Does shoulder pain keep you up at night or hinder your ability to perform everyday tasks?
Your shoulder is made up of three bones: your upper arm bone (humerus), your shoulder blade (scapula), and your collarbone (clavicle).
The head of your upper arm bone fits into a rounded socket in your shoulder blade. This socket is called your glenoid. A combination of muscles and tendons keeps your arm bone centered within the socket of your shoulder. These tissues are called the rotator cuff. They cover the head of your upper arm bone and attach it to your shoulder blade.
Most shoulder problems are manifested in one or more of these ways: tendon inflammation (bursitis or tendinitis) or tendon tear; instability; arthritis; and fracture (broken bone).
Bursitis is inflammation or swelling of the small, fluid-filled sacs located between the rotator cuff and part of your shoulder blade known as the acromion. It often occurs in association with rotator cuff tendinitis. Many daily activities, such as combing your hair or getting dressed, may become difficult. Rotator cuff tendinitis may be acute or chronic.
Treatments for shoulder pain may include medications or surgery. While surgery may be required to resolve some shoulder problems, a majority of patients with shoulder pain will respond to simple treatments such as altering activities, rest, exercise, and medication. If surgery is warranted in your situation, it can involve arthroscopy or shoulder joint replacement to remove scar tissue or repair torn tissues, or traditional open procedures for larger reconstructions or shoulder replacement.
Signature Medical Group’s practitioners are board-certified orthopedic surgeons whose expertise, experience, and leadership in their profession translate into exceptional medical care and treatment for you.
If you live in St. Louis our Kansas City and would like to know more about treatment for your shoulder pain, make an appointment for an evaluation with one of our board-certified orthopedic specialists today!