You go to the doctor with a complaint of severe shoulder pain. The pain is at the top and side of your shoulder and causing you great discomfort. You tell your doctor that the pain is much worse when you do anything where you have to reach over your head. Further, you tell your doctor that you also have a hard time sleeping at night because the pain is worse when you lay down. You may get an examination and your doctor may look for how much range of motion you have in your shoulder. If you have a lot of pain, you may be recommended to get an MRI of your shoulder.
Once the pain is determined to come from the subacromial space of the shoulder, that is the area of the rotator cuff tendons and the subacromial bursa, then rotator cuff tendinopathy, (shoulder impingement) is often diagnosed. The impingement occurs when the Acromion’s underside, presses against the rotator cuff tendons causing wear and tear.
Although “impingement” refers specifically to pressure on the tendons and bursa in the shoulder, it is a generalized term often used to refer to shoulder pain of unknown origin. Other terms used to describe pain that cannot be pinpointed are tendinitis, tendinosis, and bursitis. When a patient comes into our office we will perform a detailed physical examination of the shoulder looking for pain generators. Spots on the shoulder that elicit a pain response when pressed. Typically these are the spots of damage.
By isolating the areas that are damaged and injecting these spots with stem cells we can be confident that healing can occur.
The connection between Subacromial impingement of the rotator cuff and the development of rotator cuff tendinopathy is clear. In many patients we see the impingement and the tendinopathy are only parts and contributing factors to shoulder pain.
This is pointed out in our research which appears in the peer-reviewed journal Cogent Medicine.
Here we were able to demonstrate that:
- Patients with rotator cuff tendinopathy and degenerative shoulder disease would benefit from either one and two stem cell treatments. Patients reported significant improvements in resting pain, active pain, and functionality score when compared to baseline.
- The group that received two treatments experienced statistically significant improvements in active pain when compared to the group that received one injection.
- There were no significant outcome differences between rotator cuff tear and osteoarthritis patients.
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While shoulder impingement can cause severe pain, conservative care or regenerative medicine can help many people with disability, pain and loss of function.
In our practice, bone marrow aspirate or bone marrow derived Stem Cell Therapy is a treatment for musculoskeletal disorders. We treat degenerative joint disease, degenerative disc disease of the spine, and tendon and ligament injury. With nearly three decades experience, Dr. Marc Darrow and his team are pioneers in regenerative treatments, offering expert insights and personalized care tailored to your needs.
Schedule a free phone consultation today and receive our exclusive Regenerative Medicine Stem Cell & PRP Quick Start Guide —a digital resource packed with:
- Insights into Stem Cell & PRP Therapy
- Research-backed treatments for chronic tendon injuries, joint pain, arthritis, and sports injuries
Take the first step toward a pain-free, active life today.
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