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What Options Will Relieve My Shoulder Pain?

Gulf Orthopaedics always emphasizes the most conservative non-surgical options, in many cases including specialized physical therapy, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication or steroidal injections. Regenerative medicine (mesenchymal therapy) is one of the most advanced treatment options, involving the injection of mesenchymal cells harvested from your own body into the injury site. Arthritis, tendon or ligament tears and damaged cartilage are all conditions that respond well to cell therapy.

Some of the techniques used at Gulf Orthopaedics and patient outcomes for shoulder issues include:

  • Arthroscopy – In some cases of shoulder arthritis, a minimally invasive arthroscopy (shoulder scope) can be performed to remove bone spurs, lengthen the joint capsule, and perform biceps and labral treatments that solve the pain.
  • Total Shoulder Arthroplasty – resurfaces the ball and socket of the shoulder when the rotator cuff and other soft tissues are healthy. Outpatient shoulder replacement is an option.
  • Reverse Shoulder Arthroplasty – for patients who can’t lift their arm because the rotator cuff is not functioning. Put simply, the technique involves putting the ball where the cup was and the cup where the ball. This technique allows the deltoid muscle to lift the arm and compensate for the nonfunctioning rotator cuff.
  • Bone-sparing Shoulder Arthroplasty – for younger patients with arthritis or osteonecrosis and allows more extreme work and sports activities after surgery.
  • 3-D printing and custom guides – In any case where the bone deformity is significant or the bone anatomy unusual, a CT can be used to plan out the surgery in three-dimensional imaging, choose appropriate implants and 3D print custom guides to be used in surgery. In some cases, the actual shoulder replacement implants can be 3D printed to accommodate special needs.

Shoulder replacement may be considered when physical therapy, medications and minimally invasive repairs aren’t relieving the pain. The Gulf Orthopaedics shoulder specialists will tailor a solution to you and your specific condition.   You may be a candidate for shoulder replacement surgery if you have severe:

  • Osteoarthritis
  • Rheumatoid arthritis
  • Rotator cuff issues
  • Post-traumatic arthritis
  • Bone fractures
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