Shoulder & Elbow

Lasting Relief from Osteoarthritis to Overuse Injury

Just like any other joints in the body, the shoulder and elbows are prone to a variety of conditions that cause pain. Arthritis is one of the most common and may require arthroplasty or joint replacement as an option for those patients who have not found relief over time.

The shoulder is the most mobile joint in our bodies and one of the most complex. The shoulder joint has not only a wide range of motion, but the delicate combination of three bones: the upper arm bone (humerus); shoulder blade (scapula), and collarbone (clavicle). A group of muscles and tendons called the rotator cuff attaches the humerus to your shoulder socket with small, fluid-filled sacs called bursae to cushion the joint. Sports-related injuries leading to shoulder pain include fractures to the collarbone, humerus, or shoulder blade.

The elbow is a complex joint we use constantly throughout the day, and even more so in sporting activities. The most common elbow pain comes from microtrauma, and repetitive motion that leads to injury when tendons become inflamed, and muscles irritated. Acute injuries can happen on the field of play – especially baseball – or from falls. Some autoimmune disorders, such as rheumatoid arthritis, can also cause elbow pain. Osteoarthritis leads to the degeneration of joint cartilage and can be common in those with a history of elbow injury. Whatever the cause, prompt attention and treatment are most important when it comes to lingering elbow pain.

It is essential to see a fellowship-trained shoulder & elbow specialist who performs a high volume of cases when seeking operative or nonoperative treatment for these complex joints. Our specialists are seasoned in the diagnosis and treatment of all types of shoulder injuries and conditions, and skilled at surgical solutions from partial to total joint replacement.

Our evaluation will look at common causes of shoulder and elbow pain including:

• Shoulder instability or impingement
• Bursitis or inflammation of the bursa
• Biceps tendinitis
• Biceps tendon tears
• Rotator cuff tendinitis
• Rotator cuff tears
• Shoulder osteoarthritis
• Elbow osteoarthritis
• Elbow OCDs
• Ulnar collateral ligament injuries
• Cubical tunnel syndrome

Non-surgical treatment begins with fine-tuning the diagnosis. While arthritis is usually apparent on a simple X-ray, much more information is needed to appropriately treat the pain.  We’ll explore what caused arthritis, whether the rotator cuff is injured, whether there is any nerve entrapment, whether osteonecrosis is at play, and other factors. Our onsite diagnostic imaging means the road to treatment and recovery is seamless and same day, without the need to travel elsewhere for sophisticated MRI or ultrasound evaluation.