Many joints throughout the body have bursae (plural of bursa), which are protective fluid-filled sacs that act as cushions for your bone, tendon, and muscle during movement. When a bursa is inflamed, this is called bursitis – and it can cause swelling, stiffness, and pain.
Bursitis can occur if you overuse the joint or experience excess pressure on it. This issue tends to happen most frequently in the shoulder, elbow, hip, knee, heel, and big toe.
Shoulder surgeons do a lot more than just surgery, so it would be in your best interest to see an upper-extremities specialist if you have shoulder pain. The pain could indicate bursitis, arthritis, or a torn rotator cuff. Let’s talk about why a shoulder surgeon can help you if you think you have shoulder bursitis, and where you can go for an efficient orthopedic evaluation and treatment that works for you.
When to See a Shoulder Surgeon for an Evaluation
If any of the following describes you or your shoulder pain, a shoulder surgeon can help:
Shoulder Pain Is Limiting Your Ability to Perform Tasks and Activities
Bursitis in the shoulder can interfere with everything from getting dressed to playing tennis or golf. An experienced shoulder surgeon can quickly perform an evaluation and diagnosis of your shoulder pain and explain your options insofar as treatment.
Pain Is Worsening
Without proper medical treatment, your bursitis pain may become worse. A shoulder doctor can thwart the pain and help you with mitigation strategies that will hopefully eliminate the inflammation of bursitis. These strategies may include pain-relief injection treatment provided there in the office by your shoulder surgeon, physical therapy, or antibiotics if the inflammation is caused by a bacterial infection.
Arm Pain Is Interfering with Your Sleep
Shoulder pain can easily hinder your sleep, even if you’re not sleeping on the side of the hurting shoulder. A shoulder surgeon can give you treatment for shoulder pain and provide effective medication to help you sleep through the night every night.
You Want to Learn Prevention Tips
Your shoulder surgeon can explain how to prevent more episodes of bursitis in the future. Depending on what is causing your bursitis, the doctor may recommend stretching exercises, show you how to properly lift heavy objects, and indicate how to change your form if you’re regularly using an improper technique when performing various duties or exercises.
Experienced Shoulder Surgeon in Maryland
Here at Greater Chesapeake Hand to Shoulder, our board-certified shoulder surgeons understand the complexity of the shoulder – and we can often provide a diagnosis even without imaging scans. We will assess your medical history, evaluate the precise location of your shoulder pain, and provide swift treatment that helps you to find relief as quickly as possible.
If you have any questions or would like to schedule a consultation with a world-class shoulder surgeon, contact our friendly staff at Greater Chesapeake Hand to Shoulder today by calling us at (410) 296-6232, or complete our online appointment request form now. We have convenient locations in Lutherville, Clarksville, Bel Air, Eldersburg, Pasadena, Westminster, and Baltimore, and we look forward to seeing you!
