The shoulder is a complex joint built to allow movement in many directions: forward, backward, around in a circle, and away from the body. Muscles and ligaments help keep the shoulder stable and secure in your shoulder socket. We depend on our shoulders to support many of our most basic motions, including pushing, pulling, lifting, and throwing. Because the shoulder is a very flexible joint, it is highly vulnerable to injury.
The large majority of patients with shoulder pain will respond to simple treatment methods such as altering activities, rest, exercise, and medication.
- Arthritis : Treatment for shoulder arthritis usually depends on what specific type of arthritis you have, and how severe the shoulder pain is. Nonsurgical options may include-Resting your arm and avoiding painful activities, Steroid injections, Physical therapy etc.
Surgical options are –
Total shoulder replacement surgery
Reverse total shoulder replacement surgery - Frozen Shoulder : Physicians typically treat this condition with anti-inflammatory medication and physical therapy, which is successful in 90 percent of cases. For those who don’t experience relief for two to three years, surgical options will be explored.
- Rotator Cuff Conditions : Treatment goals include reducing pain and inflammation. Rest, hot/cold compression and splinting usually are recommended. If those treatments are not successful, a physician may provide corticosteroid injections, recommend physical therapy, and in the most severe cases, perform surgery – Rotator Cuff Tear
- Dislocations : To treat a dislocated shoulder, a physician uses a process called closed reduction that places the upper arm back into the socket. Pain relief is almost immediate. Physicians typically recommend that, after treatment, the shoulder be immobilized in a sling or other device for a few weeks.
- Fractures : Most shoulder fractures can be treated by setting the joint into place and using a sling or strap to immobilize it. After a period of healing, rehabilitation exercises are recommended to promote shoulder strength and motion. More severe cases, in which fracture fragments have been displaced from their normal position, surgery may be necessary to realign the shoulder.
- Shoulder Instability : Most cases of shoulder instability respond well to conservative treatment involving intensive rehabilitation exercises and physical therapy to strengthen the muscles and help hold the shoulder in place. In cases where nonsurgical methods are unsuccessful, surgical options—such as coracoids transfer for shoulder instability—will be explored.
- Shoulder Separation : Treatment also depends upon the severity of the injury. Physicians categorize shoulder separation into six levels. Depending upon the severity level of the separation, treatment can range from rest, ice, and a sling to surgical procedures.