Shoulder Arthritis Treatment in Tempe, AZ — Non-Surgical Care for a Painful, Stiff Shoulder

Your shoulder is involved in almost everything you do, from reaching a high shelf and putting on a jacket to swimming, serving a pickleball or swinging a golf club. When arthritis sets in, those everyday motions start to hurt, the joint feels stiff and grinding, and sleeping on that side becomes a challenge. Shoulder replacement is the right answer for some people, but many patients want to stay active and avoid or delay surgery. At Sellers Sports Medicine in Tempe, we specialize in non-surgical shoulder arthritis treatment, starting with a precise, ultrasound-based diagnosis.

What Is Shoulder Arthritis?

The shoulder is made up of two joints that can develop arthritis. The glenohumeral joint is the main ball-and-socket joint, and the acromioclavicular (AC) joint is the small joint at the top of the shoulder where the collarbone meets the shoulder blade. Arthritis happens when the smooth cartilage in these joints wears down. Osteoarthritis is the most common type, but arthritis can also follow an old dislocation, fracture or a long-standing rotator cuff tear.

Common signs of shoulder arthritis include:

• Deep, aching pain in the shoulder, often worse with activity
• Pain at night or when lying on the affected side
• Stiffness and loss of motion, especially reaching overhead or behind your back
• Grinding, clicking or catching with movement
• Pain on top of the shoulder with reaching across your body (AC joint)
• Trouble with sports, lifting or daily tasks

Shoulder arthritis often overlaps with rotator cuff problems, so an accurate diagnosis matters. For more background, see the shoulder arthritis overview from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.

Who We Help

We see shoulder arthritis in overhead athletes, weekend golfers, swimmers, people who lift, and retirees who simply want to sleep through the night and reach the top shelf again. You may be a good fit for our approach if:

• Shoulder pain has lasted for weeks or months despite rest and medication
• Cortisone shots helped only briefly, or you’d like to limit them
• You’ve been told you may eventually need a shoulder replacement and want to explore other options first
• You also have rotator cuff tendinopathy or a partial tear along with arthritis
• You can’t have, or don’t want, major surgery

Conditions We Evaluate and Treat

• Glenohumeral (ball-and-socket) osteoarthritis
• AC joint arthritis and AC joint separation
• Rotator cuff tendinopathy and tears that occur with arthritis
• Labral tears and recurrent instability
• Stiffness after injury, including frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis)

If stiffness is the main problem, read about shoulder hydrodilatation for frozen shoulder.

Our Non-Surgical Shoulder Arthritis Treatments

Depending on your diagnosis and goals, Dr. Sellers may recommend one or more of the following:

PRP Therapy. Platelet-rich plasma is made from a small sample of your own blood. The concentrated platelets are placed in and around the shoulder with ultrasound guidance to stimulate the body’s healing response and create a healthier environment in the joint and surrounding tendons. Our PRP is concentrated so that most treatments need only one injection. Read more: PRP for shoulder arthritis and rotator cuff tears.

MFAT Injections. For more advanced shoulder arthritis, microfragmented adipose tissue (MFAT) uses a small amount of your own fat tissue, processed in the office, to provide cushion and support and help create a healthy environment for healing.

MLS Laser Therapy. A non-invasive laser treatment that helps reduce pain and inflammation with quick, comfortable sessions and no downtime. It’s often paired with injections or rehab.

Movement and strength. Osteopathic manipulation and a targeted home exercise program help restore motion and strengthen the rotator cuff and shoulder blade muscles that take stress off the joint.

PRP and MFAT are both orthobiologics, treatments made from your own body’s tissues. You’ll also see them called regenerative medicine.

What to Expect: Your Shoulder Visit Step by Step

1. Conversation. We start with your history: when the pain started, which motions hurt, how you’re sleeping and what you want to get back to.
2. Exam. Dr. Sellers checks your range of motion, strength, stability and the rotator cuff, and looks at how your neck and shoulder blade move.
3. In-office ultrasound. Diagnostic musculoskeletal ultrasound shows the joint, rotator cuff, biceps tendon and bursa in real time. We’ll also review any X-rays or MRI you already have.
4. Your plan. We explain what’s driving your pain and lay out your options, from rehab to PRP, MFAT or laser therapy, with honest expectations for each.
5. Treatment. Injections are placed with ultrasound guidance so they reach the right spot and help the body target where you’re hurt. A PRP visit takes about 45 to 60 minutes from blood draw to injection.
6. Follow-up. You’ll get clear guidance on activity and exercises, and we’ll check in to track your progress and adjust the plan.

Results vary from person to person, and no treatment can guarantee an outcome. Our goal is to help you move better, sleep better and avoid surgery when that’s a realistic option.

Shoulder Arthritis Care for Tempe and the East Valley

Arizona’s year-round outdoor season means shoulders rarely get a break. Golfers across the Valley, swimmers, tennis and pickleball players in Tempe, Chandler and Mesa, and gym-goers all load the shoulder hundreds of times a week. Add the yard work, travel and grandkids that keep the East Valley’s active adults busy, and shoulder arthritis can quickly get in the way.

Our clinic on South Mill Avenue is easy to reach from Loop 202, US 60 and I-10.

Service-area line: We see shoulder arthritis patients from Tempe, Mesa, Chandler, Scottsdale, Phoenix, Gilbert, Guadalupe and Ahwatukee.

• Experience. Dr. Joel S. Sellers, DO, has practiced sports medicine in the Phoenix area since 1987 and is a Fellow of the American Osteopathic Academy of Sports Medicine.
• Precision. He is one of the few physicians in Arizona board certified in Diagnostic Musculoskeletal Ultrasound, so injections are guided to the right spot in a complex joint.
• Elite-level care. He has served as team physician for the Phoenix Suns, Phoenix Coyotes, Arizona Rattlers and USA Wrestling.
• Every non-surgical option in one place. PRP, MFAT, MLS laser therapy and osteopathic care are all available in our Tempe office.
• Patients agree. 4.8 stars from 138 Google reviews. Read our patient reviews.

Learn more about Dr. Sellers and our team.

Shoulder Arthritis Treatment FAQs

Can I avoid shoulder replacement surgery?

Many people with mild to moderate shoulder arthritis stay active for years with non-surgical care. Whether that’s realistic for you depends on your exam, imaging and goals. If surgery is the better option, we’ll tell you.

Is it arthritis or a rotator cuff problem?

It can be both, and the symptoms overlap. In-office ultrasound helps us see the rotator cuff and joint so your treatment targets the right problem.

How many injections will I need?

Our PRP is concentrated so that most treatments need only one injection rather than a series. MFAT is usually a single in-office procedure.

Will the injection hurt?

Most patients feel pressure and some soreness that can last a few days. Ultrasound guidance helps place the needle precisely.

Do I need an MRI first?

Not always. Ultrasound and X-rays often give us what we need. If an MRI would change your plan, we’ll recommend one.

Can I keep playing golf or pickleball?

Often, yes, with some changes. You’ll get specific guidance on activity after treatment and a plan for a gradual return to your sport.

Visit Our Tempe Clinic

Sellers Sports Medicine
1492 S Mill Ave, Suite 307, Tempe, AZ 85281
(480) 426-2667 · Info@SellersSportsMed.com
Hours: Mon–Thu 9:00 am–5:00 pm, Fri 9:00 am–1:00 pm

Related Services

• PRP Therapy
• MFAT Injections
• MLS Laser Therapy
• Regenerative Medicine
• Knee Arthritis Treatment
• Orthobiologics