Treating Calcium Deposits in the Shoulder with Shockwave Therapy
According to the National Library of Medicine, about 20% of adults with chronic shoulder pain have calcium deposits in their tendons. Excess calcium deposits in your shoulder can cause severe pain and stiffness, and even limit simple movements like lifting your arm or reaching your back. They can progress to long-term joint damage and reduced mobility when left untreated.
Advanced Sports and Spine offers shockwave therapy serving the Charlotte, Huntersville, and Fort Mill communities as a cutting-edge and non-surgical solution for naturally breaking down calcium deposits in your shoulder, reducing inflammation, and stimulating healing.
If shoulder pain is holding you back, our physiatrist in Charlotte, NC, Dr. Ahmad, has explained in this guide how shockwave therapy could be the breakthrough you’ve been waiting for. Keep reading to learn more!
What Is Shoulder Calcification?
Calcium deposits in the shoulder, also called shoulder calcification or calcific tendinitis, occur when calcium crystals build up in the rotator cuff tendons (the tissue that helps lift and rotate your arm). Repetitive stress, aging, or reduced blood flow to your tendon causes the body to deposit calcium in an attempt to repair the tendon.
The body naturally requires calcium for strong bones and teeth. However, when there’s a buildup of calcium in a given area of your body, such as your shoulder, these deposits tend to harden over time, leading to sharp pain, stiffness, and difficulty moving your shoulder or reaching overhead.
While not always harmful, more extensive deposits can irritate surrounding tissues, creating chronic inflammation and pain. The good news is that Dr. Ahmad can expertly and professionally utilize shockwave therapy to break down calcium deposits safely without surgery.
Causes and Symptoms of Shoulder Calcification
Shoulder calcification often develops due to the following:
- Aging tendons, especially when reduced blood flow, leading to degenerative changes.
- Repetitive overhead movements common in athletes, painters, and manual laborers.
- Health factors, such as diabetes or thyroid disorders.
How Do You Know If You Have It?
The common symptoms of calcium deposits in your shoulder include:
- Stiffness and reduced range of motion.
- Sharp, stabbing pain when lifting your arm.
- Night pain that disrupts sleep.
- Sudden acute flare-up (if the deposits rupture into nearby tissues).
- Rotator cuff tenderness.
It’s important to know that symptoms often worsen over time when left untreated. Schedule a consultation with our physiatrist near Huntersville and Fort Mill for proper examination and treatment.
How Shockwave Therapy in Charlotte Works for Shoulder Calcification
Shockwave therapy uses high-energy acoustic waves to treat shoulder calcification by breaking down the deposits. Here, the pulses break down the calcium buildup into tiny particles, allowing your body to absorb them naturally.
Shockwaves also trigger increased blood flow, promoting tissue repair in the damaged tendons. With shockwave therapy, you’ll experience a reset in the overactive nerve endings of the shoulder, thus providing lasting relief.
What to Expect at Advanced Sports and Spine
At Advanced Sports and Spine in Charlotte, Dr. Ahmad ensures a comfortable, relaxed, and efficient way to manage your pain. If you’re experiencing shoulder calcific tendonitis, here’s how we diagnose and treat your condition with shockwave therapy:
- Diagnostic Imaging (x-ray): We first confirm the exact location of your calcium deposits using digital imaging tools such as ultrasound or x-rays.
- Targeted Shockwave Treatment: Afterward, Dr. Ahmad will use a handheld shockwave device to deliver focused shockwaves to the affected tendon. As our physiatrist treats the affected area, you’ll feel a gentle push, light tapping, or tingling.
- Post-Treatment Recovery: You may experience mild soreness, which should fade within 24-48 hours. However, you can resume your daily activities immediately after treatment. Your body naturally clears the fragmented calcium over the next 4-6 weeks.
Who’s a Candidate for Shockwave Therapy?
Shockwave therapy offers an excellent solution for patients struggling with chronic shoulder pain from calcific tendonitis. You could be an ideal candidate for shockwave therapy if:
- Upon diagnosis, you have confirmed calcium deposits, typically in the rotator cuff tendons.
- Conservative treatments, such as physical therapy, cortisone injections, and NSAIDs, haven’t worked.
- You want to avoid surgery.
- You’re in good health.
We may, however, recommend alternative treatments if you’re experiencing advanced joint degeneration, complete tendon tears, and acute infections near the treatment area.
Benefits of Treating Calcific Tendonitis with Shockwave Therapy
Unlike temporary fixes or invasive surgeries, shockwave therapy offers a modern and unique advantage for lasting relief. Here are the various benefits you experience from treating calcific tendonitis with shockwave therapy:
- Non-invasive & Quicker Recovery: Shockwave therapy doesn’t require incision, needles, or anesthesia. After the treatment, you can immediately walk in and out of our Charlotte clinic the same day and return to work or sports.
- Drug-Free Pain Relief: Shockwave therapy is an effective pain management solution that stops you from relying on NSAIDs and cortisone shots.
- Targets Root Cause: Shockwave therapy targets the root cause of your shoulder calcification, providing faster and significant pain reduction.
- Prevents Future Damage: Shockwave therapy restores healthy tendon structure while reducing the risk of rotator cuff tears and frozen shoulder.
Break Up Painful Deposits Without Surgery with Shockwave Therapy
If calcium deposits in your shoulder are causing you chronic pain and limiting your mobility, we offer you a breakthrough solution without surgery at Advanced Sports and Spine. Our physiatrist in Charlotte, NC, uses shockwave therapy to effectively dissolve shoulder calcifications, reduce inflammation, and stimulate your body’s natural healing process.
Shockwave therapy offers a safer, non-invasive solution for stubborn shoulder pain. Don’t let calcium deposits rob you of active living any longer. Our Charlotte specialists can evaluate your condition in just one visit. Call today to discover if shockwave therapy is your ticket back to pain-free movement.
Disclaimer: The benefits of regenerative medicine have not been reviewed or approved by the FDA.