Treating Shoulder Pain in the Triangle Area

Shoulder Specialists at Raleigh Orthopaedic

Dr. Joseph Barker  Dr. Matthew Boes Dr. Edwin Cadet Dr. Hadley Callaway

Dr. David M. Dare Dr. William Isbell Dr. Robert Wyker

Treating Shoulder Pain in Wake County

Our specialists will diagnose the cause of your shoulder pain and offer treatment options to relieve your pain.  Some typical shoulder pain symptoms include pain, stiffness, numbness, shoulder weakness, clicking or catching, tenderness around the joint, grinding and swelling. Symptoms can be a short-lived sharp pain when performing a task, like grabbing something off a shelf or getting dressed, or a dull lasting pain that lasts throughout the day.

The goal at Raleigh Orthopaedic is to provide the highest quality, professional and personalized service in a caring and positive atmosphere. From injuries to aches and pains, Raleigh Orthopaedic is your local source for excellent orthopaedic care.

Prior to any suggested course of treatment, our shoulder specialists will ask you for a complete medical history, have you describe your symptoms and how the injury occurred, and conduct a physical examination. An X-Ray or MRI may be necessary to confirm the proper diagnosis and determine if there are other problems.

Nonsurgical Treatment is Always Considered

A majority of the time people put off their injuries or pain because they do not want to have surgery. People assume that visiting an orthopaedic clinic means they are going to have to have surgery. However, conservative, non-surgical treatments are always considered before recommending surgery. 

For injuries where a conservative treatment plan is an option, our specialists will recommend a plan that involves rest, limiting or restricting your shoulder’s movement, avoiding activities that put the most stress on the arms, reducing the amount of weight lifted by the affected arm, anti-inflammatory medications, cortisone injections and other injections. Additionally, Raleigh Orthopaedic Therapy Services help with rehabilitation and nonsurgical treatments. Do not try to ignore your pain because you are afraid surgery is your only option.

Treating Rotator Cuff Injuries

The rotator cuff is a group of muscles and tendons that hold the bones of the shoulder joint together. The rotator cuff is what allows us to lift our arm and reach overhead. If not treated properly, a rotator cuff injury can result in loss of full shoulder function.
Rotator cuff injuries occur most often in people who repeatedly perform overhead motions in their jobs or sports. Painters, construction workers or athletes in swimming, baseball or tennis are prone to this type of injury. A rotator cuff injury often starts as a dull ache in the shoulder, which often worsens when you try to sleep on the injured side. Sometimes a rotator cuff can tear suddenly in a single injury requiring medical attention as soon as possible.

Reasons for Shoulder Surgery

Raleigh Orthopaedic shoulder surgeons may recommend surgery if you have one of the following conditions:

• Your shoulder pain continues despite nonsurgical treatments
• You have a complete tear of your rotator cuff
• Your shoulder dislocates recurrently or you are at risk of recurrent dislocations
• You can no longer lift your arm
• You can no longer perform daily activities due to pain in your shoulder 
• If you have advanced shoulder arthritis
• If your shoulder injury or condition limits your athletic performance

Shoulder Arthroscopy

A shoulder arthroscopy or “shoulder scope” is a surgical procedure in which the orthopaedic surgeon uses a camera to visualize the internal structure of the shoulder joint. Shoulder arthroscopy may relieve painful symptoms of many problems that damage the rotator cuff tendons, labrum, articular cartilage, and other soft tissues surrounding the joint. Common arthroscopic procedures include: rotator cuff repair, removal or repair of the labrum, repair of ligaments, removal of loose cartilage and repair for recurrent shoulder dislocation.

Frozen Shoulder Surgery

Shoulder arthroscopy is a common method for surgical treatment of frozen shoulder when symptoms are not relieved by physical therapy or other conservative treatment options. The goal of surgery is to stretch and release the stiffened joint capsule in the shoulder. The orthopaedic shoulder surgeon will cut through tight portions of the joint capsule.

Rotator Cuff Repair Surgery

Arthroscopic rotator cuff repair is the least invasive surgical method used to repair a torn rotator cuff. During the procedure, the orthopaedic shoulder surgeon inserts a small camera, called an arthroscope, into the shoulder joint. The camera displays pictures on a television screen and the surgeon uses these images to guide miniature surgical instruments.

Total Shoulder Replacement Surgery

Shoulder replacement surgery, also known as a total shoulder arthroplasty, was first performed in the United States in the 1950s to treat severe shoulder fractures. Over the years, shoulder joint replacement has come to be used for many other painful conditions of the shoulder, such as arthritis or rotator cuff injury. In shoulder replacement surgery, the damaged parts of the shoulder are removed and replaced with artificial components, called a prosthesis. The typical shoulder replacement involves replacing the arthritic joint surface with a highly polished metal ball attached to a stem and a plastic socket. A reverse total shoulder replacement is another type of shoulder replacement where the socket and metal ball are switched; the metal ball is attached to the shoulder bone and a plastic socket is attached to the upper arm bone.

The total shoulder joint replacement surgeons at Raleigh Orthopaedic Clinic will perform a physical examination and imaging tests as needed to determine which total shoulder replacement is best to treat your condition.

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Let’s fix what hurts

Choose Raleigh Orthopaedic to be your official orthopaedic provider. We can help diagnose and treat any shoulder related injury or condition. Schedule an appointment with a shoulder specialist today.

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