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Shoulder Tendonitis: Symptoms, Treatments, and Recovery

Symptoms & ConditionsShoulder Specialist NYC — Orthopedic Shoulder Surgeon at New York Bone & JointShoulder Tendonitis: Symptoms, Treatments, and Recovery

Written by: Dr. Popovitz.

Board-Certified Orthopedic Surgeon | Fellowship-Trained Sports Medicine, NYU Langone Medical Center | FAAOS

Co-Founder, NY Bone & Joint Specialists | Lenox Hill Hospital - Northwell Health

Recognized: New York Magazine Best Doctor | New York Times Super Doctor | IAOS Leading Physician of the World | IAOS Top Orthopedic Surgeon in New York

Date Published: October 1, 2018

Last Updated: October 24, 2019

Last Medically Reviewed: October 24, 2019

This page has been written and reviewed by a fellowship-trained, board-certified orthopedic surgeon with over 20 years of clinical experience. All clinical claims are supported by peer-reviewed literature and current AAOS and AOSSM guidelines. See References section below.

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Surgery performed at Lenox Hill Hospital - Northwell Health

WHAT IS TENDONITIS IN THE SHOULDER?

Tendonitis can affect any tendon in the shoulder, resulting in burning pain, swelling, and a restricted range of motion. It’s frequently caused by other underlying conditions that directly affect the tendons, such as shoulder impingement, though it can be a product of simple overuse. Regardless of the specific cause, tendonitis in the shoulder can largely prevent the injured joint from functioning properly, making it a potentially debilitating injury.

SHOULDER TENDONITIS SYMPTOMS

Shoulder tendonitis shares many of the same symptoms as tendonitis in other joints, with most patients reporting moderate to heavy pain and swelling in the shoulder and upper arm. Attempting to lift, lower, or lie on the arm can exacerbate the pain. Other common symptoms include:

  • A sense of weakness or stiffness in the affected shoulder
  • A greatly restricted range of motion
  • A clicking sensation when attempting to move the arm

Shoulder Tendonitis

SHOULDER TENDONITIS TREATMENT

Treatments for shoulder tendonitis largely depend on the extent of the condition. In general, however, this condition can be effectively managed with some simple conservative measures. Surgery is recommended only in the most severe cases.

Conservative

Conservative treatments for shoulder tendonitis are largely designed to alleviate pain and inflammation and restore function to the shoulder. The most common include:

  • Refraining from any activities that aggravate the condition
  • Regularly icing the shoulder
  • Taking anti-inflammatory medications
  • Receiving steroidal injections
  • Exercises intended to redevelop the surrounding muscles and rebuild flexibility in the tendons

Shoulder Tendonitis Surgery

In some severe cases, shoulder tendonitis can also be treated with a short arthroscopic surgery. During the procedure, your surgeon will view the damaged tendon with a small camera inserted into a small incision while operating on it through another opening, removing damaged tissue and mending any tears. As a minimally invasive procedure, it encourages a quicker recovery and minimizes the risk of surgical complications.

Doctors Seeing Patients for Shoulder Conditions:

Leon E. Popovitz, MD

Rupesh Tarwala, MD

Christopher Martin, MD, CAQSM

John Munyak, MD

Trocon Davis, MD

Amir Razani, DO

Efime Popovitz, MD

Faton Bytici, MD

Medically Reviewed by Dr. Popovitz.

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