subject: Shoulder Pain And Shoulder Arthroscopy In Asheboro Nc [print this page] When shoulder pain interferes with your usual activities, call the orthopedic experts in Asheboro NC. Our shoulders allow us to reach overhead, out front, behind, to the side, below, and all points in between. Using our shoulders, we comb our hair, brush our teeth, dress ourselves, and perform the hundreds of daily movements we never even think about; that is, until they become too painful to perform.
Shoulder vulnerabilities
We think of the shoulder as one joint, but it is actually made up of several joints. Major components of the shoulder include the upper arm bone, the shoulder blade, and the collarbone, all tied together by muscles, tendons and ligaments in a versatile structure that can allow an incredibly wide range of motion.
It is that mobility which makes a shoulder vulnerable to injury and instability, and to shoulder pain. You may feel pain only when you move your shoulder, or all of the time. If your shoulder pain lasts for more than a day or two, you should seek medical diagnosis and treatment.
General treatment for shoulder pain
Most shoulder pain originates from four major causes: tendon inflammation such as bursitis or tendinitis, or a tendon tear; instability; arthritis; a fracture. Generally, treatment involves rest, avoiding certain activities, and physical therapy to help improve shoulder strength and flexibility.
Your doctor may prescribe medication to reduce inflammation and pain. Your doctor may also recommend injections of numbing medicines or steroids to relieve pain. Ninety percent of shoulder pain responds to simple treatment methods such as altering activities, rest, exercise, and medication. Some shoulder pain can only be relieved by shoulder surgery, however.
When shoulder surgery is necessary
Exercise cannot help certain types of shoulder problems, such as recurring dislocations and certain rotator cuff tears, and shoulder surgery is typically indicated in these cases. Shoulder surgery usually means shoulder arthroscopy, a procedure that orthopedic surgeons use to inspect, diagnose, and repair problems inside a joint.
In shoulder arthroscopy, your Asheboro, NC surgeon inserts a small camera, called an arthroscope, into your shoulder joint. The camera displays pictures on a television screen, which your surgeon uses to guide miniature surgical instruments.
Because the arthroscope and surgical instruments are thin, your surgeon can use very small incisions, resulting in less pain and a shorter recovery than with more invasive surgical techniques. Larger, complicated shoulder reconstructions or shoulder joint replacement surgeries generally require traditional open surgery procedures.
If shoulder pain has you wondering where to look for relief, Asheboro NC specialists can show you how your shoulder pain may be helped with shoulder arthroscopy.
