When shoulder pain persists and interferes with your life – such as making it difficult to drive, or even causing pain while you’re trying to sleep – you want relief, and you want to be able to return to your normal activities. You may be wondering whether you should see a shoulder surgeon.
Shoulder surgeons do a lot more than just perform surgery. If your shoulder pain would be effectively alleviated through less-invasive methods, a shoulder surgeon will know exactly what might work.
Let’s talk about when to seek an evaluation and treatment from a skilled shoulder surgeon, and where you can go in the greater Baltimore area to get your health and life back to normal.
What Can Happen to the Shoulder Joint?
The shoulder is the most complex joint in the body because it can move in a complete circle and is strong enough to carry heavy weights and do push-ups. Due to its complex function and structure, many things can go wrong with your shoulder.
They include:
- Wear-and-tear osteoarthritis
- Traumatic injury
- Fracture
- Dislocation
- Sprain (injury to a ligament)
- Strain (injury to a tendon or muscle)
- Cartilage tear
- Chronic instability of shoulder rotation and strength
- Bursitis
- Tendonitis
When one or more of these conditions happen, shoulder movement may be limited or even impossible. It can develop into a condition called frozen shoulder, which is why a consultation with a shoulder surgeon is imperative to help thwart that from occurring.
When Should I Visit a Shoulder Surgeon?
It is in your best interest to see a shoulder surgeon for an evaluation if you’re experiencing one or more of the following issues:
- Your shoulder pain persists beyond two weeks and is not getting better.
- Other symptoms accompany your pain, such as swelling, warmth, immobility, and/or deformity of the shoulder joint.
- Pain worsens with ordinary activity.
- Shoulder pain disrupts your sleep.
- Your normal range of motion and strength is reduced, such as when reaching or lifting.
- Your pain results from a fall or an accident.
- You hear grinding, snapping, or popping sounds when you move your shoulder.
- You are experiencing numbness, tingling, and/or weakness in the shoulder and down into the arm and hand.
Treatments for Shoulder Pain
Your orthopedic specialist will delve into your medical history and symptoms to determine the best treatment for your shoulder pain. Your shoulder surgeon may utilize digital X-rays, CT scans, MRI, or even arthroscopy (minimally invasive surgery to allow inspection and minor treatment of the joint) to determine a care plan for your shoulder. This will enable you to return to normal day-to-day activities.
Your shoulder surgeon may recommend and administer pain medication or injection therapy to relieve inflammation in the shoulder. Physical therapy can also help to strengthen supportive muscles and to increase flexibility.
Particularly if you have a total tear in the rotator cuff or shoulder arthritis, your shoulder surgeon may recommend and administer one of the following surgical treatments to restore function and relieve shoulder pain for good:
- Total shoulder replacement
- Reverse shoulder replacement
- Arthroscopy to remove scar tissue, remove shards of bone or spurs in the joint, or repair torn cartilage and tendons
- Fracture treatment
- Shoulder joint stabilization
Shoulder Experts in the Greater Baltimore Area
Our orthopedic surgeons here at Greater Chesapeake Hand to Shoulder have advanced training and years of experience in diagnosing and treating musculoskeletal problems related to the hand, wrist, arm, elbow, and shoulder. So, whether your shoulder pain is due to arthritis, workplace injury, sports, or even a congenital deformity, we can help.
If you have any questions or would like to schedule a consultation, contact us today at (410) 296-6232 or request a visit online by filling out our appointment request form now. We have convenient locations in Lutherville, Bel Air, Pasadena, Clarksville, Eldersburg, Westminster, and Baltimore, and we look forward to serving you!
