Shoulder pain can make daily activities difficult and take the joy out of your favorite hobbies. You might be wondering when discomfort in your shoulder becomes serious enough to consider surgery.
Let’s break down the signs that suggest you need more than just rest. We will also look at when it might be time to think about shoulder surgery.
Understanding the Need for Shoulder Surgery
Shoulder surgery can help you move better and reduce constant pain. Conditions like rotator cuff tears, arthritis, and shoulder impingement can cause a lot of discomfort. Spotting these problems early can lead to quicker medical help and a better quality of life.
Common Shoulder Conditions
Several shoulder problems might require surgery. Rotator cuff injuries are significantly common. They happen when the muscles and tendons around the shoulder joint tear.
Shoulder impingement is the rubbing of your shoulder blade against your rotator cuff. This rubbing causes pain in the shoulder.
Arthritis, especially osteoarthritis, wears down the cartilage in your shoulder, leading to pain and less movement.
Key Indicators for Shoulder Surgery
Knowing when to consider shoulder surgery is important for your health and comfort. Here are some clear signs that surgery might be the next step:
Persistent Pain
If you have ongoing shoulder pain that does not get better with medication, you might need surgery. This kind of pain can make it hard to focus on your daily tasks and enjoy life.
Difficulty Lifting Your Arm
Struggling to lift your arm is another red flag. This is especially important if you struggle to do simple actions like reaching for something on a shelf. If your shoulder feels weak or you notice a limited range of motion, it is time to see a doctor.
Frequent Dislocations
If your shoulder keeps popping out of place or feels unstable, you may need surgery to fix the underlying problem. Frequent dislocations can be painful and make you worry about moving your arm.
Worsening Condition
Your doctor may also recommend surgery if your condition is deteriorating. For example, a rotator cuff tear may worsen over time, making surgery inevitable.
Non-Surgical Treatments Are Not Helping
Sometimes, treatments like physical therapy, medications, or injections do not provide relief. If you have tried these options and still have significant pain or mobility issues, surgery might help.
Recognizing these signs early can lead to quicker medical help. It promotes a better quality of life as well. Do not ignore persistent pain or difficulty with shoulder movements. Speak with your doctor to explore the best treatment options for you.
Exploring Non-Surgical Treatment Options
Before thinking about surgery for shoulder pain, it is important to look at non-surgical treatments first. These options can help you manage pain and improve your shoulder function without needing surgery.
Physical Therapy
Physical therapy is often the first step. Through exercises, you can strengthen the muscles around your shoulder and increase flexibility.
A physical therapist will guide you through specific movements that target your shoulder problems. These movements help you be stronger and more mobile.
Anti-Inflammatory Medications
Over-the-counter or prescription medications can help reduce pain and swelling in your shoulder. These can be very effective in managing symptoms. Just make sure to take them regularly as your doctor advises.
Corticosteroid Injections
These injections are used to provide temporary relief from severe shoulder pain. A doctor will inject medication directly into the painful area. This can help reduce inflammation and offer quick pain relief.
Advantages of Non-Surgical Treatments
Non-surgical treatments have many benefits. They are less invasive, which means there is no need for an operation. Because of this, the recovery time is usually much shorter. Non-surgical options also come with fewer risks.
Limitations of Non-Surgical Treatments
However, these treatments also have their limitations. For severe shoulder issues, non-surgical options might not be enough. They might provide only temporary relief and do not fix the underlying problem causing the pain.
In such cases, you might find that the pain returns or does not go away completely. This makes daily activities difficult.
Types of Shoulder Surgeries
There are different kinds of shoulder surgeries for various problems. The two most common upper extremity surgeries for the shoulder are:
Arthroscopic Surgery
This type is less invasive and uses small cuts. Orthopedic surgeons commonly use this to fix rotator cuff tears and remove bone spurs. Because it is less invasive, recovery time is usually shorter.
Shoulder Replacement Surgery
This type is more invasive and involves replacing damaged parts of the shoulder with artificial parts. Orthopedic surgeons often use this surgery for severe cases of arthritis where the shoulder joint is badly damaged.
Trusted Shoulder Surgery in Lutherville, MD
At Greater Chesapeake Hand to Shoulder, our shoulder surgeons take the greatest care in all aspects of shoulder replacement evaluation, surgery, and recovery. They are highly experienced and skilled, and best of all, they understand that every patient is unique and valuable.
For more information about joint replacement, call our office today at (410) 296-6232. To schedule a consultation with one of our shoulder surgeons, use our appointment request form. We have five offices to serve you: Lutherville, Clarksville, Pasadena, Westminster, and Bel Air.
We look forward to serving you!
