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Shoulder

a sports medicine specialist examining a woman's shoulder

Your shoulder is one of the most mobile joints in your body, allowing you to reach, lift, and perform countless movements throughout the day. When shoulder pain, injuries, or degenerative conditions limit your mobility, our hand and upper extremity specialists can provide comprehensive care to restore your function and reduce your discomfort.

  • Shoulder Pain Causes More Than Discomfort. Chronic pain can arise from injuries, overuse, arthritis, or rotator cuff tears, often limiting mobility and strength.
  • Our Surgeons Specialize in Shoulder Care. Our experienced specialists are trained to diagnose a wide range of shoulder issues with precision and care.
  • Innovative Treatments Provide Lasting Relief. From minimally invasive arthroscopic surgery to advanced injection therapies, we focus on personalized solutions to restore function and reduce pain.

Our patient-centered approach ensures you receive personalized treatment plans designed to help you return to your active lifestyle with confidence and optimal shoulder function.

Meet Our Hand Surgeons 

Common Shoulder Conditions Treated

Since 1987, the shoulder experts at Greater Chesapeake Hand to Shoulder in Maryland have been committed to relieving shoulder pain and improving movement.

Common shoulder conditions we treat include:

Rotator cuff tears occur when one or more of the four muscles and tendons that surround your shoulder joint become damaged, either from acute injury or gradual wear and tear over time. Common symptoms include:

  • Shoulder pain that worsens at night or when lifting your arm
  • Weakness when reaching overhead or behind your back
  • A crackling sensation during shoulder movement

Our physicians diagnose rotator cuff tears through physical examination, testing your range of motion and strength, and imaging studies like X-rays or MRI to visualize the extent of the tear. Treatment options range from conservative approaches, including physical therapy and anti-inflammatory medications for partial tears, to rotator cuff repair surgery for complete tears. Our experienced shoulder surgeons use both traditional open techniques and minimally invasive arthroscopic procedures to repair torn tendons and restore shoulder function.

Shoulder instability occurs when the shoulder joint becomes loose or dislocates easily, often due to injury, overuse, or naturally loose ligaments. Common symptoms include:

  • Feeling that your shoulder is "slipping out of place"
  • Pain during overhead activities
  • Weakness in the arm
  • Recurrent episodes of partial or complete shoulder dislocation

Our specialists often diagnose shoulder instability through a comprehensive physical examination that tests joint stability and range of motion. Treatment options begin with conservative, nonsurgical approaches, including physical therapy to strengthen surrounding muscles and anti-inflammatory medications for mild cases. For severe instability or when conservative treatments fail, our physicians may recommend surgical intervention.

Tendonitis is the inflammation or irritation of a tendon, the thick cord that attaches muscle to bone, most commonly occurring in the shoulder from overuse, repetitive motions, or age-related wear and tear. Common symptoms include:

  • Pain that worsens with movement
  • Tenderness around the affected tendon
  • Stiffness in the shoulder and neck
  • Swelling that may limit your range of motion

Our specialists diagnose tendonitis through physical examinations to assess pain patterns and range of motion. Nonsurgical treatment includes anti-inflammatory medications and physical therapy to strengthen surrounding muscles. For persistent cases that don't respond to conservative treatment, corticosteroid injections or surgical intervention may be considered to address severe tendon damage.

Our skilled upper extremity specialists also offer treatment for a wide range of other shoulder conditions, including:

  • Abnormal bone formation following trauma
  • Arthritis
  • Bursitis
  • Clavicle fracture
  • Frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis)
  • Heterotopic ossification
  • Humerus fracture (broken arm)
  • Shoulder dislocation
  • Shoulder fracture (broken bone)
  • Shoulder impingement syndrome
  • Shoulder separation
  • Shoulder subluxation

We also offer help for sports and work-related injuries.

Treatments for Shoulder Conditions

Our advanced shoulder treatments encompass a wide range of both surgical and nonsurgical options, including:

Reverse shoulder replacement is an advanced surgical procedure that reverses the natural ball-and-socket anatomy of the shoulder joint. This allows the powerful deltoid muscle to take over the function of a damaged rotator cuff. Reverse shoulder replacement may be recommended to treat:

  • Severe rotator cuff tear arthropathy (cuff tear arthritis)
  • Complex shoulder fractures
  • Failed previous shoulder replacement surgery
  • Chronic shoulder dislocation and instability with rotator cuff damage

This innovative approach provides significant pain relief and restores overhead movement for those who may not be good candidates for traditional joint replacement surgery.

Shoulder arthroscopy is a minimally invasive surgical technique that allows our surgeons to diagnose and treat a variety of shoulder problems using a small camera and specialized instruments inserted through tiny incisions. This advanced approach offers significant benefits, including less pain, minimal scarring, and a faster recovery compared to traditional open surgery.

Our physicians may recommend shoulder arthroscopy to treat:

  • Rotator cuff tears
  • Shoulder impingement syndrome
  • Tendonitis and bursitis
  • Labral tears and instability
  • Loose bone or cartilage

Our skilled surgeons utilize this state-of-the-art procedure to precisely repair damaged tissues while preserving healthy structures.

Shoulder stabilization surgery is a procedure designed to enhance stability and prevent future dislocations of the shoulder joint. Our surgeons expertly repair or tighten the torn or stretched ligaments and cartilage that are responsible for keeping the joint in place.

Our physicians may recommend this surgical intervention for:

  • Chronic shoulder instability
  • Recurrent shoulder dislocations or subluxations
  • Labrum tears
  • Ligament damage from traumatic injury

This procedure is performed using either minimally invasive arthroscopic techniques or traditional open surgery, depending on the patient's specific needs.

Total shoulder joint replacement is a highly successful surgical procedure designed to relieve pain and restore function for individuals with severe shoulder damage. During the surgery, the damaged parts of the shoulder joint are removed and replaced with durable, high-quality artificial components that replicate the natural ball-and-socket anatomy.

Total joint replacement may be recommended for patients experiencing:

  • Advanced osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis
  • Severe shoulder fractures
  • Avascular necrosis (loss of blood supply to the bone)
  • Failed previous shoulder surgeries

Our board-certified surgeons perform this procedure to significantly reduce pain, improve range of motion, and help patients return to their daily activities with renewed comfort and confidence.

Our dedicated and skilled physician team is also happy to offer the following treatment options:

  • Fracture surgery
  • Injections
  • Medication

Consult with the Best Shoulder Surgeons in Maryland

Trust in our skilled team of shoulder specialists to guide you to a pain-free life. To schedule an appointment with any of the skilled hand and upper extremity specialists at Greater Chesapeake Hand to Shoulder, fill out our secure online appointment request form. You may also call our office today at (410) 296-6232, and one of our friendly staff members will be happy to assist you.