Your shoulder is a complex ball-and-socket joint with a significant range of motion. The joint features the upper arm bone, shoulder blade, collarbone, and an elaborate system of muscles, ligaments, and tendons. Injury to any of these parts can cause pain, weakness, stiffness, or instability, making it difficult to rotate your arm. Here’s how an orthopedic surgeon can help your shoulder:
Diagnose Shoulder Problems
An orthopedic surgeon will diagnose shoulder problems like rotator cuff tears, arthropathy, arthritis, and tendonitis. Other diagnosable shoulder conditions include bone fractures, biceps tears, tendon raptures, and impingement. Diagnosis is done using physical examinations and imaging tests like X-rays, MRIs, and CT scans. During the surgeon’s physical examination, they will assess your shoulder movement, range of motion, and strength. Imaging tests provide a detailed view of your shoulder structures to reveal underlying conditions like cuff tears, fractures, or arthritis.
Acute or traumatic injuries usually stem from falls, sports accidents, or traffic collisions. Symptoms can include sharp pain, stiffness, loose shoulder, or a popped arm bone. Mild and moderate injuries are caused by aging and repetitive motions that lead to wear. Such injuries develop slowly, so the pain can be mild at first, only slightly limiting your range of motion. Other symptoms include numbness and tingling sensations in your arm. Swimmers, tennis and baseball players, and weightlifters have an increased risk of injuring their shoulders due to overuse. Orthopedic clinics can diagnose the problem causing your painful symptoms.
Recommend Shoulder Treatments
Some shoulder injuries can fully heal without surgery, but others require advanced operations. Non-surgical treatment options include physical therapy, medication, bracing, and immobilization. Physical therapy helps to exercise and strengthen your shoulder muscles to improve function and flexibility. Anti-inflammatory medications, pain relievers, and corticosteroid injections help to reduce pain and inflammation in the shoulder joint. Bracing, immobilization, and compression protect your shoulder while it heals from the injury.
Shoulder problems like rotator cuff tears, arthropathy, arthritis, and fractures require surgical procedures. Surgeons perform various operations, from shoulder instability procedures to bone-preserving arthroplasty and total shoulder replacements. Minimally invasive arthroscopic repairs are used to treat rotator cuff and labral tears. Partial and total shoulder replacements treat severe arthritis and significant bone or cartilage damage. Reparative orthopedics realign and stabilize fractures or reattach torn tendons and ligaments to restore shoulder stability.
Guide Shoulder Rehabilitation
If your shoulder treatment involves an operation, the surgeon will explain the post-op rehabilitation protocols to help you recover. Shoulder rehabilitation and recovery involve working with a physical therapist to improve your muscle and joint strength. Professional-guided rehabilitation also allows you to restore function and range of motion and heal properly. Your surgeon monitors this progress and adjusts your rehabilitation plan if needed to avoid re-injuring the shoulder. If your injuries require more than one surgery, your doctors will help you recover to make sure you’re healthy for the next procedure. Surgeons usually propose lifestyle and activity modifications to enhance your recovery.
Find an Experienced Orthopedic Surgeon
Shoulder injuries can cause pain and limit your range of motion. If you experience persistent symptoms for more than a few days, visit an upper extremity specialist for a diagnosis. Contact an experienced orthopedic surgeon today to learn more about shoulder issues and available treatment options.
