Wondering if you may benefit from shoulder joint replacement surgery?
While shoulder pain caused by an injury will often heal through rest and non-surgical treatment options, there are certain conditions such as osteoarthritis that can leave people dealing with severe shoulder damage and dysfunction. In this case, you may wish to turn to our shoulder and elbow specialist Dr. Alexander Martusiewicz to find out if joint replacement surgery is right for you.
The two main factors to consider when deciding whether you might be a good candidate for shoulder replacement surgery are pain and mobility.
Pain
The goal of arthroscopic shoulder replacement surgery is to finally provide patients with pain relief. If you haven’t found relief from shoulder pain despite trying just about every nonsurgical treatment option imaginable, then you may want to weigh the pros and cons of surgery. If pain is controlling your life, then our shoulder specialist can help.
Mobility
Along with pain, we will also assess shoulder mobility to determine whether or not you should undergo surgery. If your shoulder makes it impossible to perform your everyday tasks or live a rich, full life then you could be a good candidate for shoulder replacement surgery. When you come in for an evaluation, Dr. Martusiewicz will test the mobility and function of your shoulder to see whether or not you may benefit from surgery.
What conditions can benefit from shoulder replacement surgery?
While there are many situations and problems that could lead to surgery, the three most common conditions that result in needing shoulder replacement surgery include:
- Osteoarthritis The most common reason for shoulder replacement surgery, osteoarthritis leads to excessive wear and tear of the cartilage in the shoulder. While diagnosing arthritis early means that we can often provide you with medications and lifestyle changes to slow the progression of the disease, if there is severe cartilage and joint damage then surgery may be necessary.
- Rotator cuff tears When one of the muscles of the shoulder tears, it leads to instability. Those with rotator cuff tears are also more likely to develop arthritis of the shoulder down the road. Surgery may be necessary for both preventing arthritis and also treating shoulder instability.
- Fractures While minor shoulder fractures can heal with proper rest and care, if the injury is severe enough to cause permanent damage to the shoulder then replacement surgery may be the only way to restore mobility, function, and stabilization back into the shoulder joint.
Beaumont Orthopedic Associates has offices in Taylor and Royal Oak, MI, to serve you better. If you’re dealing with shoulder pain, stiffness, or weakness, it’s important that you have a specialist who can provide you with a customized treatment plan. Call us today at (248) 551-9100 or (313) 887-6000.