Shoulder Pain & Surgery
Why does my shoulder hurt?
In most cases, shoulder problems result from an injury or a disease of the soft tissues (like osteoarthritis). Overuse from repetitive motions during work, sports, or a hobby is a common cause of these soft tissue problems. Bone injuries of the shoulder, such as fractures, usually result from trauma.
Pain is a symptom common to just about every shoulder problem. The pain can range from dull and achy to sharp and severe. The specific location of pain within the shoulder can help your doctor diagnose the problem.
Along with pain, other signs and symptoms include:
- Stiffness
- Weakness
- An inability to rotate or lift your arm through a normal range of positions
- Your shoulder may also feel like it is loose, or like it could pop or slide out of place. For fractures and dislocations, the shoulder may appear deformed.
Shoulder Conditions
Common shoulder conditions include:
- Shoulder instability
- Rotator cuff tear
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Osteoarthritis
- Labral tears
- Impingement syndrome
- Frozen shoulder
- Fracture
- Dislocated shoulder joint
- Bursitis
- Arthritis
Treatment
If you experience shoulder pain, you know that it can make doing everyday tasks like getting dressed, washing your hair, or putting on a seatbelt a challenge. Even sleep can be interrupted by shoulder pain. Thankfully, there are a variety of treatment options that can help reduce shoulder pain, improve mobility, and get you back to doing the things you enjoy. Our specialty orthopedic shoulder services include minimally invasive techniques and advanced shoulder replacement technology.Computer-Assisted Shoulder Replacement Surgery
Shoulder replacement surgery can be an excellent option when non-operative or minimally invasive treatment options are no longer effective. Board-certified orthopedic surgeon Jaicharan Iyengar, MD, performs shoulder replacement surgery at St. Joseph’s using the advanced ExactechGPS computer-assisted technology.Why use computer-assisted technology for shoulder replacement surgery?
- Every shoulder is unique.
- ExactechGPS allows the surgeon to personalize the total shoulder replacement procedure based on the patient’s own anatomy and function.
- Provides surgeon with real-time visual guidance in total shoulder surgery.
- Combines surgeon expertise with a computer system to perform your shoulder surgery with a goal of advanced accuracy and precision, allowing for simple adjustments and implant alignment personalized to your unique anatomy.
- The ExactechGPS application’s preoperative planning tool is designed to help surgeons understand their patient’s anatomy prior to surgery and plan the surgery through a virtual simulation.
- During surgery, a tracker placed on the patient’s bone sends data on the anatomical structure and joint movements to the computer.
- The computer analyzes the information and displays the bone as a 3D model with calculated key measurements.
- The images on the screen allow the surgeon to verify where to remove bone and appropriately place the implant.
The 3D visuals and accurate measurements of the computer-assisted technology help with:
- Improved visibility of the shoulder joint
- Accurate placement of shoulder implant
Other Shoulder Procedures Performed
St. Joseph’s offers a wide variety of minimally invasive and surgical treatment options including:- Shoulder Arthroscopy
- Rotator Cuff Repair
- Total/Reverse Shoulder Replacement
- Biceps Tenodesis
- Labrum/Instability Repair
- Capsular Release
- Subacromial Decompression/Acromioplasty
- Distal Clavicle Resection
- Clavicle Repair
- Proximal Humerus Repair
- Acromioclavicular (AC) Joint Repair
Learn more
If you need care for a recent shoulder injury or an ongoing condition that is limiting movement in your shoulder, call our Orthopedic Navigator at (209) 547-5700 for more information or to schedule an appointment In addition to advanced diagnostic testing, our orthopedic services include a wide array of treatments for shoulder injuries around the Stockton area.