Shoulder pain? Understand your options before making a decision.
Many patients have more options than they realise. We offer treatments from simple injections to surgical repair.
Reviewed byProf Paul Lee MBBch, FRCS (Tr & Orth), PhDLast reviewed 1 May 2026Our Approach to Shoulder Treatment
Everything we do is aimed at relieving your shoulder pain and restoring your movement. How we get there depends on your situation. Our clinical approach covers four areas of treatment. Many of our treatments work across more than one area depending on your condition and how they are applied. Your consultation determines exactly which combination is right for you.
Relieve
Everything below has the same primary goal: relieving your shoulder pain and restoring your movement. The four approaches describe how we get there.
Preserve
Protect your shoulder joint and manage inflammation, impingement, or early arthritis. Injections and treatments that maintain mobility and slow degeneration.
Repair
Fix structural damage. A torn rotator cuff, a labrum tear, shoulder instability. Surgical procedures that restore what is broken.
Regenerate
Rebuild damaged shoulder cartilage and tissue using advanced biological treatments. Restore function without replacement.
Replace
When other options are exhausted. Shoulder replacement restores function, but only after we have explored every alternative.
Your Options
Explore Treatment Approaches
Preserve: Protect what you still have
Preserve your joint, your movement, and your quality of life. From immediate symptom management to treatments that slow degeneration and protect cartilage.
Arthrosamid
If you have knee osteoarthritis and want lasting relief without repeated injections, Arthrosamid is a single-dose hydrogel that cushions the joint long-term.
Hyaluronic Acid
Restores the natural lubrication your joint has lost. If your cartilage is wearing and movement feels stiff or grindy, HA reduces friction and eases daily pain.
mFat / Stem Cell
Uses your own fat tissue to deliver stem cells to the shoulder. For patients with rotator cuff degeneration, cartilage wear, or chronic shoulder pain seeking biological regeneration.
Cartilage Micrograft
Harvests healthy cartilage cells from your own body and reimplants them at the damage site. Targets specific defects where the body needs a biological scaffold to rebuild.
Steroid Injection
Rapid relief for acute pain and inflammation. Often used as a first step to manage a flare-up, reduce swelling, and create a window for rehabilitation or further assessment.
PRP
Uses your own blood platelets to accelerate healing. Suited to patients with sports injuries, tendon damage, or early joint wear who want to support the body's natural repair.
PRF
A next-generation blood concentrate that releases growth factors slowly over time. Suited to patients who want longer-lasting biological support for healing tendons, cartilage, and soft tissue.
Osteotomy
Bone realignment surgery to redistribute weight away from damaged areas.
Ready to explore preservation options?
Take Our AssessmentPreserve: Protect what you still have
Preserve your joint, your movement, and your quality of life. From immediate symptom management to treatments that slow degeneration and protect cartilage.
Arthrosamid
If you have knee osteoarthritis and want lasting relief without repeated injections, Arthrosamid is a single-dose hydrogel that cushions the joint long-term.
Hyaluronic Acid
Restores the natural lubrication your joint has lost. If your cartilage is wearing and movement feels stiff or grindy, HA reduces friction and eases daily pain.
mFat / Stem Cell
Uses your own fat tissue to deliver stem cells to the shoulder. For patients with rotator cuff degeneration, cartilage wear, or chronic shoulder pain seeking biological regeneration.
Cartilage Micrograft
Harvests healthy cartilage cells from your own body and reimplants them at the damage site. Targets specific defects where the body needs a biological scaffold to rebuild.
Steroid Injection
Rapid relief for acute pain and inflammation. Often used as a first step to manage a flare-up, reduce swelling, and create a window for rehabilitation or further assessment.
PRP
Uses your own blood platelets to accelerate healing. Suited to patients with sports injuries, tendon damage, or early joint wear who want to support the body's natural repair.
PRF
A next-generation blood concentrate that releases growth factors slowly over time. Suited to patients who want longer-lasting biological support for healing tendons, cartilage, and soft tissue.
Osteotomy
Bone realignment surgery to redistribute weight away from damaged areas.
Ready to explore preservation options?
Take Our AssessmentRepair: Fix specific injuries
You have a specific injury that can be fixed. These treatments restore what is broken. Time is critical for repair - the sooner you act, the more options you have.
PRP
Uses your own blood platelets to accelerate healing. Suited to patients with sports injuries, tendon damage, or early joint wear who want to support the body's natural repair.
Cartilage Micrograft
Harvests healthy cartilage cells from your own body and reimplants them at the damage site. Targets specific defects where the body needs a biological scaffold to rebuild.
STACi
An advanced scaffold implanted into a damaged joint to regenerate cartilage over larger areas of damage. For patients with significant cartilage loss who are too young or active for replacement and want to rebuild rather than remove.
Sub-chondroplasty
Bone marrow lesion treatment to address subchondral bone pain and bone bruising in advanced arthritis.
BMAC
Concentrates stem cells from your own bone marrow and delivers them to the damaged area. Suited to patients with cartilage or tendon damage who want to support regeneration biologically.
Rotator Cuff Repair
Surgical repair of torn rotator cuff tendons to restore strength and function.
Labrum Repair (Shoulder)
Repair of the shoulder labrum to restore stability and reduce pain.
GOAT (Shoulder)
Shoulder osteoplasty with cartilage augmentation. A joint-preserving surgical technique for shoulder arthritis management.
Cartilage Repair (Surgical)
Surgical cartilage repair techniques to restore joint surface integrity.
Had a sports injury?
Book a Consultation with Prof. LeeRegenerate: Rebuild damaged cartilage
Your cartilage is damaged but the joint can still be saved. These treatments stimulate your body to rebuild.
mFat / Stem Cell
Uses your own fat tissue to deliver stem cells to the shoulder. For patients with rotator cuff degeneration, cartilage wear, or chronic shoulder pain seeking biological regeneration.
STACi
An advanced scaffold implanted into a damaged joint to regenerate cartilage over larger areas of damage. For patients with significant cartilage loss who are too young or active for replacement and want to rebuild rather than remove.
Cartilage Micrograft
Harvests healthy cartilage cells from your own body and reimplants them at the damage site. Targets specific defects where the body needs a biological scaffold to rebuild.
BMAC
Concentrates stem cells from your own bone marrow and delivers them to the damaged area. Suited to patients with cartilage or tendon damage who want to support regeneration biologically.
PRF
A next-generation blood concentrate that releases growth factors slowly over time. Suited to patients who want longer-lasting biological support for healing tendons, cartilage, and soft tissue.
PRP
Uses your own blood platelets to accelerate healing. Suited to patients with sports injuries, tendon damage, or early joint wear who want to support the body's natural repair.
Cartilage Repair (Surgical)
Surgical cartilage repair techniques to restore joint surface integrity.
GOAT (Shoulder)
Shoulder osteoplasty with cartilage augmentation. A joint-preserving surgical technique for shoulder arthritis management.
Hyaluronic Acid
Restores the natural lubrication your joint has lost. If your cartilage is wearing and movement feels stiff or grindy, HA reduces friction and eases daily pain.
ACi
Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation. A two-stage cartilage regeneration procedure using your own cells. London Cartilage Clinic now offers STACi, the single-stage next generation of ACi, available in any joint.
MACi
Matrix-Assisted Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation. A scaffold-based two-stage cartilage procedure using your own cells. London Cartilage Clinic now offers STACi, the single-stage evolution of MACi, available in any joint.
Considering regeneration?
Book a Discovery Call to Discuss OptionsReplace: When preservation is no longer viable
When cartilage damage is too extensive for repair or regeneration, replacement restores function.
Been told you need a shoulder replacement?
There may be options worth exploring first.
Need surgical expertise?
Book a Consultation with Prof. LeeSelf Assessment
Not sure where to start?
Answer a few questions to get a personalised starting point for your shoulder treatment.
How would you describe your shoulder situation?
Your Journey
What your journey can look like
Consultant-Led Assessment
Symptoms, imaging and goals reviewed in one structured appointment. We gather the full picture before recommending anything.
Personalised Treatment Plan
A clear route chosen from preservation, repair, regeneration or replacement options, matched to your diagnosis and goals.
Precision Delivery
Modern techniques and specialist equipment matched to your diagnosis. From ultrasound-guided injections to advanced surgical procedures.
Long-Term Shoulder Health
Follow-up guidance focused on durable function and quality of life. We monitor your progress and adapt the plan as needed.
Conditions
Common Shoulder Conditions
Understanding your condition is the first step. These pages explain what is happening in your joint and how it connects to treatment.
Cartilage Damage
Understand how cartilage wears down, what the stages of damage look like, and when treatment is needed.
Rotator Cuff Injury
Rotator cuff injuries range from tendinitis to full tears, causing shoulder pain, weakness, and difficulty with overhead activity.
Frozen Shoulder
Frozen shoulder causes progressive stiffness and pain as the joint capsule tightens, restricting movement in all directions.
Shoulder Instability
Shoulder instability and SLAP lesions cause recurrent dislocation, apprehension, and pain during overhead or throwing activities.