Shoulder Pain Treatment in Glastonbury, CT: Non-Surgical Care

Authored and medically reviewed by Paul D. Tortland, DO, FAOASM, CAQSM, RMSK. Last reviewed October 2026.

Written and clinically reviewed by

Paul D. Tortland, DO, FAOASM, CAQSM, RMSK

Dr. Paul Tortland, DO is a non-surgical orthopedic & sports medicine physician specializing in regenerative orthopedics and surgical alternative treatment. He is dual board-certified in Sports Medicine & Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine (OMM) and Regenerative Medicine, Fellowship-trained in Sports Medicine. He became the first physician in the world to earn board certification in Regenerative Medicine in 2015. Diplomate, American Board of Regenerative Medicine (ABRM), 2015. Registered in Musculoskeletal Ultrasound (RMSK).

Last clinically reviewed

October 2026

Quick answer

Dr. Paul Tortland, DO, is a dual board certified non-surgical orthopedic and sports medicine physician in Glastonbury, CT. He finds the source of shoulder pain with live ultrasound and treats rotator cuff problems, arthritis and calcium deposits with targeted injections and regenerative options, so many patients avoid or delay surgery.

Treatments: non-surgical shoulder care built on an exact diagnosis. Options include ultrasound-guided needling of calcium deposits, hydrodissection for entrapped nerves, intraosseous injections for bone marrow lesions, prolotherapy, and regenerative treatments such as PRP, BMAC and MFAT.

Who it fits: people with rotator cuff tendon pain, partial tears, shoulder arthritis or calcific tendinitis who want to try something before surgery. Full-thickness tears and instability get a surgeon referral.

What is different: 30+ years in practice, UConn Associate Clinical Professor, U.S. Figure Skating team physician since 2003, and Dr. Tortland performs every evaluation and injection himself. About Dr. Tortland.

Thinking about surgery?

Most patients explore non-surgical options for the shoulder first. See how we help you weigh that decision on our Alternatives to Orthopedic Surgery guide →

Most common conditions

Rotator cuff tendinopathy, calcific tendinitis, osteoarthritis

Diagnosis method

Live, dynamic ultrasound examination

Non-surgical options

Needling, PRP, BMA, MFAT, prolotherapy

Return to activity

Usually within days; depends on treatment

First results

PRP weeks 4 to 10 by area; BMAC or MFAT weeks 6 to 16

Who treats you

Dr. Tortland personally, every visit

When surgery is right

Full-thickness tears or significant instability

Insurance

Out of network, direct pay

Conditions treated Non-surgical vs. surgery FAQ

Indications

Shoulder Conditions Treated in Glastonbury, CT

The shoulder conditions seen most often in this practice, treated without surgery whenever the evidence and the ultrasound findings support it.

Comparison

How Non-Surgical Shoulder Care Compares With Other Shoulder Treatments

Option

What it does

Duration of benefit

Tissue impact

OptionHyaluronic acid (gel)

What it doesAdds lubrication and cushioning to an arthritic shoulder joint, guided by ultrasound.

Duration of benefitOften months, varies by person.

Tissue impactDoes not rebuild cartilage.

OptionProlotherapy or Prolozone

What it doesTargets a loose shoulder capsule or irritated tendon attachments.

Duration of benefitBuilds over a series of visits.

Tissue impactAims to support ligament and tendon healing.

OptionPRP

What it doesConcentrates your own platelets and places them in the joint or rotator cuff tendon under ultrasound.

Duration of benefitOften 6 to 12 months or more in responders.

Tissue impactSupports repair signals rather than masking pain.

OptionStem cells (BMAC and MFAT)

What it doesUses cells from your own bone marrow or fat for more advanced arthritis or larger partial tears.

Duration of benefitCan last a year or longer in responders.

Tissue impactBiologic support for damaged tissue, not a replacement joint.

OptionHydrodissection

What it doesFrees entrapped nerves around the shoulder and neck with fluid under ultrasound.

Duration of benefitRelief often starts quickly and may need repeating.

Tissue impactReleases nerves from surrounding scar and tight tissue.

OptionSurgery

What it doesRemoves or replaces structure

Duration of benefitLong-term, definitive for the right case

Tissue impactStructural change with recovery cost

Why Dr. Tortland

Why See Dr. Tortland Before Choosing Shoulder Surgery

Dr. Tortland is a dual board certified sports medicine physician who has practiced since 1995. He performs every evaluation and injection himself under live ultrasound, and in 2015 he became the first physician in the world certified in regenerative medicine. If you have a full-thickness tear or an unstable shoulder, he will tell you and refer you to a surgeon.

Read more about Dr. Tortland, see the guides to rotator cuff tendinopathy and calcific tendinitis, or learn when alternatives to orthopedic surgery make sense.

Frequently asked

Shoulder Pain FAQs

Can a torn rotator cuff heal without surgery?

A fully torn tendon does not reattach on its own, but many people still do well without surgery. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons reports that non-surgical care relieves pain and improves function in about 80 to 85 percent of patients. Tears can grow if you keep using the shoulder through pain, so an ultrasound exam is wise. Partial tears, tendinopathy and calcific tendinitis are often treated without surgery.

Do PRP or stem cell injections work for rotator cuff problems?

They can help some people. A 2025 review found PRP eases pain for up to about a year, though longer-term results are inconsistent, and PRP will not reattach a fully torn tendon. Dr. Tortland uses PRP, PRP Supershot, and BMA or MFAT, which use your own cells and FDA-cleared devices. In his experience many patients get relief lasting a year or more, though results vary. A complete tear with weakness needs a surgical opinion.

When should I see a specialist for shoulder pain, and when is surgery needed?

See a specialist if shoulder pain lasts more than a few weeks, weakens your arm, or keeps you from lifting or sleeping. Get urgent care if the joint looks deformed, you cannot use the arm after an injury, or you have fever with redness and swelling. Call 911 if shoulder pain comes with chest pain or shortness of breath. Surgery is considered for large tears, significant weakness, sudden injuries, or symptoms lasting 6 to 12 months despite treatment.

What non-surgical treatments are available for shoulder pain?

Treatment depends on the cause. Options include guided exercise, PRP, PRP Supershot, prolotherapy, Prolozone, intraosseous injections, joint injections, hyaluronic acid, shockwave (ESWT) for calcific tendinitis, EMTT, and BMA or MFAT for arthritis. Frozen shoulder usually improves within 1 to 3 years, with range-of-motion exercise first, and surgery is rarely needed for it.

How much does shoulder treatment cost, and is it covered by insurance?

Dr. Tortland is out of network with all insurance plans and offers direct-pay care so every visit can be unrushed and comprehensive. The initial evaluation and comprehensive diagnostic workup is $500. PRP treatment starts at $1,800. Follow-up is typically 6 weeks to 3 months after treatment.

Written and clinically reviewed by

Paul D. Tortland, DO, FAOASM, CAQSM, RMSK

Last clinically reviewed

October 2026

Sources

What does the evidence say about non-surgical shoulder treatment?

Mulvaney SW, Tortland PD, Shiple B, Curtis K. Regenerative medicine options for chronic musculoskeletal conditions: a review of the literature. Endurance and Sports Medicine. 2018.

Dai WL, et al. Efficacy of platelet-rich plasma versus hyaluronic acid in knee osteoarthritis: meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Filardo G, et al. Platelet-rich plasma intra-articular injections for cartilage degeneration and osteoarthritis: evidence and indications.

Rout S, Rout S. The Effectiveness of Platelet-Rich Plasma in the Management of Rotator Cuff Tears: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Cureus. 2025;17(11):e98132.

Bennell KL, et al. Effect of intra-articular platelet-rich plasma on knee pain and cartilage volume: randomized clinical trial.

Demirtas I, Kilinc O, Tanrikulu AN, Elci S, Altin Y, Gunaydin F. Ultrasound-Guided Needling Without Lavage Followed by Platelet-Rich Plasma or Corticosteroid in Rotator Cuff Calcific Tendinitis: A Comparative Cohort Study. J Clin Med. 2026.

Schedule a Shoulder Pain Evaluation in Glastonbury, CT

Candidacy is determined on ultrasound, not over the phone. Bring your imaging and get an honest answer about your shoulder in one visit.

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