A simple windmilling of your arms gives you some Indication or the Incredible range of motion your shoulders allow. When this range or motion is compromised, you can reel the effects throughout your entire arm, affecting your ability to perform even the simplest or dally tasks. Whether you’ve injured yourself playing sports or your shoulder has been damaged by arthritis, we offer a number or solutions at Orthopaedic Associates of Reading, Ltd. that will have you waving goodbye to shoulder pain. To learn more, call or request an appointment.

SHOULDER PROBLEMS Q&A

1. Why would I need shoulder surgery?

Your shoulder is a ball-and-socket joint that attaches your arm to your body while giving it a wide range of motion at the same time. because of its versatility your shoulder is vulnerable to injury, as well as to degenerative diseases that can have a large impact on your ability to use your arm.

The most common shoulder injuries or diseases include:

      • Rotator cuff injuries from repetitive use
      • Arthritis
      • Chronic bursitis or tendinitis
      • Instability
      • Dislocations and fractures

Whether your shoulder pain is a result of an acute injury or it develops over time as your tendons and cartilage break down, shoulder surgery often offers a great solution that restores full movement of the joint.

2. What types of surgeries are offered?

Our practice offers a number of different shoulder surgeries, including:

Arthroscopic Repair

Using only small incisions through which your doctor threads specialized equipment, the orthopaedic surgeon is able to repair the soft tissue in your shoulder. This minimally invasive technique allows us to clean up the joint,m removing and repairing damaged tissue to allow freedom of movement without pain.

Total Shoulder Replacement

If your joint has undergone serious and irreversible deterioration our team is able to replace the main components of your shoulder joint, including the ball and socket. Before we do this, we remove the damaged cartilage and bone to make way for the new implants.

Reverse Total Shoulder Replacement

In traditional shoulder replacement, your surgeon sticks to the natural structure and replaces the ball and socket in their original positions. If your rotator cuff is severely compromised, our team offers reverse shoulder replacement, involving placing the ball in your glenoid and the socket into your upper arm, or humerus. Orthopaedic Associates of Reading, Ltd. is one of the few surgical clinics to offer this ingenious solution for tricky shoulder replacements.

3. What is recovery like after shoulder surgery?

Each surgery is different, but you should allow ample time for your body to heal properly. While we use minimally invasive techniques in most of our surgeries, which greatly reduces recovery time, you can do your part by sticking to the post-surgical recommendations, which include physical therapy to restrengthen your shoulder. Orthopaedic Associates of Reading, Ltd. has physical therapists at its Wyomissing and Exeter locations for your convenience, allowing you to recover from your shoulder surgery as quickly and strongly as possible.

If you need shoulder surgery, trust the capable hands of the orthopaedic surgeons at Orthopaedic Associates of Reading, Ltd. call or request an appointment.