Shoulder Care

The shoulder is one of the most mobile joints in your body — it allows your arm to rotate in a full circle. The shoulder is made up of three bones: the clavicle (collarbone), the scapula (shoulder blades) and the humerus (upper arm bone). We can activate the shoulder quickly when we throw a ball. We can also put tremendous, slow strain on it when we lift something heavy over our heads. Because it’s responsible for such a wide range of motion, injury or pain in the shoulder is common.

Diagnosing and treating shoulder pain

A number of conditions or injuries can cause pain in the shoulder. The first step in diagnosing your pain is to see one of our specialists. Your initial appointment will usually be with one of our orthopedic surgeons or sports medicine doctors. The doctor will complete a full evaluation of your symptoms and recent activities. Imaging tests such as X-rays, MRI or CT scans may be necessary.

Finding the reason for your pain will help determine your treatment, as well as which providers will be part of your care team. Common shoulder problems include:

Shoulder replacement and other surgical treatment options

If your treatment plan includes surgery, MultiCare orthopedic surgeons will collaborate with you to pursue the option that best meets your goals and brings long-term relief. Whenever possible, our surgeons use minimally invasive techniques, which involve making a small incision instead of a large incision at the surgery site.

Minimally invasive surgery offers many benefits for patients, including shorter hospital stays, faster recovery times and reduced risk of complications. Our orthopedic surgeons may use minimally invasive approaches for:

• Rotator cuff repairs
• Torn muscle repairs
• Stabilization procedures, such as repairing shoulder dislocations and fractures

In some cases, shoulder replacement may be the best option to treat your pain. Repetitive arm movements that are common to activities like golf, tennis, swimming and gardening can make arthritis worse. When arthritis takes over in this joint, even hugging someone can be painful or impossible.

During shoulder replacement surgery, the joint is partially or totally replaced — depending on the damage that exists — with artificial components. Replacement components are typically made of ceramic, plastic or metal, and function exactly as your normal joints. Because the shoulder is not a weight-bearing joint (like the hip or knee), recovery is often quicker. Learn more about joint replacement at MultiCare.