Orthopedic Shoulder Surgery | Shoulder Specialists

Shoulder Pain

With every move of your arm, your shoulder moves, too. Because of this, shoulders are used (and overused) more than you may think. As such, it’s no wonder why shoulders are so easy to injure.

With so much movement, your shoulder may be more likely to become unstable or put pressure on the soft tissues or bones in your shoulder, which can cause pain.

You might only feel pain when you move your shoulder, or you might always feel pain. Shoulder pain can be temporary or last for a long time, in which case it needs to be medically diagnosed and treated.

Common Shoulder Injuries

Athletes and weekend warriors frequently become victims of sports injuries caused by repetitive overhead movements during swimming, tennis, softball, and weightlifting – or even just from washing a car or hanging curtains.

Shoulder injuries are also among the most common work injuries in the country. Like other joints, the shoulder is especially subject to overuse and degenerative conditions. Although shoulder bone injuries are not uncommon, most shoulder problems involve muscles, ligaments, and tendons. Below are among the most common shoulder injuries we treat here at OSMC:

Bursitis
Tendonitis
Arthritis
Shoulder impingement
Rotator cuff injuries
Shoulder fractures

Most of these conditions rarely remedy themselves and call for prompt medical intervention to prevent more serious injury.

Common Shoulder Injury Treatments

Most of the time, rehabilitation, like physical therapy, is the first step in fixing an injured shoulder. This treatment could work, or it could show that the injury is too severe and requires surgery.

If non-surgical treatment doesn't relieve shoulder pain, your doctor may recommend shoulder surgery. Rest, physical therapy, and anti-inflammatory drugs or injections can help damaged tissues heal without surgery. Inflammation occurs after an injury, which causes shoulder pain, swelling, and stiffness.

Here are some of the most common types of shoulder surgery:

Rotator cuff repair
Total shoulder replacement
Shoulder arthroscopy
Acromioclavicular joint repair

No matter what is going on inside your shoulder, our surgeons at OSMC can help. Call us today at (574)207-0043, or book your consultation online.

Shoulder Surgery Recovery

Surgery is only the first step toward getting rid of your pain and getting your shoulder to normal function again. What you do after surgery can be just as important, if not more important, for achieving a healthy, pain-free shoulder.

Here are some important things to consider after shoulder surgery, no matter what your condition or treatment is:

After surgery - Shoulder procedures are usually outpatient, so you go home with a sling, and 48 hours of prescribed pain medication. Over the next 10 days, you come off pain medications and start taking anti-inflammatories like Tylenol. Keep your shoulder still and use ice packs to minimize swelling and soreness
Wear a sling - Slings keep your shoulder and arm still for four to six weeks after surgery. The support device helps your shoulder recuperate, where you can move your wrist, hand, and fingers, but not your arm. Your sling removal depends on the type of surgery and your body's healing response
Physical therapy - Start physical therapy while you are still in a sling and continue with supporting exercises afterward, with the goal of restoring shoulder strength and flexibility. Gentle range-of-motion exercises may start your therapeutic plan, and it works faster when followed exactly
Slowly start activity - You can begin to use your arm more after six to 12 weeks, but do not push or lift large objects, and no weight on the injured arm yet. Light jogging or elliptical exercise may be possible after surgery, and some patients can add light resistance training and swimming
Full recovery - Surgery healing takes 3 to 6 months, however, your shoulder and arm have been relatively dormant for a long time, so be cautious when resuming athletic activity or shoulder-stressing jobs. Follow your physical therapist's approach to strengthen the area's muscles, because overdoing it can delay healing

The team at OSMC can help you through every step of your shoulder injury, from preparing for surgery to getting back to full function afterward.