Shoulder Pain Specialist
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Thomas J. Kremen, M.D.
Orthopaedic & Sports Medicine Specialist located in Santa Monica, CA & Los Angeles, CA
When shoulder pain strikes, you’re not only uncomfortable, you can lose the use of your entire limb, making your life very difficult. That's when you should visit Thomas J. Kremen, MD, an orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist who helps patients in Santa Monica overcome shoulder pain. To regain the use of your shoulder without pain, call for an appointment or use the online booking tool.
Shoulder Pain Q & A
What is the structure of the shoulder?
Your shoulder is a classic ball-and-socket joint where your upper arm bone, called the humerus, meets your collarbone and shoulder blade, including the acromion. These bones are surrounded, and supported, by:
- Ligaments
- Tendons
- Muscles
- Bursae
- Nerves
When all of these parts are working well together, your shoulder provides more range of motion than any other joint in your body. Unfortunately, this distinction also means that your shoulder can get in trouble, causing you pain.
What can cause shoulder pain?
Several issues can cause shoulder pain, including:
- Arthritis
- Shoulder instability
- Fractures
- Rotator cuff tears
- Arthrofibrosis (scar tissue)
- Capsulitis, or frozen shoulder
- Impingement
When you go in to see Dr. Kremen, he reviews your symptoms and performs a full evaluation of your shoulder, often using diagnostic imaging to get a look at what’s going on inside. With these tools, he’s able to zero in on the source of your shoulder pain and come up with an appropriate treatment plan.
How is shoulder pain treated?
The answer to this question depends on what Dr. Kremen finds as the underlying cause of your shoulder pain. As an orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist, he offers both surgical and nonsurgical solutions.
Typically, Dr. Kremen prefers to start off conservatively with:
- Anti-inflammatory medications
- Rest
- Physical therapy
- Steroid injections
If your shoulder pain persists, he may turn to minimally invasive surgery to repair the damaged area, which could mean arthroscopy to clean out and trim the tissue or reconnect the tissue to your bones.
Dr. Kremen also offers shoulder replacement if your connective and soft tissues are beyond repair. He provides full and partial replacements, as well as resurfacing techniques that preserve much of your joint.
The only way to know your best treatment option is to visit Dr. Kremen for an evaluation. Rest assured that he works with you to come up with a solution that alleviates your pain and restores function to your shoulder.
If your shoulder is causing you pain, call Thomas J. Kremen, MD, or use the online scheduling tool to book an appointment.
