Shoulder Pain Specialist
Many things cause shoulder pain, from acute injuries to overuse and age-related deterioration. Shoulder disorders Dr. Weinstein sees most often include:
- Tendonitis
- Adhesive capsulitis (frozen shoulder)
- Rotator cuff tears
- Osteoarthritis
- SLAP (superior labrum from anterior to posterior) tears
- Shoulder instability
- Shoulder impingement syndrome
- Glenoid labrum tear
- Subacromial bursitis
Dislocations are common shoulder injuries. They happen when the bone at the top of your arm (the humeral head) comes away from the socket in your shoulder blade. It takes considerable force to dislocate the joint, so injuries like rotator cuff and labral tears often happen simultaneously.
A shoulder that has dislocated once is more likely to do it again. The connective tissues and cartilage lose their original tightness, so it’s easier for the ball to slip out of the socket. Repeated dislocations and rotator cuff tears lead to shoulder instability and long-term conditions like cuff tear arthropathy.
How is shoulder pain treated?
Treating shoulder pain early on might involve wearing a sling to support and rest the joint. Medication reduces inflammation, and physical therapy keeps you moving, preventing problems like a frozen shoulder.
If your shoulder pain doesn’t improve with these treatments, you might benefit from a steroid injection. Steroids offer a long-lasting reduction in inflammation and pain.
Most patients successfully recover from shoulder pain after these treatments. If you’re not making any progress, you might need to consider surgery.
What surgery might I need for shoulder pain?
Shoulder pain surgeries that Dr. Weinstein might recommend include:
- Arthroscopic SLAP repair
- Shoulder impingement surgery
- Shoulder arthritis debridement
- Arthroscopic rotator cuff repair
- Arthroscopic Bankart repair
- Distal clavicle (collarbone) excision
- Biceps tenodesis (repair of the biceps tendon)
Dr. Weinstein uses minimally invasive arthroscopic techniques for most shoulder surgeries. He makes a small cut in your shoulder and inserts the arthroscope (a lighted camera on the end of a slim, flexible tube) into the joint. He uses the camera’s live video feed, displayed on a monitor, to guide him while he makes repairs.
Arthroscopic surgery has the advantage of causing less tissue damage than regular open surgery. Patients benefit by experiencing lower levels of pain after their procedure. They also heal faster, so they can get back to an active life without any frustrating delays.
