When shoulder pain strikes, day-to-day activities such as driving, lifting, self-care, housework and even sleeping can become daunting. Shoulder pain and loss of function can interfere with every aspect of your life.
At Penn Orthopaedics, our goal is to alleviate and eliminate your shoulder pain and restore your shoulder to its maximum function. We specialize in tailored care, taking into account your needs, goals, lifestyle and preferences. We treat the “whole patient” through a thorough evaluation that allows us to create the best possible treatment plan and follow-up care. We offer the latest diagnostic techniques, including advanced imaging that allows for greater visualization and more accurate assessment of your condition.
We offer comprehensive surgical and nonsurgical options and management for every type of shoulder condition — from the most common to the most complex — due to our experience, training and the number of people we treat.
Our care team includes specialists across multiple disciplines:
- Orthopaedic surgeons
- Physical therapists
- Radiologists
- Anesthesiologists and pain management specialists
- Rheumatologists
- Sports medicine doctors
- Vascular medicine specialists
- Microvascular surgeons
- Infectious disease experts
What Causes Shoulder Pain?
Shoulder pain can be caused by one or several factors, including acute trauma or injury, fracture, dislocation, chronic overuse, degeneration and nerve damage. If you have any of the following shoulder symptoms, one of our orthopaedic specialists can relieve your pain and restore maximum shoulder function:
- Decreased or painful range of motion
- Deformity
- Instability
- Numbness or tingling
- Pain
- Popping or snapping
- Restriction in activity
- Stiffness
- Swelling
- Weakness
To evaluate shoulder conditions, we offer the latest diagnostic tests and tools, including:
- X-ray
- MRI
- Musculoskeletal ultrasound
- CT scan
Our advanced imaging technology allows for better visualization and ensures an accurate diagnosis. Our dedicated musculoskeletal radiologists are experts in reading and interpreting imaging and scans. They work in collaboration with our orthopaedic doctors to develop treatment plans specific to your needs and goals.
Shoulder conditions that we treat include:
Eliminating Shoulder Pain Through an Advanced Pain Management Program
Studies have shown that patients in less pain during recovery tend to have better outcomes. Our advanced pain management program significantly reduces the use of narcotics/opioids while reducing shoulder pain.
Our treatment plans reduce narcotic usage and the risk of drug dependence by combining physical therapy, corticosteroid injections, anti-inflammatory medication, and behavioral and cognitive therapy.
We use indwelling catheters and longer-acting numbing medications to provide extended pain relief after surgery. Our pain management program allows some of our patients to begin physical therapy almost immediately after surgery, which can help them more quickly build upon the progress made through surgery.
Second Opinions for Shoulder Conditions
Our orthopaedic specialists see a large number of patients in need of second opinions and revision surgeries. Many shoulder conditions are misdiagnosed, which can result in inadequate treatment or the wrong treatment approach.
Our shoulder orthopaedic specialists and surgeons are able to pinpoint the cause of your shoulder pain and offer a treatment plan that is right for you. We are highly experienced in common and complex revision surgery techniques of the shoulder, including total shoulder replacement and advanced arthroscopic techniques.