When you present to a shoulder specialist with discomfort in the rotator cuff region, they’ll likely begin by assessing you for more common issues, like rotator cuff degeneration or frozen shoulder. A third possibility that they’ll consider is the formation of what’s known as a calcium salt deposit in the area. These calcium deposits can develop in any tendon in the body, but the shoulder tendons are a common location for their onset because the joint is mobile and the tendons typically handle a fair amount of stress each day.
These deposits oftentimes develop in the supraspinatus tendon of the rotator cuff or in the infraspinatus tendon, and their presence can lead to localized inflammation, pain and mobility restrictions. Effective management is key to restoring normal function in the region, and there’s a few ways Dr. Holloway and his team can help you treat these deposits. In today’s blog, we take a closer look at some of the management options for calcium deposits in the shoulder.
Getting Rid Of Shoulder Calcium Deposits
Medical experts don’t really know what causes calcium deposits to form in the shoulder, but the condition tends to be more common in patients between the ages of 40-60, and women are more prone to the condition than men. People with an elevated blood calcium risk, like those who are susceptible to kidney stones, are also at a heightened risk for shoulder calcium deposits. Avoiding chronic overstress on the shoulder and consuming a healthy diet are thought to help lower a person’s risk of developing these deposits.
Pinpointing a diagnosis of calcium deposits in the shoulder can be hard to come by because the condition presents with symptoms similar to a number of other shoulder issues, like a rotator cuff tear, frozen shoulder, shoulder arthritis or bursitis. An x-ray or a diagnostic ultrasound can showcase the position and size of these formations so the doctor can determine the optimal treatment path.
Treatment Options
Many small calcium deposits end up eventually dissolving on their own, but if you don’t want to wait around for that to happen or symptoms are causing significant dysfunction, you can pursue other treatment options. Some of the most common treatment options for calcium deposits in the shoulder include:
- Over-The-Counter NSAIDs – Over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications can help manage discomfort while the deposit is reabsorbed by the body.
- Barbitage and Lavage – A doctor can insert an ultrasound-guided needle into the area to break up and remove the deposits via a syringe. The patient will rest their shoulder for a week or two following this procedure before gradually returning to normal physical activities over the next few weeks.
- Percutaneous Needle Tenotomy – Larger calcium deposits may be managed with a percutaneous needle tenotomy. This procedure removes the calcium deposit and promotes your body’s natural healing response, which stimulates the tendon to heal itself following the calcium deposit removal. Patients will have a slightly longer rest period followed by weeks of physical therapy with this treatment.
- Shockwave Therapy – If you’re hoping to avoid a needle, shockwave therapy may be a more ideal option, although it is not typically covered by insurance. It involves using high-intensity ultrasound waves to break up calcium deposits, and although patients only need to rest for a day or two after treatment, most patients require one session a week for about 4-6 weeks before the deposit has been cleared.
- Surgery – Very large calcium deposits, especially if their presence has damaged the tendon, may need to be addressed with surgery. A minimally invasive surgery to remove the deposit and repair tendon damage can be quite effective, but the shoulder will need to be immobilized in a sling for six weeks after surgery, with weeks of PT to follow.
If you need assistance managing a calcium deposit in your shoulder, or you simply want to figure out what’s causing your shoulder symptoms, connect with Dr. Holloway and his team today at (865) 410-7887.
