How Serious is my Shoulder Injury?

The shoulder is a complex and highly flexible joint. These qualities also make it prone to injury. But when is your shoulder pain or discomfort serious enough to pay your orthopedic a visit?

Here are the common symptoms that indicate the need to consult an orthopedic specialist about how you can find relief.

Instability

Shoulder instability may be a sign that your shoulder cartilage is degenerating. Repetitive movements or strain can mean can increase the risk for shoulder instability, especially for athletes.

If you experience a ‘slipping’ sensation or brief pain when you lift your arm overhead, you may have an unstable shoulder.

Shoulder instability can result from a dislocated shoulder. Seek treatment as soon as possible to prevent the condition from worsening.

Popping/Clicking

The ‘popping’ or ‘clicking’ in your shoulder may be harmless gas bubbles leaving the joint or tight muscles. But if it causes pain or discomfort, you should talk to an orthopedic doctor. The pain could be the result of a tear in the labrum or cartilage that keeps the shoulder socket in place. Injury or repetitive stress can cause a labrum tear and the loose cartilage can cause pain and the popping sound.

Intense Pain

Pain in the shoulder can be the result of a traumatic injury, or excessive repetitive movements. Shoulder pain could also be the result of shoulder impingement – a condition that affects the rotator cuff tendons, which stabilize the shoulder. Inflamed tendons, bone spurs, rotator cuff tear or frozen shoulder, can all cause intense pain.

Consult your doctor about a treatment plan before the pain gets worse. While rest and physical therapy can aid recovery, some cases may require steroid injections, or surgery on the clavicle or damaged muscles.

Numbness and Weakness

Numbness, tingling or the complete loss of sensation in the shoulder can be due to various causes, such as overuse, compressed or damaged nerves, reduced blood flow, inflammation or infection. A traumatic injury can also cause numbness and weakness.

Regardless of the cause, you should see an orthopedic specialist right away. Depending on the severity of the injury, you may be advised pain medication, rest, and physical therapy, or surgery, in some cases.

Swelling

Swelling is associated with –
• Traumatic injury
• shoulder sprain or torn ligament
• repeated collisions
• falls
• torn ligaments in sports injuries

Typical treatment includes rest, applying ice, compressing the area, and elevating the injury above the heart. But this can only relieve the symptoms. Consult an orthopedic specialist as soon as possible.

To learn more about treatments for various injuries, such as shoulder tendonitis treatment and shoulder arthritis treatments, call the best orthopedic surgeon in Phoenix AZ, call Phoenix Shoulder and Knee at 480-219-3342.

Phoenix Shoulder & Knee
1215 W Rio Salado Parkway
Suite 105
Tempe, AZ 85281
(480) 219-3342

This release was published on openPR.