shoulder
Living with Shoulder Pain is an ever present reminder that there is a problem with your upper extremities. It can be limiting of so many daily activities. You may feel pain only when you move your shoulder – or all the time, including during with sleep. But the good news is that new injection therapies and advanced surgical procedures have made repairs and healing more efficient. Our doctors specialize in the most advanced methods of shoulder repair, such as rotator cuff procedures, total shoulder arthroplasty, and reverse total shoulder.
Most shoulder problems fall into 4 categories:
- Tendon inflammation (bursitis or tendinitis) or tendon tear
- Instability
- Arthritis
- Fracture (broken bone)
Surgery may be required to resolve some shoulder problems. However, the large majority of patients with shoulder pain will respond to simple treatment methods such as altering activities, rest, exercise, and medication.
Certain types of shoulder problems, such as recurring dislocations and some rotator cuff tears, may not benefit from exercise. In these cases, surgery may be recommended fairly early. Surgery can involve arthroscopy to remove scar tissue or repair torn tissues, or traditional open procedures for larger reconstructions or shoulder replacement.
ARTHROSCOPY OF THE SHOULDER
The word arthroscopy comes from two Greek words, “arthro” (joint) and “skopein” (to look). The term literally means “to look within the joint.” During shoulder arthroscopy, your surgeon inserts a small camera, called an arthroscope, into your shoulder joint. The camera displays pictures on a video monitor, and your surgeon uses these images to guide miniature surgical instruments.
Because the arthroscope and surgical instruments are thin, your surgeon can use very small incisions (cuts), rather than the larger incisions needed for standard, open surgery. This results in less pain for patients and shortens the time it takes to recover and return to favorite activities.
Click on the topics below to find out more from the Orthopaedic connection website of American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.