Shoulder Pain Treatment in Chennai
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Shoulder Pain Treatment in Chennai
Shoulder pain is most often caused by frozen shoulder, rotator cuff problems, impingement, dislocation or arthritis. At KS Ortho Clinic in Madipakkam, Chennai, orthopaedic surgeon Prof. Dr. A. N. Sarath Babu finds the exact cause, then treats it with medicines, physiotherapy and injections first, with keyhole (arthroscopic) surgery or shoulder replacement when needed.
[Book a Shoulder Consultation] · Call +91 94457 64164
Why does my shoulder hurt?
The shoulder is the most mobile joint in the body, which also makes it easy to injure. Pain can come from the joint itself, the rotator cuff tendons, the bursa, the ligaments, or be referred from the neck. The pattern of pain usually points to the cause.
Common causes of shoulder pain
Condition | What it is | Typical signs | Who gets it |
|---|---|---|---|
Frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis) | Joint capsule thickens and tightens | Gradual pain, then severe stiffness in all directions | Ages 40–60, people with diabetes or thyroid problems |
Rotator cuff tendinitis or tear | Inflamed or torn shoulder tendons | Pain lifting the arm, night pain, weakness | Over 40s, overhead workers, bowlers, swimmers, gym users |
Shoulder impingement / bursitis | Tendon pinched under the bony roof | Pain in the middle range of lifting the arm | Overhead activity, poor posture |
Shoulder dislocation / instability | Ball slips out of the socket | Sudden severe pain, arm held still, recurrence | Young athletes, falls |
Shoulder arthritis | Wear of the joint cartilage | Deep ache, grinding, gradual loss of movement | Older adults, after old injuries |
Calcific tendinitis | Calcium deposits in the tendon | Sudden, intense pain without injury | Ages 30–60 |
Fractures (collarbone, upper arm) | Broken bone around the shoulder | Pain, swelling, deformity after a fall | All ages, elderly with weak bones |
Referred pain from the neck | Nerve irritation in the cervical spine | Pain spreading down the arm, tingling
| Desk workers, cervical spondylosis |
Symptoms that tell you something is wrong
- Pain when lifting your arm, reaching behind your back or combing your hair
- Pain at night, especially lying on the affected side
- Stiffness that keeps getting worse
- Weakness or the arm feeling “dead”
- A clicking, catching or slipping sensation
When should you see a doctor for shoulder pain?
Book an orthopaedic consultation if shoulder pain lasts more than 2 weeks, disturbs your sleep, or stops you raising your arm. Seek urgent care for a shoulder that looks deformed after a fall, sudden inability to move the arm, or a hot, red, swollen joint with fever.
Important: left shoulder or arm pain with chest tightness, breathlessness or sweating can be a heart attack. Go to the nearest emergency department immediately.
How we diagnose shoulder pain
- History — onset, injury, work, sport, diabetes or thyroid history.
- Examination — range of movement, strength of each rotator cuff tendon, impingement and stability tests, and a neck check.
- Imaging when needed — X-ray for arthritis, fractures and calcium deposits; ultrasound or MRI for rotator cuff tears, labral tears and instability.
- Blood sugar check where frozen shoulder is suspected, as diabetes is a common link.
Shoulder pain treatment at KS Ortho Clinic
Most shoulder pain improves without surgery. Treatment is matched to the cause, not just the pain.
Non-surgical treatment
- Pain relief medicines and activity changes
- Physiotherapy in our in-house unit — stretching for frozen shoulder, rotator cuff and shoulder-blade strengthening, posture correction
- Cold therapy and electrotherapy (such as interferential therapy and ultrasound)
- Joint or bursa injections in selected cases
- Hydrodilatation or manipulation for resistant frozen shoulder, when appropriate
Surgical treatment, when needed
- Arthroscopic (keyhole) shoulder surgery — rotator cuff repair, subacromial decompression, stabilisation for recurrent dislocation, capsular release for stiff shoulders
- Fracture fixation for displaced fractures around the shoulder
- Shoulder replacement for advanced arthritis or complex fractures, when other options won’t restore a pain-free shoulder
Recovery timeline
Condition / treatment | Usual recovery range |
|---|---|
Impingement / tendinitis with physiotherapy | 6–12 weeks |
Frozen shoulder (natural course) | 1–3 years without treatment; usually much faster with treatment |
First-time dislocation, non-surgical | 6–12 weeks |
Arthroscopic rotator cuff repair | 4–6 months for full strength |
Shoulder replacement | 3–6 months for daily activities |
Your own plan and timeline are set after examination.
Home care tips for shoulder pain
- Keep the shoulder moving gently within comfort; complete rest worsens stiffness
- Ice for 15 minutes after activity flares; warmth before stretching for stiffness
- Sleep on the other side with a pillow supporting the painful arm
- Set your desk so the screen is at eye level and elbows stay by your side
- Avoid lifting heavy loads overhead until assessed
- If you have diabetes, keep sugars controlled — it helps frozen shoulder recovery
Book a shoulder pain consultation in Madipakkam
Shoulder pain that lingers usually gets stiffer, not better.
Client Testimonials
K.S. Ortho Clinic at Madipakkam is headed by an experienced Doctor and backed by a team of dedicated nursing staff. It has a in-built physiotherapy unit where patients gets best care. Hence, I give 5-star ratings for their services.
R Kannan
May 11, 2025Very Friendly and polite Doctor , treating with empathy , spends enought time asking compliants of patients with spot on diagnosis
Santhosh Raj
May 11, 2025Good service
Gopalan Velayutham
March 11, 2025He diagnosed the pain in my ankle as reactive arthritis, which is considered by me to be a correct diagnosis. Thank you, doctor. I take probiotic food for diverse microbiomes in the gut.
Padmanabhan Iyer
February 11, 2025My uncle went there for hairline fracture in his leg and got cured in couple of weeks
nagalakshmi pichika
November 11, 2024My brother went through a good treatment from this clinic a month ago.
Mohanraj A N
November 11, 2024My mother in law had knee pain and he was able to guide us through procedures that resulted in lesser or no pain
Sravanthi
November 11, 2024I went to KS ortho clinic as my left middle finger got stuck in door hinge when the door was closed fast and got my finger crushed. A skin broke open on either side of the finger nail and the nail has distanced itself from the skin underneath. The x-ray revealed a small fracture as well. Dr. Sarath Babu handled the diagnosis, did stitches on 3 sides of the nail and now, my nail is all good after a month and no sign of injury on the nail, thanks to the way it was handled.
Hemanth Aali
November 11, 2024First I would like to thank Dr. sarath babu, As he accurately diagnosed the root cause for the problem which i was suffering from past 3 years. He handle my case very comfortable way and now am recovered very well.
Sudha N
November 11, 2024Very good doctor, he is giving good treatment, he is like a friend always smiling face.
SHIRDI REAL ESTATE Saravanan k
November 11, 2024
faq's
In adults over 40, rotator cuff problems and frozen shoulder are the most common causes. In young, active people, injuries and instability are more frequent.
Frozen shoulder limits movement in every direction, even when someone else moves your arm. A rotator cuff tear usually causes weakness and pain lifting the arm, but the doctor can still move it. An examination, and sometimes an ultrasound or MRI, confirms it.
It often does, but it can take 1–3 years. Treatment with physiotherapy, injections or other procedures can shorten the painful and stiff phases considerably.
Yes. Cervical spine problems can cause pain over the shoulder blade and down the arm, often with tingling. Your examination will include the neck.
Yes. People with diabetes are much more likely to develop frozen shoulder, and it can affect both shoulders.
Not always. Many partial tears and age-related tears improve with physiotherapy and injections. Surgery is considered for large or traumatic tears, or when pain and weakness persist despite treatment.
Monday to Saturday, 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm; Sunday, 10:00 am to 12:00 pm. For emergencies, call +91 94442 57027.
