An orthopedic surgeon evaluates problems involving the bones, joints, muscles, tendons, and other structures of the shoulder. Seeing an orthopedic surgeon does not automatically mean you need surgery.
Shoulder Pain Treatment in Tampa, FL
Board-certified orthopedic surgeon evaluating and treating rotator cuff tears, frozen shoulder, shoulder arthritis, impingement, labral injuries, and other causes of shoulder pain in Tampa, Florida.
Shoulder Care in Tampa
SunCare Orthopaedics provides orthopedic evaluation and treatment for shoulder pain in Tampa, Florida, including rotator cuff tears, frozen shoulder, impingement, labral injuries, and shoulder arthritis. Phillip A. Pullen, DO evaluates the shoulder, personally reviews available imaging, and considers nonsurgical treatment first when appropriate, with surgery discussed when it becomes the right treatment option.
WHEN TO GET YOUR SHOULDER CHECKED
Shoulder pain can turn simple movement into a daily challenge.
Reaching overhead, getting dressed, sleeping comfortably, lifting an object, or putting your arm behind your back should not require planning around pain.
Shoulder pain can come from several different structures. Rotator cuff problems, frozen shoulder, arthritis, impingement, and labral injuries can sometimes create overlapping symptoms.
The goal of an orthopedic evaluation is to determine which problem is actually responsible before deciding how to treat it.
01
Pain when raising your arm
Reaching into a cabinet, lifting overhead, putting on clothing, or performing work above shoulder level may become painful or difficult.
02
Increasing stiffness
A shoulder that progressively becomes harder to move may interfere with dressing, grooming, driving, work, exercise, and other everyday tasks.
03
Weakness after an injury
A fall, sudden pull, sports injury, or lifting event may be followed by pain, weakness, or difficulty controlling the arm.
04
Pain that keeps returning
Recurring shoulder symptoms deserve a closer look when they continue despite activity changes or begin interfering with normal function.
05
Pain that affects sleep
Shoulder pain that repeatedly wakes you, prevents comfortable positioning, or makes lying on one side difficult can be worth evaluating.
Diagnosis before treatment
Symptoms, examination findings, function, and imaging are considered together.
SHOULDER EVALUATION & TREATMENT
Treatment starts with understanding what is happening inside the shoulder.
Shoulder pain treatment begins by identifying the structure responsible for your symptoms and how much the condition is affecting movement and function.
At SunCare Orthopaedics, Dr. Pullen takes your history, examines the shoulder, and personally reviews available imaging. If additional X-rays or an MRI are needed, he explains what information the study is expected to provide.
Once the diagnosis is clearer, treatment may include activity modification, therapy, injections, or other nonsurgical measures when appropriate.
If conservative treatment is unlikely to solve the problem or is no longer providing enough improvement, surgery can be discussed along with the procedure, recovery, and realistic expectations.
WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT
Shoulder care built around a clear diagnosis
The purpose of your orthopedic appointment is not simply to confirm that the shoulder hurts. It is to understand why it hurts and identify which treatment options are reasonable.
Diagnosis Before Treatment
Recommendations are based on your symptoms, examination, history, and imaging rather than pain location alone.
Personal Imaging Review
Dr. Pullen personally reviews available imaging and explains why additional studies may be needed.
Conservative Care First
Therapy, injections, and activity changes are considered when they have a reasonable chance of helping.
Plain-Language Explanations
You should understand what the diagnosis means and why a specific treatment is being recommended.
Surgery Only When Appropriate
Surgery becomes part of the conversation when the diagnosis and response to conservative treatment indicate that it is the more appropriate option.
Continuity After Surgery
When surgery is required, the same surgeon who performs your operation sees you during postoperative follow-up.
YOUR SHOULDER EVALUATION
From symptoms to a clear treatment plan
Each step helps connect what you are experiencing with the underlying shoulder condition before treatment decisions are made.
STEP 1
Your History
Discuss when symptoms began, previous injuries, aggravating movements, treatments already tried, and how shoulder pain affects daily life.
STEP 2
Shoulder Exam
Dr. Pullen evaluates movement, tenderness, strength, function, and findings that help narrow the possible source of pain.
STEP 3
Imaging Review
Available imaging is personally reviewed. Additional X-rays or an MRI may be recommended when they can answer a specific diagnostic question.
STEP 4
Diagnosis
The findings are explained in plain language so you understand what is causing the symptoms.
STEP 5
Treatment Plan
Nonsurgical options are considered first when appropriate, with surgery discussed when it becomes the right treatment option.
SHOULDER TREATMENT OPTIONS
Not every painful shoulder needs surgery.
The right treatment depends on the diagnosis, severity of the problem, how much it affects function, and how the shoulder responds to appropriate conservative care.
CONSERVATIVE CARE
Nonsurgical Shoulder Treatment
When nonsurgical treatment has a reasonable chance of helping, it may be recommended before an operation is considered.
Activity modification
Physical therapy coordination
Injections when clinically appropriate
Monitoring improvement in pain and movement
Adjusting treatment based on response
WHEN APPROPRIATE
Surgical Shoulder Treatment
If conservative treatment will not adequately address the condition, Dr. Pullen explains why surgery is being considered before you decide.
Why surgery may be appropriate
What the proposed procedure involves
What recovery may involve
Realistic expectations
Postoperative follow-up with Dr. Pullen
TREATMENT COSTS
What affects the cost of shoulder treatment?
Shoulder pain does not have one fixed treatment cost because patients can require very different levels of care.
Your final costs may also depend on your insurance plan, deductible, copay, coinsurance, network requirements, and authorization rules.
Orthopedic Evaluation
The initial visit helps determine the likely diagnosis and whether additional testing or treatment is needed.
Diagnostic Imaging
X-rays or MRI may affect cost when imaging is needed to clarify the diagnosis.
Conservative Treatment
Therapy, injections, and other nonsurgical measures can create different costs depending on the treatment plan.
Surgery
When surgery is appropriate, the procedure, facility, anesthesia, postoperative care, and related services can affect the overall cost.
Insurance Benefits
Coverage, deductibles, copays, coinsurance, and authorization requirements vary by insurance plan.
CHOOSING THE RIGHT LEVEL OF CARE
When does an orthopedic shoulder evaluation make sense?
Different care settings serve different purposes. An orthopedic evaluation becomes particularly useful when the goal is to determine the cause of persistent shoulder symptoms and create a longer-term treatment plan.
| CARE NEED | SUNCARE ORTHOPAEDICS | SELF-DIRECTED CARE | WALK-IN / URGENT CARE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main goal | Determine the orthopedic cause and create a treatment plan | Manage minor symptoms temporarily | Evaluate acute or urgent symptoms |
| Detailed shoulder examination | Orthopedic examination focused on shoulder movement, function, and relevant structures | Not available | Initial musculoskeletal examination may be available |
| Imaging decisions | Available imaging personally reviewed and additional imaging considered when clinically useful | Not available | Availability varies by facility |
| Conservative treatment planning | Built around the diagnosis | Usually based on symptom response | May provide short-term treatment or referral |
| Surgical decision-making | Discussed when surgery becomes appropriate | Not available | Usually requires orthopedic referral |
| Ongoing orthopedic follow-up | Follow-through with Dr. Pullen | Not available | Depends on facility and reason for visit |
YOUR ORTHOPEDIC SURGEON
Get a clearer answer about what is happening in your shoulder.
SunCare Orthopaedics provides orthopedic shoulder evaluation and treatment from its Tampa office on West Hillsborough Avenue.
Dr. Phillip A. Pullen takes your history, examines the shoulder, personally reviews available imaging, explains the diagnosis in understandable terms, and discusses appropriate treatment options with you.
Nonsurgical care is considered first when it has a reasonable chance of helping. When surgery becomes the better option, the procedure, recovery, and realistic outcome are explained before you decide.
Phillip A. Pullen, DO
Board-Certified Orthopedic Surgeon
CLINIC
SunCare Orthopaedics
PHONE
TAMPA OFFICE
6911 Pistol Range Rd, Suite 103
Tampa, FL 33635
OFFICE HOURS
Monday to Friday
9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
COMMON QUESTIONS
Shoulder Pain FAQs
General information about shoulder evaluation and treatment at SunCare Orthopaedics in Tampa. Your specific treatment recommendations depend on an individual orthopedic evaluation.
SunCare Orthopaedics evaluates and treats shoulder problems including rotator cuff tears, frozen shoulder, shoulder arthritis, impingement, and labral injuries.
Rotator cuff problems can cause shoulder pain, weakness, difficulty lifting or reaching with the arm, and discomfort with certain movements. Other shoulder conditions can create similar symptoms, so an evaluation is used to determine the cause.
Frozen shoulder is associated with shoulder pain and progressive loss of motion. An orthopedic evaluation can help distinguish it from other causes of stiffness and guide treatment.
Surgery is not automatically required because arthritis is present. Depending on symptoms, severity, and function, nonsurgical treatment may be appropriate before surgery is considered.
Not necessarily. Imaging needs depend on your symptoms, history, examination findings, and what information is needed to determine the diagnosis. Dr. Pullen personally reviews available imaging and explains why additional X-rays or an MRI may be recommended.
No. SunCare Orthopaedics considers nonsurgical treatment first when it has a reasonable chance of helping. Surgery is discussed when conservative treatment is unlikely to solve the problem or is no longer providing enough benefit.
Depending on the diagnosis, nonsurgical treatment may include activity modification, physical therapy coordination, injections, and other conservative measures.
An injection may be considered for certain shoulder conditions, but it is not appropriate for every cause of shoulder pain. The diagnosis and clinical situation should guide that decision.
Physical therapy may be part of a nonsurgical treatment plan for certain shoulder conditions. Whether it is appropriate depends on the diagnosis, examination findings, and functional needs.
Persistent shoulder pain that affects sleep or repeatedly returns may be worth evaluating, especially when it occurs with weakness, stiffness, loss of motion, or difficulty with everyday tasks.
Cost depends on the care required and may include the orthopedic evaluation, diagnostic imaging, therapy, injections, or surgery when appropriate. Insurance benefits can also affect out-of-pocket cost.
Dr. Pullen takes your history, examines the shoulder, and reviews available imaging. If additional imaging is needed, he explains why. The diagnosis and appropriate treatment options are then discussed in plain language.
SunCare Orthopaedics is located at 8370 W Hillsborough Ave, Suite 103, Tampa, FL 33615. The office is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Call (813) 515-0840 to schedule a shoulder evaluation.
