Calcific Tendonitis Treatment in Ottawa and Waterloo: Calcium Deposits, Shoulder Pain, and Assessment
Calcific tendonitis — also spelled calcific tendinitis — is a condition in which calcium deposits form in a tendon, most commonly in the rotator cuff tendons of the shoulder. It can cause pain with lifting the arm, pain at night, stiffness, and difficulty with everyday tasks such as reaching overhead or getting dressed. Symptoms can flare and settle over time, and the size and stage of the deposit, as well as the tendon involved, affect what is worth discussing.
What calcific tendonitis can feel like
Pain is often felt in the shoulder, sometimes spreading down the upper arm, and it may be worse with overhead movement or lying on the affected side. Some people first notice it after an injury or a period of overuse, while in others it develops without a clear trigger. Because shoulder pain has many causes — including rotator cuff tears, impingement, bursitis, and neck-related pain — imaging and a proper assessment help distinguish calcific tendonitis from other shoulder problems before any treatment plan is made.
How focused shockwave therapy is thought to work for calcific tendonitis
FocusWave Clinic uses the Storz Medical DUOLITH SD1, a Health Canada licensed device, to deliver focused low-intensity extracorporeal shockwave therapy (LI-ESWT), with pulses focused on the affected tendon area.
For calcific shoulder tendonitis, published studies have reported benefit from higher-energy focused shockwave in some patients, including reduction in the size of calcium deposits and improvement in pain and function, with benefit appearing to depend on dose. That evidence is not uniform, and results vary from person to person. Whether shockwave is appropriate, and what a realistic expectation is, is a question for assessment, taking into account imaging, symptom history, and what has already been tried.
What a first visit and assessment involves
A first visit starts with an assessment: history of the shoulder pain, when it started and what provokes it, any imaging already done, activity and work demands, and an assessment by the clinic team, followed by a suitability check. The chronic pain program is $1,250 if a person is suitable and chooses to proceed. Load management, activity advice, and rehabilitation are discussed alongside shockwave, not as an afterthought, and if assessment suggests another route is more appropriate — for example, follow-up with a primary care clinician, physiotherapist, or orthopaedic specialist — that is discussed honestly at the consultation.
Who should call first instead of assuming treatment is suitable
Call before assuming treatment is suitable if you have a pacemaker or implanted device, an infection or open wound in the treatment area, cancer in the treatment area, or a bleeding disorder or use of blood thinners. A shoulder that is hot and swollen with fever, sudden weakness, or pain after a fall or direct injury should be discussed promptly.
Talk to FocusWave Clinic in Ottawa or Waterloo
FocusWave Clinic has clinics in Ottawa and Waterloo.
If calcific tendonitis or shoulder tendon pain is limiting your arm, work, or sport, call first to discuss an assessment.
- Ottawa: 2249 Carling Ave, Suite 201, Ottawa ON K2B 7E9 — 613-422-9283
- Waterloo: 109 Erb St. W, Suite B, Waterloo ON N2L 1T4 — 226-476-4147
- Toll-free: 888-558-9283 | info@focuswaveclinic.com | www.focuswaveclinic.com
