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Shoulder Care

 

Shoulder pain should not be a part of everyday life.

Old sports injury coming back to haunt your golf game? Aching shoulder at the end of the day? Or maybe your son suffered an injury in last night’s baseball game? The specialists at Beacon Bone & Joint are here to help you get to the bottom of your shoulder pain and get on the road to recovery with accurate evaluation and diagnosis, followed by leading-edge surgical and non-surgical treatment options.

Our goal is to return you to maximum function. Inpatient and outpatient care options available along with follow-up physical and occupational therapy. That’s convenient, connected care.

The right care at the right time

Making an appointment should never be a hassle. We’re available to you when and where you need us – online or on the phone. Make your choice and get moving back to health.

Schedule Online 
Call 574-647-2677 

Treated Conditions

Arthritis

Learn about how different types of arthritis affect joints in different ways, along with how to get relief from arthritis pain.

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Rotator cuff tear

A tear in the tissues connecting muscle to bone (tendons) around the shoulder joint.

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Tendinitis

Repetitive activities and weekend warrior exercise can aggravate tendons, causing pain and swelling.

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SLAP Tear

An injury to the ring of fibrous tissue around the shoulder joint.

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • Use of local anesthetics and cortisone may be used to treat pain but do not improve healing. 
  • May not be an option if considering surgical treatment
  • Injections increase risk of rotator cuff tear progression
  • Injections increased the risk of post-operative infection and failed repairs
  • Initial treatment is relative rest and pain control with anti-inflammatory medication or cortisone injections. 
  • Formal physical therapy with emphasis on range of motion and strength
  • Once pain and range of motion have been addressed the next step is therapy to strengthen the muscles surrounding the shoulder. 
  • If symptoms persist despite conservative treatment, your doctor will discuss the option of surgical treatment with you. 
  • Shoulder pain, especially at night and during over-the-head motions. 
  • Pain to side of shoulder and arm 
  • Stiffness up on getting up in the morning
  • Muscle fatigue when lifting the arm overhead or holding things away from the body
  • Decreased range of motion
  • Shoulder popping (crepitus)
  • Swelling and tenderness

Most rotator cuff surgeries are outpatient

  • The first 6 weeks of recovery are focused on pain control and protecting the repair. 
  • Physical therapy is ordered for you after 6 weeks to restore range of motion. It is hard to improve motion after 6 months. 
  • Studies show it takes about 7 months for rotator cuff to heal to bone 
  • Non-operative 
    • Optimize shoulder motion and function. 
    • Lifestyle modifications—avoiding anything causing pain to the shoulder
    • Pain control with ice or heat and non-opioid medications
    • Cortisone injection unless surgical treatment is being considered
    • Injections typically become less effective over time and have an increased risk for infection
  • Surgical treatment
    • Arthroscopic shoulder debridement: The surgeon uses a small camera with surgical tools inserted through small incisions to clean out the shoulder joint. 
    • Shoulder replacement surgery. This procedure replaces the ball and socket parts of the shoulder joint with metal and plastic. 
  • Initially rest, ice and NSAIDS
  • Then physical therapy
  • Surgery may be indicated when:
    • Activity modification is not an option (ie sports related)
    • Or when dislocation occurs with routine activities such as dressing or sleeping. 
    • Persistent instability increases the risk of permanent shoulder damage, early arthritis and more complex involved surgical treatments. 

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