7 Signs I May Need Shoulder Surgery

Key Takeaways:

Persistent or worsening shoulder pain that limits sleep, daily activities or athletic performance may signal a more serious underlying condition. Warning signs such as significant weakness, loss of range of motion, numbness, recurrent dislocations or sudden inability to raise your arm often require medical evaluation. While many shoulder problems improve with nonsurgical treatments like physical therapy, anti-inflammatory medication, injections or activity modification, conditions such as full rotator cuff tears, advanced arthritis, labral tears and chronic instability may require surgical intervention. An orthopedic specialist can determine whether conservative care or a procedure such as arthroscopy, rotator cuff repair or shoulder replacement is the most appropriate next step based on your specific diagnosis and symptom progression.

Your shoulder is one of the most commonly used joints in your body. It’s also one of the most complex joints, relying on a series of muscles, tendons and bones to perform routine arm movements. It should come as no surprise that shoulder pain is a common issue impacting Americans.

If your shoulder pain makes daily activities difficult or prevents you from performing your favorite athletic activities, you might be wondering whether shoulder surgery is necessary. The good news is many shoulder conditions can be effectively treated with nonsurgical solutions, but there are some instances when surgery may be necessary.

Common Warning Signs That Shoulder Surgery Is Necessary

The following signs may indicate shoulder surgery is the best course of action to address your condition:

• Severe shoulder pain that impacts your ability to sleep or perform routine daily activities such as lifting, reaching or dressing
• Limited range of motion that doesn’t improve with physical therapy
• Significant shoulder weakness
• Numbness or tingling that radiates down the arm
• Recurring shoulder dislocations or shoulder instability
• Symptoms which worsen over time or haven’t responded to more conservative treatment methods
• A sudden shoulder injury that causes immediate shoulder weakness or an inability to raise your arm

“A lot of people assume any mention of shoulder surgery means a long, difficult recovery. In reality, many of the procedures we perform today — like arthroscopic repairs — have patients back to daily activities much faster than they expect.” — Dr. Rhett Griggs, Shoulder Surgeon, Colorado Advanced Orthopedics

Common Conditions That Require Shoulder Surgery

There are several shoulder conditions which typically require surgery. These include:

• Rotator Cuff Injuries – Complete rotator cuff tears typically require shoulder surgery to restore proper strength and function.
• Severe Shoulder Arthritis – Shoulder arthritis is a degenerative condition that develops when the cartilage in your shoulder wears down. When arthritis becomes more advanced, the pain and limited mobility may become severe enough that shoulder replacement is necessary to restore a pain free life.
• Shoulder Impingement – Shoulder impingement syndrome occurs when your shoulder blade rubs against your rotator cuff. When pain from this condition becomes significant, surgery may be necessary.
• Labral Tears – Torn cartilage around the shoulder socket can often require arthroscopic surgery to eliminate pain and restore joint stability.
• Recurrent Shoulder Dislocations – Repeated shoulder dislocations can result in joint instability that may require surgery to correct.

Nonsurgical Solutions to Explore Prior to Surgery

With the exception of acute shoulder injuries, most shoulder conditions can be treated using nonsurgical methods. In most instances, you should explore one or more of the following solutions before opting for shoulder surgery:

• Anti-Inflammatory Medications – Over-the-counter NSAID medications such as ibuprofen can be effective at providing short-term pain relief and reduction in shoulder inflammation. These medications will often be recommended in conjunction with other treatments to manage symptoms.
• Physical Therapy – Physical therapy is often recommended to strengthen the muscles surrounding your shoulder and improve flexibility in the joint. Many shoulder conditions can experience significant improvement with physical therapy if you are diligent at performing at-home exercises in between visits.
• Activity Modification – Temporarily avoiding or scaling back overhead lifting and repetitive reaching can reduce irritation while your shoulder heals.
• Corticosteroid Injections – These injections can provide temporary pain relief from a wide range of shoulder conditions, allowing you to more fully engage in physical therapy.
• Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) – PRP treatments are sometimes recommended to treat arthritis or chronic soft tissue conditions.

Common Types of Shoulder Surgery

When shoulder surgery is necessary, the right procedure will depend on your specific injury or condition. Some of the most common types of shoulder surgery include:

• Arthroscopic Surgery – This minimally invasive surgical technique is commonly performed to address a wide range of conditions, including minor rotator cuff injuries, shoulder impingement, labral tears, mild shoulder instability and bone spurs. Smaller incisions are used with arthroscopic surgery, reducing recovery time and minimizing the risk of complications.
• Shoulder Replacement – Shoulder replacement surgery is performed to replace damaged portions of your shoulder joint with a prosthetic implant. This procedure is most commonly performed to address severe cases of arthritis or traumatic injuries where the shoulder joint is badly damaged.
• Rotator Cuff Surgery – Full rotator cuff tears may require an open surgical procedure to repair the injury.
• Labral Repair – Labral repair surgery is performed to fix tears of the cartilage rim and restore stability to the shoulder socket.
• Capsular Release – This procedure cuts or releases tight portions of the joint capsule when physical therapy and injections fail to restore mobility in a frozen shoulder.

Colorado Advanced Orthopedics Can Help

If you’ve been dealing with shoulder pain that hasn’t responded to nonsurgical treatments, Colorado Advanced Orthopedics can help you restore a pain free life. Our team includes some of the finest board-certified, fellowship trained orthopedic surgeons along the Western Slope, allowing us to raise the bar for surgical outcomes in our rural community.

Our shoulder surgery procedures are performed by Dr. Rhett Griggs. Dr. Griggs has completed fellowship training in shoulder, elbow and hand surgery, and he has roughly 20 years of experience performing a wide range of shoulder surgery procedures. This specialization ensures you’ll receive the expert care you need after a debilitating shoulder condition.

Contact us today to schedule an appointment. Colorado Advanced Orthopedics serves patients in Meeker, the White River Valley, Grand Junction and throughout the Western Slope.