Shoulder Pain Treatment
in Fort Myers and Lehigh Acres
Rotator cuff tendinitis, frozen shoulder, impingement and labral tear pain, treated without surgery when it is safe to. Care starts with an exam and a digital x-ray, and we tell you plainly if a surgeon should see you.
Shoulder pain and rotator cuff treatment at Novaré Injury Care and Rehab in Fort Myers and Lehigh Acres, FL, under the direction of Dr. Ivan Bracic, DC.
Rotator Cuff and Shoulder Care at Novaré in Fort Myers
Novaré Injury Care and Rehab treats shoulder pain and rotator cuff problems without surgery. More than 2 million Americans have a rotator cuff problem each year, according to Cleveland Clinic.
Shoulder pain is common in adults over 40, in people who swing or reach overhead for sport or work, and after car accidents. Pain that runs past the elbow into the hand points more to a pinched nerve in the neck, per MedlinePlus.
Signs of a rotator cuff or labrum problem, as described by AAOS OrthoInfo:
- Pain in the front or side of the shoulder that can travel down the side of the arm
- Pain when you lift your arm overhead or lower it back down
- Pain at night, especially lying on the sore shoulder
- Weakness when you lift or rotate the arm
- Stiffness reaching behind your back or into a high cabinet
- Popping, catching or locking, which can point to the labrum
Rotator Cuff Tears and Other Shoulder Conditions We Treat
Most shoulder pain traces to one of these problems, and several overlap, so the exam comes first. See every condition we treat at both clinics.
Rotator Cuff Strain and Tendinitis
Irritated cuff tendons from repeated reaching or lifting
Rotator Cuff Tears
Partial or full-thickness tears from wear over time or a fall
Frozen Shoulder (Adhesive Capsulitis)
A thick, tight joint capsule that limits motion
Shoulder Impingement
Tendon and bursa pinched as the arm rises
Labral and SLAP Tears
A torn cartilage rim around the shoulder socket
Overuse From Pickleball and Golf
Repeated swings plus overhead work like painting
Shoulder Pain After a Car Accident
Strains, tears and neck injuries after a collision
Shoulder Pain Look-Alikes We Rule Out
Pinched neck nerve, arthritis and referred pain
Frozen shoulder is most common between ages 40 and 60, and diabetes or thyroid conditions raise the risk, per AAOS OrthoInfo.
Digital X-Ray and MRI for Shoulder Pain
Several problems can feel like a shoulder injury, so Dr. Bracic checks the shoulder and the neck before treatment starts. A torn rotator cuff or labrum shows on MRI, not on x-ray, because x-rays do not show soft tissue (AAOS OrthoInfo). Learn how our digital x-ray and MRI coordination works.
Hands-On Shoulder Exam
We test range of motion, rotator cuff strength and the neck, since a pinched nerve can mimic shoulder pain.
Digital X-Ray on Visit One
On-site x-rays show the bones of the joint, bone spurs and arthritis, and help rule out a fracture. You take the images home on a flash drive.
MRI When the Findings Call for It
If the exam points to a tear, we coordinate an MRI and Dr. Bracic reviews it with you. A labral tear sometimes needs an MRI arthrogram to show clearly.
Report of Findings
Before treatment, Dr. Bracic walks you through what the exam and images show and what he recommends.
Rotator Cuff Treatment Without Surgery at Novaré
Most rotator cuff problems start with nonsurgical care. AAOS OrthoInfo reports that nonsurgical treatment relieves pain and improves function in about 80 to 85% of patients with a rotator cuff tear. In that guidance, nonsurgical care means rest, activity changes, anti-inflammatory medicine, strengthening exercise and sometimes a steroid injection. The therapies below can be added to that base.
Shockwave Therapy
Radial pressure wave sessions of 10 to 15 minutes, used mainly for calcific shoulder tendinitis that has not settled with other care.
Class IV Laser Therapy
The BTL EmVital laser delivers light energy to irritated tendons and soft tissue around the shoulder.
Manual Therapy
Joint mobilization, myofascial release and trigger point work to improve range of motion in a stiff or frozen shoulder.
Shockwave has its best evidence in calcific tendinitis: in a 2014 review of high-energy devices, it eased pain and improved function there but showed no clear benefit over placebo for non-calcific tendinitis. Low-level laser eased shoulder tendinopathy pain in a 2015 review of 17 trials. Novaré uses a radial shockwave device and a Class IV laser, which those trials did not test, so their results do not directly apply.
Manual therapy may reduce pain, and strengthening exercise is the core of nonsurgical care. We can coordinate it with your plan.
A Novaré Patient With Labral Tear Shoulder Pain
This patient had right shoulder pain since August 2025 and an MRI-confirmed labral tear. Care combined EmVital laser therapy with EMSCULPT NEO muscle rehab, and in the video the patient demonstrates shoulder range of motion. These therapies do not repair a torn labrum. Individual results vary. This reflects one patient's experience and is not a promise of outcome.
When Shoulder Pain Needs an Orthopedic Surgeon or the ER
Some shoulder problems need a surgeon or the ER, and MedlinePlus lists the warning signs. Novaré refers out when surgery is the right call, and we tell you plainly when a surgeon should see your shoulder. Get emergency or surgical care for:
- Call 911 for sudden pressure or crushing pain in the shoulder, which can signal a heart attack (MedlinePlus). Watch for pain spreading from the chest to the left jaw, arm or neck, or shortness of breath, dizziness or sweating
- Go to the ER after a severe injury if the shoulder is very painful, swollen, bruised or bleeding (MedlinePlus). A shoulder that looks deformed or out of place may be dislocated, which is an emergency (AAOS OrthoInfo).
- Get seen quickly if you suddenly cannot lift your arm after an injury, which can mean an acute rotator cuff tear (AAOS OrthoInfo)
- Shoulder pain with fever, redness or swelling, which can be signs of infection, needs prompt medical care (MedlinePlus)
- A full-thickness rotator cuff tear needs an orthopedic surgeon's opinion; AAOS lists a tear over 3 cm, major weakness and a recent injury as signs surgery may help
Shoulder Care First Visit and Payment
$200 | 60 to 90 minutes with the doctor.
- Physical exam and evaluation by Dr. Bracic
- Digital x-rays taken on-site
- Personalized reading of your MRI results if available for review
- A report of findings where the doctor explains what he sees
- Your x-ray images on a flash drive to take home
- Up to 2 therapy services to begin addressing your pain that day
We accept Personal Injury Protection (PIP) auto insurance and self-pay. No referral is needed.
Shoulder Pain Relief Starts With an Exam
Book a visit and Dr. Bracic will look for the cause with an exam and digital x-ray on your first appointment.
Dr. Ivan Bracic and our team take a whole-person approach to healing. Chiropractic care combined with medical oversight, imaging, and therapeutic technology. 30+ years of experience and 30,000+ patients across a career in Illinois and Florida. Serving Fort Myers, Lehigh Acres, Cape Coral, Estero and Lee County since 2019. Our team speaks English and Spanish.
Shoulder Pain and Rotator Cuff Questions Answered
Straight answers about shoulder pain and rotator cuff care at Novaré.
Two Convenient Locations Serving Southwest Florida
Same-day or next-day appointments after an accident at both locations, including our Fort Myers clinic.
Fort Myers clinic, 15880 Summerlin Rd Suite 114 · Lehigh Acres clinic, 25 Homestead Rd N Suite 5 · All locations and hours
Lee County Service Area
Nuestro personal habla inglés y español.