Peachtree Orthopedics’ board-certified shoulder surgeons and doctors specialize in providing comprehensive treatment for shoulder problems and injuries that have caused pain, strain, sprain, tears and instability.
The shoulder is a complex joint with a range of motion unlike any other joint in our bodies. We use our shoulders in almost every activity we engage in, which is why shoulder pain and shoulder injuries can have such a big impact on our quality of life.
Shoulder pain is common and can have a significant impact on your daily life, hobbies, and sleep. Stop suffering and let our shoulder specialists alleviate your pain and get you back into the activities you enjoy.
A rotator cuff tear is a rip in the group of muscles and tendons that stabilize your shoulder joint and let you lift and rotate your arms. This type of injury can cause a dull ache in the shoulder, which often worsens with use of the arm away from the body.
Common symptoms of a rotator cuff tear include:
– Pain at rest and at night
– Pain when lifting and lowering your arm or with specific movements
– Weakness when lifting or rotating your arm
– A crackling sensation when moving your shoulder in certain positions
In about 80% of patients, nonsurgical treatment relieves pain and improves function in the shoulder. Nonsurgical treatment options may include rest, activity modification, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, physical therapy, and corticosteroid injections. Surgery to may be recommended if your pain does not improve with nonsurgical methods.
Impingement syndrome is caused by the excessive squeezing or rubbing of the rotator cuff and shoulder blade. The pain associated with the syndrome is a result of an inflamed bursa (lubricating sac) over the rotator cuff, and/or inflammation of the rotator cuff tendons, and/or calcium deposits in tendons due to wear and tear. Shoulder impingement syndrome can lead to a torn rotator cuff.
Impingement problems can occur during activities that require excessive overhead arm motion. Medical care should be sought immediately for inflammation in the shoulder because it could eventually lead to a more serious injury.
Frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis) is a severely restrictive condition frequently caused by injury that, in turn, leads to lack of use due to pain. Intermittent periods of use may cause inflammation and adhesions to grow between the joint surfaces, thus restricting motion. There is also a lack of synovial fluid to lubricate the gap between the arm bone and socket that normally helps the shoulder joint to move. This restricted space between the capsule and ball of the humerus distinguishes frozen shoulder from the less complicated condition known as stiff shoulder.
After a period of worsening symptoms, frozen shoulder tends to get better, although full recovery may take up to 3 years. Physical therapy, with a focus on shoulder flexibility, is the primary treatment recommendation for frozen shoulder.
Our orthopedic surgeons provide individualized care for a wide spectrum of shoulder conditions including rotator cuff injuries, fractures, dislocations, instability, tendonitis and tendon ruptures, ligament injuries, and frozen shoulder. Our shoulder surgeons take a conservative approach focusing on non-surgical treatment options and therapies when possible, prescribing physical therapy, NSAIDs, and injections. If surgical fixation is necessary, we have some of the nation’s top shoulder surgeons, all fellowship-trained.
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