What kinds of shoulder pain can auto accidents cause?
Auto accidents can cause several types of shoulder pain, including:

Fractures and dislocations
You might fracture the top of your arm bone (humerus) that forms the ball part of the shoulder joint, your shoulder blade, or the bones on the top of your shoulder like your collarbone.
An auto accident could also cause the ball (humeral head) to come partially or entirely out of your shoulder socket. Dislocations can lead to long-term shoulder instability in some people, meaning they suffer from repeated dislocations and permanent shoulder weakness.

Rotator cuff tear
The rotator cuff is a series of muscles and tendons crisscrossing your shoulder joint. It keeps the humeral head in its socket while enabling you to move your arm in many different directions. Violent movement during an auto accident could tear the tendons and muscles. A dislocation often damages the rotator cuff too.

Acromioclavicular (AC) joint pain
The AC joint connects your collarbone (clavicle) to a bone called the acromion on the top of your shoulder blade. AC joint pain is common in patients who suffer whiplash-type injuries in an auto accident.

How is the cause of my shoulder pain diagnosed?
When you visit Tulsa Accident Care Center, they start the diagnostic process by examining you and going over your medical history. It helps if you can tell your doctor as much as possible about your auto accident and the symptoms you’ve experienced.
The next stage is a visit to the center’s state-of-the-art diagnostic facilities for tests. Convenient on-site testing services include:

• X-rays
• MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)
• CT (computed tomography)
• Digital ultrasound

In some cases, you might need to have blood taken and other tests, depending on your symptoms.
These tests can reveal the precise nature of your auto accident injury so your doctor can prepare the most effective treatment program for you.

How is shoulder pain treated?
If your shoulder pain is due to an injury like a dislocation or fracture, you need urgent treatment to fix the break or realign the shoulder joint. As the injury heals, physical therapy forms a vital part of your rehabilitation.
Less serious injuries or chronic shoulder pain benefit from physical therapy too. Tulsa Accident Care Center treats shoulder pain with pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory medication alongside active physical therapy and passive treatments such as:

• Ultrasound therapy
• Braces or back supports
• Heat and ice therapy
• Traction
• Electrical muscle stimulation
• Massage therapy
• Injections
• Phonophoresis

If you have shoulder pain after an auto accident, call Tulsa Accident Care Center today, book an appointment online, or simply walk-in.