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  • Acromioclavicular Joint Separation     PDF Booklet
  • Adhesive Capsulitis     PDF Booklet
  • Artificial Joint Replacement of the Shoulder     PDF Booklet
  • Biceps Rupture     PDF Booklet
  • Biceps Tendonitis     PDF Booklet
  • Calcific Tendonitis of the Shoulder     PDF Booklet
  • Impingement Syndrome     PDF Booklet
  • Labral Tears     PDF Booklet
  • Osteoarthritis of the Acromioclavicular Joint     PDF Booklet
  • Rotator Cuff Tears     PDF Booklet
  • Shoulder Anatomy     PDF Booklet
  • Shoulder Instability     PDF Booklet
  • Snapping Scapula Syndrome     PDF Booklet
  • Sternoclavicular Joint Problems     PDF Booklet
  • Thoracic Outlet Syndrome     PDF Booklet

    • Related News Articles

  • Treatment of Massive Rotator Cuff Tears
  • Return To Sports After Shoulder Replacement
  • A Review of Weight-Lifter's Shoulder
  • Rotator Cuff Repair in Older Athletes
  • Treating Rotator Cuff Tears in a Stiff Shoulder
  • Three Tests for Diagnosing Complete Rupture of the Rotator Cuff
  • Treatment for SLAP Injuries Depends on Diagnostic Accuracy
  • Reverse Shoulder Arthroplasty Promising Treatment with Low Failure Rate
  • When to Use Cortisone Injections in the Shoulder
  • Return To Pitching After Shoulder Surgery Not As Good As Expected
  • Using Quality of Life to Measure Results of Rotator Cuff Repair
  • Rotational Strength After Release of Subscapularis for Frozen Shoulder
  • Key Difference Between Open Versus Arthroscopic Shoulder Stabilization
  • Rehab Program After Humeral Resurfacing Hemiarthroplasty
  • Comparing Suture Techniques in Repairs of the Rotator Cuff
  • Twenty-five Year Natural History of Shoulder Dislocation Treated Without Surgery
  • Upper Arm Fracture After Shoulder Replacement
  • Treatment of Posterior Shoulder Instability Remains a Challenge
  • New Cause of Shoulder Pain in Overhead Throwing Athletes
  • When To Use Corticosteroid Injections for the Shoulder
  • Testing for SLAP Lesions of the Shoulder
  • Shoulder Surgery For Patients Over Age 50
  • Glenohumeral Arthrodesis May Benefit Patients After Failed Prosthetic Shoulder Arthroplasty
  • Results of Resurfacing Shoulder Joint
  • Delayed Union of a Scapular Fracture in an Adoloscent
  • Arthroscopy for Acute Shoulder Dislocation
  • Position of Greater Tuberosity Important After Shoulder Fracture
  • Improving Rotator Cuff Repair
  • Easy Arthroscopic Access to the Shoulder Labrum
  • Faster and Better Recovery of Muscle Strength After Bankart Repair
  • New Classification for Rare But Serious Shoulder Injury
  • Review of Greater Tuberosity Fractures in the Shoulder
  • Effect of Mobilization for Frozen Shoulder
  • Tips for Shoulder Injection
  • Patients' Expectations for Surgery Affect Outcome
  • Shoulder Function May Be Maintained with Nonoperative Management of Massive Rotator Cuff Tears
  • Who Should Have Surgery to Prevent Shoulder Re-Dislocation?
  • Surgery for Subscapularis Tear Should Include Biceps Tendon Repair
  • The Value of MRI in Diagnosing Thoracic Outlet Syndrome
  • Reverse Shoulder Prosthesis May Be Good for Several Shoulder Injuries
  • Update on the Treatment of AC Shoulder Separations
  • Three Surgical Methods Compared for Rotator Cuff Tears
  • Scapular Dyskinesia in Athletes
  • Large Rotator Cuff Tears Can Lead to Arthropathy
  • Results of Double-Row Rotator Cuff Repair
  • Results of Open Bankart Repair After Failed Arthroscopic Repair
  • Shoulder Injuries Caused By Force and Stress
  • New X-ray Technique for Disabled Patients
  • Current Management of Type III AC Separation
  • Biology of Frozen Shoulder
  • Factors Affecting Surgery for Rotator Cuff Tear
  • Most Reliable Method to Classify Rotator Cuff Tears
  • Problems Reported After Electrothermal Shoulder Stabilization
  • Report of Results After Compaction Bone-Grafting in Shoulder Replacements
  • Little Benefit of Steroid Injection for Rotator Cuff Tendinitis
  • Laxity Testing of the Shoulder
  • 3-D Analysis of Scapular Motion
  • Rare Case of Calcific Tendinitis Mimicking Infection
  • Diagnosing Shoulder Problems with MRI
  • Surgical Treatment of SLAP Lesions
  • Open or Arthroscopic Stabilization of the Shoulder: Does It Matter?
  • Nerve Injuries From Heavy Backpacks in Soldiers
  • Review of Treatment for Rotator Cuff Tears
  • Common Problems After Shoulder Replacement
  • Review of Irreparable Rotator Cuff Tears
  • Predicting Size of Subscapularis Tears
  • Details on the New Reverse Shoulder Prosthesis
  • When the Shoulder Problem Isn't in the Shoulder
  • Arthroscopic Treatment of Septic Arthritis of the Shoulder
  • Tests to Measure Shoulder Function
  • Review of Rare Floating Shoulder Injury
  • Benefit of Thermal Capsulorrhaphy for Shoulder Questioned
  • Shoulder Instability: Incorrect, Delayed, and Missed Diagnoses
  • Results of Shoulder Replacement Revision Operations
  • The Milch Method of Easy Shoulder Reduction
  • Value of Three Tests for Shoulder Instability
  • Advances in Shoulder Arthroscopy
  • Results From Bankart Repair of Shoulder
  • Predicting Rotator Cuff Tears
  • Long-Term Results of Shoulder Surgery
  • Results of Arthroscopic Bankart Repair for Shoulder Dislocation
  • Two Surgical Methods of Acromioclavicular Resection Compared
  • Shoulder Problems in Overhead Throwing Athletes
  • Rare Case of Voluntary Poterior Shoulder Dislocation Followed By Trauma
  • More Men At Risk for Pectoralis Major Ruptures
  • Healing of Rotator Cuff Reruptures is Possible
  • Review of Humeral Shaft Fractures with Radial Nerve Injury
  • Labral Tears of the Shoulder Are Not Age Dependent
  • Surgeons Give Thumbs Down to Treatment for Massive Rotator Cuff Tears
  • Review of Total Shoulder Replacements
  • Shoulder Fusion: When and How It's Used
  • Rare But Dangerous Collar Bone Dislocation
  • Pain Location Does Not Help Identify Rotator Cuff Tears
  • Results of Treatment for Isolated SLAP II Injury
  • Changes in Shoulder Rotation for Elite Baseball Pitchers
  • Ultrasound Used to Review Results of Shoulder Surgery
  • Review of the Shoulder: Evaluation and Diagnosis
  • Doctors Review Use of Anchors and Tacks
  • Shoulder Capsule Tears on First Dislocation
  • What's New in Shoulder Surgery? Review of New Sutures
  • Four Methods of Rotator Cuff Tear Repair Compared
  • Surgeons Test New Method to Repair Torn AC Joint
  • Optimal Fixation Method for Rotator Cuff Repair
  • MRI or MRA? Which is Better For Assessing Rotator Cuff Tears?
  • New Activity Scale for Shoulder
  • Which is Better for the Patient: Partial or Total Shoulder Replacement?
  • Shoulder Surgery: Cost Comparison Between Open and Closed Method
  • New Way to Treat Bone Spurs
  • Long-Term Results of Mini-Open Method of Rotator Cuff Repair
  • Analysis of Data Favors Total Shoulder Over Partial Replacement
  • What Surgeons Say About Rotator Cuff Surgery
  • Surgery for Shoulder Dislocation: It's not an Open and Closed Case
  • Acupuncture or Ultrasound: Which Works Better for Shoulder Impingement?
  • Sounds like a Rotator Cuff Tear
  • Nitroglycerine Helps Heal Shoulder Tendons
  • Case Closed for Open Rotator Cuff Repair?
  • Weight Gain after Shoulder Surgery
  • Skip the Shrink Wrap Treatment for Shoulder Instability
  • The Problematic Sternoclavicular Joint
  • Results of Arthroscopic Repair for SLAP Injury in Overhead Athletes
  • Four Cases of Rare Rotator Cuff Tear in Adolescents
  • Selecting Tests to Diagnose Shoulder Pain
  • No Holes Barred with New Anchor for Shoulder Surgery
  • Volume Weighs Heavily on Results of Total Shoulder Replacements
  • To Slouch or Not to Slouch
  • Results of Shoulder Surgery for High-Risk Athletes
  • Hand Injury and Shoulder Weakness: Connecting the Dots
  • Mayo Clinic Releases Results of Rotator Cuff Repair in Younger Patients
  • Research Cools Use of Thermal Heat Treatment for Shoulder Instability
  • Rapid Return to Sports after Shoulder Dislocation without Surgery
  • A New Look at Shoulder Pain in Overhand Athletes
  • Looking for Clues to Results of Shoulder Treatment
  • Trail of Treatment for Frozen Shoulder
  • Case Series Offers Insights into Rotator Cuff Repair
  • Shoulder Replacement Improves Function and Comfort
  • Choosing Exercises to Fit the Sport
  • Mapping Stress Points in Injured Shoulders
  • The Form and Function of the Serratus Anterior Muscle
  • Five Cases of Misplaced Screws
  • The Heat Is on Ultrasound for Shoulder Problems
  • Choosing between Ultrasound and MRI to Find a Torn Rotator Cuff
  • Obesity and Rotator Cuff Problems
  • Testing the Tests for Shoulder Pain Caused by the AC Joint
  • Rare Shoulder Fracture in 15-Year-Old Pitcher
  • Doctors Put Shoulder Tests to the Test
  • Translating a Stuck Shoulder into One That Moves
  • Loose Shoulders with Injury on the Inside
  • The More the Better When It Comes to Shoulder Arthroplasty
  • Push-up Exercises Keep Patients From "Winging It"
  • Joint Position Sense Regained after Shoulder Surgery
  • The Negative Impact of Comorbidities on Shoulder Pain
  • It Sounds Like a Torn Shoulder Tendon
  • Looking at Results after Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair
  • Shrinking Long-Term Results after Thermal Shrinkage
  • Shrink-to-Fit Shoulder Surgery Isn't for Everyone
  • The Reality of Shoulder Dislocations in Children and Teens
  • What to Make of Abnormal MRI Findings in Overhead Athletes' Shoulders
  • Help for Shoulders in a Pinch
  • Comparing Treatments for Calcium Deposits in Shoulder Tendons
  • Should a Sling Be Used after Shoulder Surgery?
  • Expert Advice on Partial Rotator Cuff Tears
  • Results of Shoulder Joint Replacement in Young Adults
  • Adhesive Capsulitis, a Half Century Later
  • Scoping Out the Results of Large Rotator Cuff Tears
  • Shoulder Replacement after Dislocation
  • Surgical Solution to Snapping Scapula
  • Taking a Closer Look at Repairing Large Rotator Cuff Tears
  • Technical Study for Improving Shoulder Surgery
  • Predicting Results of Hemiarthroplasty after Shoulder Fracture
  • Shocking the Shoulder Back to Health
  • Shoulder Muscle Imbalance: Cause or Consequence of Impingement?
  • The Deltoid Muscle: A Mover and a Stabilizer
  • Shockingly Good Results for Calcific Tendonitis of the Shoulder
  • Getting the Shoulder Blade Back on Track
  • Working Hard to Compare the Results of Acromioplasty
  • Difficulties in Studying Rotator Cuff Tears
  • Shoulder Instability after Shoulder Joint Replacement
  • Considerations for Shoulder Joint Replacement after Shoulder Joint Infection
  • Patients Find Satisfaction in Surgical Breakthroughs for the Rotator Cuff
  • Arthroscopic Release of Frozen Shoulder: Don't Shrug It Off
  • Shoulder Joint Replacement with a "Swivel"
  • Seeing the Full Scope and Benefits of Shoulder Arthroscopy
  • The Best Way to Exercise the Shoulder--Hands Down!
  • Shoulder Status Matters before Joint Replacement
  • Shouldering the Complexities of Rheumatoid Arthritis
  • Blaming the Shoulder Blade for Shoulder Pain
  • Shrink to Fit Shoulders are Not for Everyone
  • Double-Bladed Exercises for the Shoulder
  • Narrowing the Options for Shoulder Impingement Surgery Enlarges the Results
  • Minimizing Shoulder Incisions to Maximize Results
  • Problems That May Surround a New Shoulder Joint
  • Putting a Dislocated Shoulder Back in Place--The Easy Way
  • Fore . . . a Better Golf Swing
  • Results of Rotator Cuff Tears among NFL Players
  • Seeking Thorough Choices for Partial Rotator Cuff Tears
  • Making Sense of Thermal Surgery for Injured Shoulders
  • Locating Best Treatments for Shoulder Dislocation
  • Open or Closed Case of Shoulder Repair?
  • Dis 'n Dat Treatment for Dislocated Shoulders
  • Having a Ball and Socket after Getting a New Shoulder Joint
  • Shoulder Motion in 3-D
  • Tennis in the Middle Ages
  • Surgery Advised for First-Time Shoulder Dislocation
  • Melting the Factors That Slow Recovery from Frozen Shoulder
  • Underhanded Results for Overhead Athletes
  • All the Right Shoulder Moves
  • Popeye's Torn Biceps Tendon
  • Shoulder Research Revisited
  • Volleyball Serves Up a Case of Shoulder Weakness
  • Tackling Shoulder Instability in Football Players
  • Rotator Cuff Tears: Should You Operate?
  • Hottest Techniques in Shoulder Surgery
  • Treating Minor Rotator Cuff Tears: When Less Is More
  • Tennis Anyone? Served with or without Pain?
  • The Incredible Shrinking Shoulder
  • Want Strong Shoulders? Don't Slouch
  • Buttoning Up a Torn Rotator Cuff
  • Inside the Shoulder: A New Look at an Old Problem
  • Swapping Activities for a Stable Shoulder: The Slippery Slope of Shoulder Dislocation
  • Nonsurgical Treatment Makes the Grade for Shoulder Separation
  • New Treatment for Shoulder Cysts: A Case Report
  • Rotator Cuff Repair--Again
  • Unusual Muscle Tear in a Recreational Athlete
  • Pop Goes the Shoulder: Better Treatments for Dislocations
  • Open Surgery to Stabilize the Shoulder: It's Not a Closed Book
  • Cadets Salute Arthroscopy for the Treatment of Dislocated Shoulders
  • Scoping Out Surgery for Torn Rotator Cuff Tendons
  • Reaching toward Effective Treatments for "Frozen Shoulder"
  • Will Rotator Cuff Surgery Give You the Cold Shoulder? A Ten-Year Check-Up
  • Good News for Shoulder Arthroplasty Patients: A Bone Graft May Help
  • Shoulder Dislocation: Surgery or Sling?
  • One Plus One Equals Relief of Shoulder Pain
  • Rotator Cuff Surgery Passes the Test of Time
  • Rotator Cuff Surgery Not a Handicap for Golfers
  • A+ Results Long after Rotator Cuff Repair
  • Putting the Squeeze on the Rotator Cuff
  • Ultrasound Gaining Acceptance in Diagnosing Shoulder Problems
  • Honey, I Shrunk the Joint Capsule

    • FAQs

  • I am a pitcher in a AA pro baseball league. My coach had me bump up my training schedule to get ready for the upcoming season. Now I'm starting to feel pain and popping in the bottom tip of my shoulder blade, especially when I wind up and start to throw. What could be causing this?
  • Why do I sometimes feel popping and snapping in my shoulder when I move my arm?
  • What is snapping scapula syndrome?
  • I broke my shoulder blade a few years ago. Now I'm starting to feel and hear it thump when I raise my arm. Is my old injury related to this thumping?
  • My doctor suggested that I see a physical or occupational therapist for my problem with snapping scapula. How can this type of therapy help my problem?
  • I'm working with a physical therapist to help with my snapping scapula. She's having me do these funky push-ups where I have to hunch my shoulders forward at the end of each one. How does an exercise like this help people with problems from snapping scapula?
  • I am having part of my shoulder blade removed because of chronic problems with snapping scapula. My doctor said I have to wait at least six to eight weeks afterward before doing any kind of active exercise. This seems like an awfully long time. Why will I have to wait so long?
  • I am fed up with the popping and grating under my shoulder blade. My doctor diagnosed me with snapping scapula. He wants me to try a couple different treatments to see if I'll get better. But after all I've put up with, shouldn't I just go ahead and have a surgery to fix it?
  • I injured a nerve to my shoulder blade when my arm was jerked in a waterskiing accident a few months ago. For a while afterwards, my shoulder blade really tilted out. This seems to be better, but now I'm getting a lot of popping and snapping under shoulder blade. Is it from my injury? What can I do to correct the snapping problem?
  • What's the most likely thing to go wrong with a total shoulder arthroplasty?
  • Can a bone graft help with total shoulder replacement?
  • One of my rugby buddies is going to have surgery for a shoulder dislocation. My shoulder has dislocated three times since I first injured it last season. I haven't had surgery and don't even know if I was given the option. Should I have surgery?
  • While skiing recently, I dislocated my right shoulder. This is the second time in less than a year for this shoulder. I'm in a sling, like last time. If I keep it in the sling longer, will it lessen the chances of this happening a third time?
  • I recently dislocated my shoulder. I've heard about a new surgery available to fix it. Does that mean I won't need to go through physical therapy? Frankly, I don't have the time.
  • I am a collegiate baseball pitcher. Since the beginning of baseball season, the vague soreness in my shoulder has become centered in the back part of my shoulder, especially when I wind up to throw. The stiffness in my shoulder used to go away with a good warm up, but now even a warm up doesn't seem to help. What could be wrong with my shoulder? Will my problem just keep getting worse?
  • In baseball, what kinds of injuries are the most likely to keep players from the game?
  • The arthrogram for my shoulder showed no tear in the rotator cuff. But when I went for an MRI, it showed a complete tear. Why didn't the arthrogram show the tear?
  • I've been going to physical therapy for my frozen shoulder. The shoulder hurts a lot and doesn't seem to be improving. What are my options for treatment?
  • My doctor diagnosed my tight shoulder as "adhesive capsulitis." What is this, and how did it happen?
  • I hurt my shoulder in a water-skiing accident last summer. It's starting to dislocate more often, even with mild activity. Do I need surgery for this problem?
  • I have a very large tear in my rotator cuff, and I'm going to have surgery to fix it. Does the size of the tear make a difference in whether the results of surgery will last?
  • I am 55 and had surgery to repair a tear in my rotator cuff last year. My recovery's been good so far. Can I expect these results to last?
  • My 60-year-old mother tore her rotator cuff. Now even the simplest activities are hard for her to do. Will surgery decrease her disability?
  • My 72-year-old mother fell. Now she needs an operation to repair a torn rotator cuff. What can we expect after the operation?
  • I recently fell and hurt my shoulder. The doctor told me that I have a rotator cuff tear. What is the rotator cuff, and what part is usually torn?
  • I am going to have an operation to repair the torn rotator cuff tendon in my shoulder. What can go wrong with this kind of surgery?
  • I read an article in a sports magazine that gave some safety guidelines for young pitchers. How can I get my 12-year-old son's baseball coach to use some of these?
  • My 10-year-old daughter is pitching for her Little League team. What can she do to prevent an injury from using her arm too much?
  • I've been diagnosed with a ganglion cyst on the nerve above my shoulder blade. My shoulder is painful, but I'd prefer not to have surgery. Are there any other treatment options?
  • I've played tennis for years. Lately, I've had pain in my shoulder when I serve. What could be causing this?
  • I have a frozen shoulder. My doctor says arthroscopic surgery can give me more movement in the shoulder. But surgery's the thing that made it stiff in the first place. Can I expect good results from this procedure?
  • I've heard that a frozen shoulder can be released arthroscopically, without making big incisions in the skin. What kind of benefits can I expect from this treatment? Do the benefits depend on the reason the stiffness started in the first place?
  • I have a frozen shoulder. I've tried physical therapy. My doctor's even tried to manipulate the shoulder while I was asleep under anesthesia. Nothing's worked. What's next?
  • I've had two months of physical therapy for my frozen shoulder. I'm still in a lot of pain, and it doesn't seem like the movement is improving. Will the problem go away by itself if I just stop treatment altogether?
  • I dislocated my shoulder playing football last week. I'm 18 and have my whole sports career ahead of me. What are the chances I'll dislocate my shoulder again?
  • I'm just getting over a dislocated shoulder. What can I do to prevent this kind of injury from happening again?
  • I dislocated my shoulder. Should I have surgery?
  • My doctor says the pain in my shoulder is from a cyst pressing on the a nerve over the shoulder blade. How is this treated?
  • I've had a few shoulder injuries from sports. Now my doctor says I need surgery to stabilize my shoulder. I don't want to wind up with a stiff shoulder. What type of surgery's best for me?
  • I've dislocated my shoulder a couple of times. My doctor wants me to try surgery. He says I can choose between regular open surgery and an arthroscopic kind of surgery. Which works better?
  • My doctor repaired the rotator cuff tendon in my shoulder 10 years ago. Now I've started losing motion in that shoulder, and it is very painful. I can still lift my arm over my head, but I am worried about having another surgery. What should I do?
  • After carrying my 20-pound baby over my arm, I started having terrible shoulder pain. The doctor thinks I may have rubbed the tendon of my rotator cuff against the bone enough to tear the tendon. What is the rotator cuff, and what does it do?
  • At 69 years old, I'm in relatively good health. But ever since I was in my mid-40s, I have noticed increased joint stiffness, and now I can't lift my arms fully over my head. Is this normal? What's preventing me from having full motion?
  • I started a weight-lifting program at home two weeks ago. When I increased to 20 pounds for shoulder movements, I felt a pop in my left shoulder. There was a twinge of pain at the time, and the next day I had extreme shoulder pain. I went to see the doctor, and she said I tore the supraspinatus tendon. There were no X-rays or other tests done. Shouldn't I have X-rays or MRI?
  • I am a 50-year-old male in pretty good shape. I would like to start a weight-training program at home. About five years ago, I had a motorcycle accident and hurt my shoulder. No treatment was necessary, and I gradually got better. I still have some shoulder pain off and on, but it doesn't keep me from doing what I want to do. Should I have some kind of formal testing done on my shoulder before starting with weights? I don't want to wind up with an injury.
  • I tore one of the rotator cuff tendons in my left shoulder six months ago. I faithfully went to physical therapy and did my exercise program for the first two months. Once the pain was gone and I could move the arm freely, I stopped doing the exercises. Is it safe now to sign up for tennis lessons?
  • I am on my high-school swim team. I have been swimming competitively since I was eight years old. Last season, I started to get shoulder pain doing freestyle. The pain is the worst when my hand goes into the water. Is there any kind of stretching or exercise program I can do for this?
  • My shoulder hurts when I lift my arm to fix my hair in the morning. After trying anti-inflammatories with no improvement, I had an MRI. This didn't show anything. Now my doctor is recommending surgery to look inside the joint. If the MRI is negative, is there any point in going any further?
  • I am 35 years old, an avid golfer, and unable to golf because of shoulder pain. The pain came on gradually over the last month. It gets really bad when I reach my arm forward in front of my face, and it's especially bothersome at night. What could be causing this?
  • I recently had a rotator cuff repair done with a button anchor. Now I am in a rehabilitation program, and I'm worried the device will break or come unbuttoned. What are the chances of this happening?
  • I am having surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff in my shoulder. The doctor has described using an anchor to "button down" the torn tendon. How does this work?
  • My 16-year-old daughter separated her shoulder playing volleyball. She was treated with a sling, ice, and gentle movement until the pain went away. Now she has full motion without pain, but there is an ugly bump on her collarbone. She is a model for the local mall and wants to have this bump removed. Will this affect her shoulder motion?
  • My teenage son separated his shoulder in a football game. The doctor has advised surgery. The doctor explained that my son could get better on his own without surgery, but there is no way to decide this ahead of time. What could happen if my son doesn't have surgery?
  • I recently separated my shoulder in a car accident. Can you explain what exactly this means?
  • I dislocated my shoulder some time ago. I went to physical therapy for rehab, but now I have been discharged. I notice that when my arm is at my side and my elbow is bent, I can move my hand away from my body much further on the injured side compared to the other side. Why is this?
  • Is there a certain age when the risk of shoulder dislocation is the highest?
  • How often do people dislocate their shoulders more than once?
  • I had surgery for a shoulder problem last month. I was in and out of the hospital the same day. Even though I was feeling fine, the nursing staff wouldn't let me go home until I had met certain goals. Wasn't this a waste of time and money?
  • Before having shoulder surgery next week, I met with the nursing staff at the hospital. They carefully explained all of the steps before, during, and after surgery. They mentioned that I will be able to use morphine whenever I want for pain. I am worried about becoming addicted to this drug. Can't I go without pain medication?
  • I am going to have surgery to repair the rotator cuff tendons in my shoulder. The doctor has offered me the choice between two different types of anesthesia: general and regional. What are the advantages and disadvantages of these?
  • I have a moderate rotator cuff tear. I haven't had relief from physical therapy and medications. Now we're talking about surgery. My doctor says there are a couple of ways to approach surgery for tears like mine. What type of surgery is best?
  • What is acromioplasty? How will it help my shoulder?
  • I have a fairly minor rotator cuff tear. My doctor is ordering a type of surgery called acromioplasty to "decompress" the tendons in the shoulder area. Will this take away the pain in my shoulder? And can I expect the results to last?
  • I had a rotator cuff repair a year ago. The doctor used four metal anchors to hold the torn tendon in place. I am planning to fly overseas next month. Will the metal anchors set off the security system?
  • My husband had a total shoulder joint replacement. During the operation, his upper arm bone fractured. How do they take care of this?
  • I'm going to have my left shoulder joint replaced because of severe arthritis. The doctor told me that he might only replace half the joint. What is this decision based on?
  • The doctor says I have “advanced stage” of shoulder arthritis. What does this mean?
  • I was just told that I have rheumatoid arthritis. I'm only 36 years old. So far, only my hands are affected. What other joints will develop symptoms?
  • I have a painful right shoulder from rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Everyone tells me not to have cortisone injections. When is this recommended?
  • I have arthritis in several joints. My doctor has suggested surgery to replace my shoulder and my knee joints. Which one should be done first?
  • When exercising, what is a "kinetic chain"?
  • I am a competitive swimmer. I know it's good to strengthen my abdominal muscles, but why?
  • I've heard there's a way to treat shoulder dislocation with laser. Can anyone get this?
  • One of my shoulders dislocates anytime I reach overhead and pull down with my arm. The doctor has suggested doing a shrink-wrap operation to tighten it up. How do they keep from melting the cartilage?
  • I just had both shoulders treated with heat waves to shrink the tissue around the joint. How long will it be before I see any results?
  • Twenty years ago I fell and tore my rotator cuff. I'm finally going to have it repaired now. Can it possibly hold up another 20 years?
  • I turned 50 years old this year and joined a new group called the Red Hat Society. This is a group of women over 50 out to have fun. Most are 60 or older. Many of them say they've had a rotator cuff repair between ages 50 and 60. Why is this so common?
  • I found out my shoulder pain is from a torn rotator cuff tendon, along with compression of the bone that passes over the area. The doctor wants to remove part of the bone and repair the torn tendon. Do I really need all that? Won't the tendon grow back if the pressure is taken off?
  • My mother seems to be losing her ability to move. She can't raise her arms overhead to get dressed in the morning. Do older people lose the sense of where their joints are or is this a sign of early Alzheimer's?
  • I injured my left shoulder in a hang gliding accident. It's odd, but I feel as if my right shoulder is affected by my left shoulder problems. Is this possible? The right shoulder just doesn't seem to move as smoothly as before the accident.
  • I'm reading a report by my physical therapist about my shoulder rehab program. It mentions working on regaining joint proprioception. What is this?
  • My doctor wants to use ultrasound to look for tears in the rotator cuff around the shoulder. Can they see if there's any arthritis in there too?
  • When I was pregnant, the doctor took ultrasound pictures of the baby. Now I've torn the rotator cuff in my shoulder. They are going to use ultrasound to look for the tear. Is this the same test?
  • I'm 66-years old and have a lifelong fear of closed-in spaces. I need an MRI of my shoulder, but I'm afraid to get inside the machine. Is there any other way to get the same information without an MRI?
  • There were two employees in our office who had surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff in the shoulder. One person had a great result and has come back to work already. The other worker is still off with pain, depression, and loss of function. How do you account for the differences?
  • I went to the shoulder doctor for a torn rotator cuff. They had me fill out all sorts of papers asking lots of questions. Do I have this problem? Do I have that problem? What's with all the questions? Why do they want to know all this for a shoulder injury?
  • Whenever I reach overhead with my right arm, the shoulder on that side automatically lifts up as if I'm shrugging. This doesn't happen on the left. What could be causing this to happen?
  • I saw an exercise video that shows a series of push-up exercises. One is supposed to be easier than the others. One is the hardest and two are in-between. I can't do any of them and can't tell where to start. What do you advise?
  • What is the "drive-through sign?" I read the surgeon's report after shoulder surgery and this is listed.
  • I am the coach of a high school baseball team. Two of my best pitchers are out with injuries. One has a Hill-Sachs lesion. The other has a SLAP tear. What's the difference between these two problems?
  • What is an "interscalene brachial plexus block?" I'm having a shoulder manipulation. This was written in the doctor's orders.
  • My doctor wants to manipulate my shoulder because it's "frozen" and won't move. Can't I just work on this myself and get the motion back slowly?
  • I have two separate problems: a frozen shoulder and a pinched nerve in my neck. If I have the shoulder manipulated, it could make the nerve problem worse. What can I do?
  • I've had shoulder pain from an AC injury that occurred last month. The doctor wants to inject the joint. Should I do this?
  • I fell forward off my bike and hurt my shoulder. The doctor who examined me poked, pushed, twisted, and pulled my arm to find out what was wrong. Isn't there any easier way to diagnose a problem like this?
  • My 17-year old daughter had a freak accident at the bowling alley. She was standing next to a shelf when a heavy box fell and landed on her shoulder. She's having surgery now to repair a shoulder separation. What is this exactly?
  • What is the "Paxinos test" for the shoulder? I work with athletes who have injuries, but I've never heard of this test.
  • I thought I had a shoulder problem. The doctor says it's the AC joint. My shoulder still hurts. What's the difference between these two problems?
  • I live in a rural part of Wyoming. I need an MRI of my rotator cuff. We have a local hospital with an MRI machine, but my doctor wants me to travel to a larger city with a newer MRI. Does it really make a difference?
  • My doctor wants me to have an MRI for my shoulder before doing surgery. I suffer from claustrophobia and can't go inside a tube like that. What can you tell me about the new open MRI?
  • I went to a physical therapist for a shoulder problem. Ultrasound was used to heat the tissue before stretching and exercise. I was told it's a form of heat, but I didn't feel any heat. Can you explain this?
  • I was being treated for a shoulder problem with ultrasound. At first I got better but then I got much worse. The doctor finally figured out my problem was really a bleeding ulcer from taking medications for my arthritis. Why would the ultrasound help if the problem wasn't really in the shoulder?
  • I work in heavy construction and tore my biceps tendon last year. Despite a good rehab program, the results aren't good enough to go back to work full-time. I still have weakness and I can't lift the heavy loads required by my job. Is there anything else that can be done?
  • I'm going to have a biceps tendon repair next week. What kind of recovery and rehab should I expect?
  • My mother had a total shoulder replacement six months ago. Six weeks later she started having all kinds of problems with that arm. The doctor says it's a condition called CRPS. Can you tell me what this is and what causes it?
  • My 16-year old daughter had a bike accident and hurt her shoulder. The doctor must have done 20 tests before deciding what was wrong with her. Is it really that hard to pinpoint a problem in the shoulder?
  • I thought I had a shoulder problem. The doctor says it's the AC joint. My shoulder still hurts. What's the difference between these two problems?
  • I live in a rural part of Wyoming. I need an MRI of my rotator cuff. We have a local hospital with an MRI machine, but my doctor wants me to travel to a larger city with a newer MRI. Does it really make a difference?
  • My doctor wants me to have an MRI for my shoulder before doing surgery. I suffer from claustrophobia and can't go inside a tube like that. What can you tell me about the new open MRI?
  • I was being treated for a shoulder problem with ultrasound. At first I got better but then I got much worse. The doctor finally figured out my problem was really a bleeding ulcer from taking medications for my arthritis. Why would the ultrasound help if the problem wasn't really in the shoulder?
  • I've been diagnosed with shoulder tendonitis. The doctor has given me several treatment options. I can try drugs, steroid injections, or physical therapy. Which one works the best?
  • What is an "apprehension sign?" I saw in my medical report that I have a positive apprehension sign. I'm not usually an anxious person so I don't understand why the doctor wrote this in the report.
  • I just had surgery on my shoulder 10 days ago. An X-ray shows the screw holding the cartilage in place is poking into the joint causing problems. I really don't want to have another operation. Will this get better on its own?
  • I tore the rim of cartilage in my shoulder and had surgery to repair it. It's only been two weeks but I'm having sharp pain with some motions. Sometimes the shoulder "clunks" so loudly, my wife can hear it. What could be causing this?
  • I have an unstable shoulder joint after a bad fall. The doctor thinks a special CT scan will help diagnose the exact problem. What can this tell that can't be seen by a regular X-ray?
  • What is "shoulder instability?"
  • I recently had surgery for an unstable shoulder. The doctor commented that the socket was tear-shaped. Is this normal? Did it contribute to the constant dislocations I was having?
  • I had rotator cuff surgery three weeks ago. I'm still in an immobilizer and with a special pillow under my arm. I'm not supposed to move my shoulder unless the physical therapist does it for me. I'm really worried about getting a frozen shoulder. What are the chances of this happening?
  • I'm 78-years old and have been diagnosed with a rotator cuff tear and osteoporosis. I've been told the osteoporosis puts me at risk for a failed rotator cuff repair. If the muscle is the problem, what difference does it make if the bones are brittle?
  • I tore the rotator cuff of my left shoulder last year. I tried treating it with drugs and physical therapy but it didn't get better. Now I have to have an operation. Did I do the wrong thing by waiting to have surgery?
  • Does it make any difference what age you are when having a shoulder replacement? I'm 82 but still going strong except for the arthritis in my left shoulder. At my age is it worth it to go ahead with this kind of operation?
  • I need part of my shoulder replaced (the ball portion but not the socket). Will I just develop arthritis in the socket later and need to have it replaced eventually? Maybe I should just have the whole shoulder replaced now. What do you think?
  • My doctor is advising me to have a partial shoulder joint replacement. I just can't decide. What if it doesn't work? What if I'm worse off than I am now? At least now I can get along, even if I can't do a lot of things I'd like to do.
  • I went with my fourth grade son on a field trip to the local museum of natural science. I noticed the skeleton on my display had a very small shoulder socket. The round part of the upper arm barely fit. Is that normal? What holds it together?
  • As a mother of two boys on a high school baseball team, I notice there are a lot of shoulder injuries. Most seem to occur with overhead throwing. What causes this to happen?
  • I hurt my left shoulder playing soccer and went to see the doctor for some tests. One of the tests was just like hurting it all over again. This can't be good for the injury. Why do they do that?
  • My wife is a dental hygienist and uses her hands and arms all day long. Three weeks ago she fell onto her outstretched arm. Since then she's had severe, sharp pain in the shoulder on that side. At her age (48) the doctor thinks she'll need an operation. An MRI has been ordered, but the insurance company has to approve it first. Will this delay make the problem worse?
  • I've heard there are braces that can be worn during sports play for an unstable shoulder. What can you tell me about these?
  • I just started playing women's softball at the college level and now I've dislocated my shoulder. Can I keep playing and get it treated during the off-season?
  • I'm a college-level football player with a dislocated (and reduced) shoulder. My ability to stay in school depends on a football scholarship. I can't afford to sit out the rest of the season. If I do everything the physical therapist tells me, how soon can I expect to get back out on the field?
  • I had a heat treatment to shrink my shoulder about five years ago. It was pretty experimental then. I had a good result. Is this treatment still being used?
  • I just had a special heat treatment to tighten up an unstable shoulder joint. Now I'm worried that the joint won't be able to relax. How do they shrink the capsule but still keep the motion? I'm in a sling so I can't move it just yet anyway.
  • Six weeks ago I had thermal shrinking of my shoulder done. I'm supposed to be able to take my sling off and increase the use of my arm but my neck keeps going into painful spasms. Is this normal?
  • I watched an exercise program on TV at home. One of the exercises was to reach the hand behind the back and move the fingers up as close to the neck as possible. I noticed my right arm couldn't go nearly as far as my left. Is this normal?
  • My neighbor's been complaining of shoulder pain off and on for years now. Seems like most people I know with shoulder pain have it for a few days and it goes away. Could there be something seriously wrong with my friend?
  • My 77-year old mother is going to have therapy for shoulder pain from a fall she took at home. The X-ray showed it wasn't broken, but there's a lot of arthritis in the joint. Can therapy really help someone like this?
  • I'm going to have an arthroscopic release of a frozen shoulder next week. Can you tell me what is done during this operation?
  • I was in the cardiac intensive care unit for three weeks after a very severe heart attack. Ever since then I haven't been able to move my arm over head. The doctor says it's a "frozen shoulder." Nothing shows on the X-ray, so what's frozen?
  • What is a resistant frozen shoulder? I thought a frozen shoulder is stuck and won't move. Isn't this just calling it a frozen frozen shoulder?
  • What's an acromioplasty? My sister is having one next month. I'm supposed to go help take care of her after the operation.
  • I'm 48 years old with an old rotator cuff tear. I've tried rehab and I've done exercises for five years. I can't seem to reduce the pain or get any increase in motion so I've decided to have surgery to repair the torn rotator cuff. Will this really take care of the problem?
  • I went to the Mayo Clinic for shoulder surgery 10 years ago. It turned out fine but they keep sending me letters asking me questions about my pain and motion. I keep telling them I'm fine. Is there any way to get off their mailing list?
  • My 17-year-old son injured a nerve in his shoulder from lifting a heavy container overhead. As a result, his shoulder blade sticks out all the time. Will he always be like this?
  • I had a sudden onset of shoulder pain that sent me to the doctor's office in a hurry. I couldn't remember any kind of injury or recent illness. The bill I received describes the treatment as a "diagnostic injection." What does that mean exactly?
  • I'm a 48-year old woman and I had a mastectomy for breast cancer three months ago. Now that I'm back to swimming, I notice I'm having trouble with my stroke. My husband says when I reach forward to stroke the shoulder blade pops out noticeably. Could this be caused by the mastectomy?
  • My 18-year old son dislocated his shoulder in a bike accident over the weekend. The emergency room doctor put it back in. We were sent to an orthopedic surgeon for a follow-up appointment today. The doctor did a test that nearly dislocated the arm again. It was very painful for my son. Was this test really needed?
  • Three years ago I dislocated my left shoulder. They called it a Bankart lesion. Now I've dislocated the shoulder again with even more damage. This one's called a Hill-Sachs lesion. How is that different from the first dislocation?
  • I am a college-level volleyball player on a sports scholarship. I have a dislocating shoulder with a tear in the labrum. The doctors here want to do a special repair. It's called a Bankart repair with some kind of suture anchor. What I really need to know is: will I get the motion back I need to serve and spike the ball?
  • I'm a construction worker. I tore my right biceps muscle lifting a heavy cement block. Can the muscle heal by itself?
  • I'm going to have a rotator cuff tear repaired using a new kind of suture to hold it down. It's made of bone, has a sharp pointed end, and goes directly into the bone. I've been told I have thick bones. What if they can't get it to go in? Or what if it breaks when the surgeon is trying to put it in?
  • My son is going to have a rotator cuff tear repaired surgically. The doctor described a special anchor suture that will be used to hold the tendon in place until it heals. What kind of problems can come from using these anchors?
  • What is a bone button? My doctor is going to use something like this to repair my torn rotator cuff.
  • I've heard that if you're going to have a joint replacement it's best to go to a hospital or center where they do a lot of these operations. How many is enough to be safe?
  • I found it really pays to shop around before having surgery. I live in New York City. I priced the cost of a total shoulder replacement in and out of the city. The cost of the operation is much higher in the City compared to upstate New York. Any idea how they can get away with this?
  • I saw a report that joint replacements have better results when done by a surgeon with lots of experience with that operation. That makes sense. Is this the whole story or is there more to it?
  • I'm an avid golfer in my retirement years. After having some shoulder pain for months I saw my doctor. The problem I have is called subacromial impingement syndrome. I've never heard of it. Is it a rare condition?
  • Every time I raise my right arm up overhead, I feel and hear a sound like the bone is rubbing against something. There's no pain when I do it. What could be causing this?
  • I've been diagnosed with a shoulder impingement problem. It comes and goes, but seems to be staying longer when it comes. I've tried all the usual treatments such as drugs, acupuncture, exercise, and rest. What else is there?
  • I'm going to have surgery for a shoulder impingement problem. How long will it be before I can return to work as a manual laborer?
  • I am a 53-year old business executive. As part of my job, I’ve been observing various divisions of our company. During the last rotation, I helped lift some heavy pipes. I felt a snap in my right shoulder with sudden pain. I don’t want to file for worker’s comp. What should I do?
  • I have been doing push-ups as part of my regular exercise routine. Does it really matter whether my elbows are out or in?
  • My shoulder kept dislocating after an injury. I had arthroscopic surgery to tighten up the joint. The doctor used laser therapy. It’s only been three months and my shoulder is dislocating again. Should I have the laser treatment again?
  • Sometimes, I wake up in the middle of the night and my arm is cold and stiff. My hand is blue and it looks like I’ve lost the blood supply to my hand. What causes this?
  • I heard there's a new laser heat treatment for loose shoulders. Will this work for arthritis?
  • I had some shoulder surgery three weeks ago. I am doing my exercises faithfully, but there’s still quite a bit of pain. Is this normal?
  • I had a steroid injection into my shoulder for a problem with bursitis. I got immediate relief that lasted about a week. Now my symptoms are starting to come back. How long do steroid injections usually work?
  • The doctor and physical therapist told me I have a frozen shoulder with a capsular pattern. I understand the frozen shoulder part but what does 'capsular pattern' mean?
  • I saw two orthopedic surgeons and one physical therapist about a shoulder problem I'm having. All three gave me different explanations for the problem. None of them was the same problem. What's going on here?
  • What's the belly-press sign? I've read two medical reports on my daughter's shoulder injury and both say this is negative. What does it mean?
  • My 18-year old son tore his rotator cuff in a wrestling match. How can this happen with athletes who are in such good shape? I thought their bulked up muscles would be protected.
  • My 17-year old son was in a car accident and hurt his neck. When they took X-rays the report stated there were "significant calcifications in the subscapularis tendon." What could cause this in a teenager?
  • What is the peel-back mechanism? I've heard it used to describe an injury of the shoulder.
  • What's a SLAP shoulder injury? Is that a new term for rotator cuff tear?
  • I just found out I have a Type II SLAP injury of my pitching shoulder. I don't want to miss the rest of the baseball season. Can I put off surgery until then?
  • My 62-year old sister was just diagnosed with Friedrich's disease. Can you tell me something about this disease?
  • My wife has been having quite a bit of pain where her collarbone connects to the breastbone. The doctor wants to do X-rays, a CT scan, and an MRI. Are all these tests really necessary?
  • Of all things, I've come down with arthritis of the collarbone (where it attaches to the chest). I've never heard of this before. Most of my friends have arthritis of the shoulders, hips, or hands. Am I a rare case?
  • I'm going to have arthroscopic surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff. I really need full motion to do my job. How long will it take to get it back?
  • My son tore the rotator cuff in his right shoulder. The doctor called this a “medium” tear. What does this mean?
  • I had a torn rotator cuff in my left shoulder. After surgery to repair this, I ended up with a condition called fibrous ankylosis and even less motion than before the operation. What causes this?
  • I hurt my shoulder while playing tennis. After surgery to repair a torn muscle, the doctor sent me to physical therapy. I’m anxious to get back on the tennis courts, and it seems like the rehab program is very slow. Can I speed it up on my own?
  • I am 66-years old and recently had shoulder surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff muscle. The physical therapist I’m seeing wants me to get down on my hands and knees to do the shoulder exercises. This is really hard on my hips. Is there some other way to do this?
  • I read about a study that used EMG re