Shoulder pain can impact an athlete’s performance and lead to time away from the sport. Getting back in the game is a priority for any athlete or active individual. Talk of surgery is a concern because it almost always requires a lengthier recovery period. For this reason, athletes look to other methods of treatment that allow them to recover as quickly as possible from an injury.
Non-surgical treatment options for sports injuries include physical therapy and medication. But when not enough, athletes should consider injections for shoulder pain delivered directly to the joint and surrounding tissues.
Let’s explore the types of shoulder pain injections used by sports medicine professionals, their benefits, and where you can go in Dallas for this type of treatment.
Different Types of Shoulder Pain Injections
For individuals who would prefer non-surgical treatment options or are not candidates for surgical intervention, injections can be very effective.
Below are two types of shoulder injections that can be used in the treatment of many shoulder conditions:
Prolozone Injections
Prolozone injections involve the injection of a mixture of ozone gas and nutrients (such as vitamins, minerals, and homeopathic solutions) into the affected area.
- Prolozone injections use ozone, which is made up of three atoms of oxygen.
- Ozone therapy is delivered directly to the shoulder, enhancing blood flow to the injured and inflamed tissues.
- Prolozone therapy reduces pain, inhibits inflammation, stimulates growth factors, and triggers tissue regeneration.
- It is a treatment for various forms of shoulder conditions that cause chronic pain, from shoulder arthritis to a torn rotator cuff, providing lasting relief from symptoms.
Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy
PRP injections involve the use of a concentration of a patient’s platelet-rich plasma from their blood to promote healing and tissue regeneration.
- PRP involves an extraction and processing to isolate platelet-rich plasma, and then injecting it into the affected area.
- PRP injections contain a high concentration of platelets, growth factors, and other proteins critical in tissue repair, inflammation modulation, and collagen production.
- It can be beneficial for conditions that cause chronic shoulder pain such as rotator cuff tears, tendonitis, and bursitis.
Benefits of Shoulder Pain Injections
There are many benefits offered by shoulder injections when compared to oral medication or surgery, as the injections boost healing mechanisms in the body. Here’s how:
- Targeted Pain Relief – Shoulder pain injections deliver medication directly to the injured tissue, providing targeted relief from pain.
- Lowers Inflammation – Shoulder injections can have powerful anti-inflammatory effects, which bring down inflammation that can hinder tissue healing.
- Promote Tissue Regeneration – The components found in shoulder pain injections promote the regeneration of new tissue.
- Minimally Invasive – Shoulder pain injections are performed as outpatient procedures and typically involve a simple injection technique. Shoulder injections involve minimal discomfort, downtime, and a shorter recovery time than surgical procedures.
- Minimal Side Effects – Prolozone injections and PRP injections typically have minimal side effects, such as temporary soreness at the injection site.
- Rapid Onset of Action – Many patients experience significant pain relief shortly after receiving shoulder pain injections, allowing them to resume normal activities with greater comfort.
- Delay or Avoid Surgery – For some individuals, shoulder pain injections can delay or even eliminate the need for surgical intervention and allow for a faster recovery from the condition.
Which Shoulder Pain Injection is Right for Me?
Determining which shoulder pain injection is right for you depends on several factors, including the underlying cause of your shoulder pain. Each type of injection has its unique mechanism of action and indication. To determine the most suitable injection therapy for your specific condition, it’s essential to consult with a qualified sports medicine doctor who can review your medical history and perform a physical examination of your shoulder.
Sports Medicine Doctors in Dallas, TX
At Reagan Integrated Sports Medicine, our sports medicine physicians focus on providing non-surgical treatments and therapeutic interventions for shoulder conditions. We offer shoulder pain injections for the right candidate after an evaluation of their condition. Prolozone therapy is not readily available in other sports injury rehabilitation facilities, and our team is proud to be trained and qualified to administer this cutting-edge treatment.
Our team is experienced in treating athletes and active individuals. We are a sports medicine and rehabilitation facility consisting of sports medicine doctors, chiropractic doctors, and physical therapists, and we are athletes ourselves, so we know what you’re going through.
For comprehensive treatment and a faster return to your game, consult our sports medicine experts. Call our office today at (972) 503-7272 or use our online form. Our friendly staff looks forward to assisting you in our sports medicine and rehab facility in Dallas!
