The physicians and surgeons at Round Rock Orthopaedics & Rehab are leaders in caring for the joints of the body. The shoulder joint is a complex and dynamic structure, and when injured can cause pain and decreased function. At Round Rock Orthopaedics & Rehab we care for all types of shoulder trauma, pain, and dysfunction. We service patients in Williamson and surrounding Counties, Central Texas, and the Greater Austin area. Our physicians and surgeons have advanced training in caring for shoulder injuries and use the latest advancements in technology to diagnosis, and perform the correct treatment plan to maximize your recovery.
The Shoulder Joint:
Your shoulder is a complex ball and socket joint that links the humerus (the arm bone), the scapula (shoulder blade), and the clavicle (collarbone). Surrounding these bones are the four muscles of the rotator cuff and the biceps tendon, which work together to support and provide the power to position the arm and hand in space. As with the hip, the shoulder’s ball-and-socket arrangement helps ensure freedom of movement in several directions. Within the cavity of the joint is a substance called synovial fluid which promotes smooth movement and helps prevent friction between the two main bones. The surfaces of these bones are covered by a special protective material called articular cartilage. Surrounding the shoulder is a thick fibrous joint capsule whose job is twofold: to hold the synovial fluid within the joint cavity and to keep the joint stable. Smooth, pain-free motion in the shoulder joint depends on healthy cartilage and joint fluid, as well as strong and flexible surrounding ligaments and muscles.
Injury, Trauma, or Aging to the Shoulder Joint:
Joint diseases such as tears to the rotator cuff can result in stiffness, swelling, tenderness, and discomfort in the shoulder, often causing you to slowly restrict your movements. Sometimes trauma (from a sport injury, fall, or car accident, for example) weakens the shoulders ligaments and cartilage. Other times the shoulder joints can weaken just from the normal wear and tear of aging. Whatever the cause, osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis may develop. Even the simplest daily activities can become painful, from taking a shower and dressing yourself in the morning to waving goodbye, flipping a light switch, or even sleeping on your side at night. As your mobility diminishes, so does your quality of life.
Total Shoulder Replacement:
The goal of shoulder replacement surgery is to relieve the pain caused by damage to the cartilage of the joint surfaces and to increase functional range of motion and strength. To determine whether you may need surgery, consult the surgeons at Round Rock Orthopaedics & Rehab. An orthopaedic surgeon, or certified physician assistant, who specializes in treating shoulder disorders will perform a comprehensive exam to include: a complete medical history, x-rays, assess your range of movement and level of daily function, and other tests to show the extent of damage to the joint. Total shoulder joint replacement will be considered if other treatment options will not relieve your pain and disability.
If you do opt to have the surgery, it would help for you to do some homework ahead of time. Become familiar with the specific exercises you will need to do after surgery. Your activity will be restricted at first. Observe these restrictions to give your shoulder proper time to heal.
Following surgery:
Continuing a personal exercise program designed by one of our staff physical therapists at our outpatient physical therapy facility for several months following surgery will help you regain strength. An active lifestyle which includes water exercises, walking, and biking is essential in keeping you healthy and flexible. Gauge your daily activities with your surgery in mind. Avoid strenuous movements such as overhead lifting, forced end range of motion movements, and heavy lifting. After surgery, the shoulder pain you had will be gone, but you may have some discomfort when you stretch, and you may experience some pain at the site of the surgery. This will decrease and disappear over time.
