.
What treatments can be used for shoulder pain?
Depending on the case, physiotherapy, therapeutic exercise, growth factors, platelet-rich plasma, stem cells or other medical strategies may be considered. The indication depends on the type of injury and the medical assessment.
How long does it take for shoulder pain to improve?
It depends on the origin of the pain, the degree of injury and the state of the tissue. Some injuries improve in a few weeks, while others require more time, monitoring and active recovery work.

Unresolved questions? Contact us.

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