PRP and Stem Cell Injections for Rotator Cuff Tendonitis & Tears offered in Estero, Florida
Struggling with shoulder pain or weakness? It could be your rotator cuff.
Rotator cuff tendonitis and rotator cuff tears are two of the most common causes of shoulder pain and limited mobility. Whether you’re dealing with persistent discomfort, pain while lifting your arm, or difficulty sleeping on your side, it’s essential to get an accurate diagnosis and explore effective treatment options.
At Integrative Rehab Medicine, we offer cutting-edge, non-surgical treatments in Estero, FL that target the root cause of your shoulder dysfunction to help you regain strength, mobility, and quality of life.
What are Rotator Cuff Tendonitis and Rotator Cuff Tears?
The rotator cuff is a group of muscles and tendons that stabilize your shoulder joint and allow you to lift and rotate your arm. Overuse, trauma, or degenerative changes can lead to tendonitis (inflammation of the tendons) or tears—either partial or full-thickness. In some cases the tear fully ruptures causing a retraction.
These areas are prone to injury and unfortunately heal very poorly without intervention. Many areas in the body are capable of healing on their own, but the rotator cuff tendons tend to become chronic nagging issues flaring with increased activity.
Common causes include:
- Repetitive overhead movements (lifting, painting, sports)
- Age-related degeneration
- Traumatic injury or falls
Symptoms of Rotator Cuff Injuries
- Persistent shoulder pain, especially at night or when reaching overhead. The pain commonly radiates down the front or lateral arm
- Weakness in the affected arm and catching or giving out sensation
- Clicking or popping
- Limited range of motion
- Difficulty performing routine tasks like brushing hair or putting on a shirt
If you’re experiencing these symptoms, early evaluation is key to avoid worsening of the injury and long-term dysfunction.
Accurate Diagnosis is Critical
At Integrative Rehab Medicine, we perform a comprehensive evaluation, which may include:
- Physical examination and movement testing
- Functional strength testing
- Diagnostic ultrasound or MRI to assess the extent of the injury
This allows us to tailor a comprehensive regenerative treatment plan specific to your injury and functional goals.
Contrary to popular opinion not all rotator cuff tears need to be treated surgically. Many rotator cuff tears can be effectively treated non-surgically with regenerative injections.
Do You Want To Resolve Shoulder Pain And Restore Function?
Regenerative Treatment Options
We specialize in non-surgical regenerative orthopedic solutions designed to stimulate the body’s natural healing processes and restore tendon integrity.
- Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy
PRP contains growth factors that accelerate tissue repair. PRP injections can reduce inflammation, improve collagen remodeling, and promote long-term healing of tendon tissue. PRP works best for smaller partial thickness tearing and tendonitis. - Stem Cell Therapy
We utilize Bone Marrow Stem Cells to support tissue regeneration and repair, particularly for larger or more chronic tendon tears. Through the release of growth factors, stem cells regulate the local immune response, decrease inflammation and stimulate tissue growth. Stem Cells have been shown to be very effective for treating rotator cuff tears even larger “full thickness” tears.
Are You A Candidate For Shoulder Treatment?
Complementary Treatments
In addition to regenerative injections, we incorporate evidence-based complementary therapies to enhance recovery and long-term shoulder function:
1-on-1 Physical Therapy
Work directly with a licensed physical therapist to strengthen and re-educate the rotator cuff and surrounding stabilizer muscles. This neuromuscular reprogramming helps restore movement patterns and reduce reinjury risk.
Nutritional Therapy & Supplements
Proper nutrition supports the healing of connective tissue. We offer personalized supplement protocols and dietary guidance to optimize collagen synthesis, reduce inflammation, and improve overall recovery.
Giga Laser Therapy
Our Giga Laser, one of the most powerful therapeutic lasers in the world, delivers high-dose red and infrared light therapy over large areas. This boosts mitochondrial activity and promotes rapid tissue healing and collagen formation.
Why Choose Integrative Rehab Medicine?
- Minimally invasive treatments backed by clinical science
- Comprehensive evaluation determining the root cause of your pain
- Personalized regenerative treatment plans specific to your injury and functional goals
- Avoid surgery and reduce downtime – many patients are back to activity 3-4 weeks after treatment
- Expert clinicians with extensive experience in regenerative and rehabilitative medicine
Take the Next Step Toward Healing
If you’re experiencing shoulder pain due to rotator cuff tendonitis or a rotator cuff tear, don’t wait for it to worsen. Schedule a consultation with our expert team today and explore effective, non-surgical regenerative treatment options tailored to your needs.
Schedule Your Consult with an Estero Shoulder Pain Specialist
FAQ's
Rotator cuff tendonitis is inflammation of the tendons, usually from overuse. A rotator cuff tear involves actual damage to the tendon fibers—either a partial tear (only part of the tendon is damaged) or a full-thickness tear (the tear goes all the way through tendon). Tears may require more advanced regenerative therapy or, in some cases, surgery.
Early intervention—within weeks of injury—can lead to better results, as the tendon is more likely to respond to regenerative stimulation before significant degeneration or retraction occurs, but even long standing tears can be successfully treated with regenerative injections.
Yes. These treatments can be used for post-surgical tendonitis, partial re-tears, or persistent weakness and pain after rotator cuff repair. If you have had a total shoulder replacement, then it is not likely that you will be able to receive regenerative injections.
The injections themselves will not be visible on MRI, but over time imaging may show improved tendon structure, reduced inflammation, and better tissue quality. This is a slow process taking many months before you can see changes on imaging.
Yes. In addition to rotator cuff injuries, we treat frozen shoulder, biceps tendonitis, labral tears, arthritis, and shoulder instability using similar regenerative approaches.
References
- An injection of adipose derived stem cells is safe and effective at treating partial thickness rotator cuff tears. This 2-year study shows stem cells are effective at resolving shoulder pain, improving function and healing the rotator cuff tear. (Jo, Chris Hyunchul, The Journal of Arthroscopic & Related Surgery, 2020) https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0749806319311600
- Injections of bone marrow stem cells plus PRP are safe and effective at treating non-retracted rotator cuff tears, providing long term pain relief and functional improvements. (Centeno, Journal of Stem Cells International, 2020) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7204132/
- Subacromial injection of PRP is superior to steroids in providing long term pain relief and functional improvement in patient with partial rotator cuff tear. (Raslan, Egyptian Journal of Anesthesia, 2023) https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/11101849.2023.2280944
- An injection of bone marrow aspirate is more effective than steroids at providing long term pain relief and functional improvement in patients with glenohumeral (shoulder) arthritis. (Dwyer, Journal of Arthroscopy, Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation, 2021) https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666061X21001115
