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Shoulder Pain

• Understanding Shoulder Pain
  • Causes of Shoulder Pain
  • Treating Shoulder Pain
  • Orthopaedic Evaluation
  
  
• Stryker Treatment Options
  
  
• Take Control
  
  
• Real Stories from Shoulder Replacement Recipients
  

Orthopaedic Evaluation

If you're ready to consider having shoulder joint replacement, the next important step is to talk with an orthopaedic surgeon. The medical management of arthritis and joint degeneration may be handled by a family doctor, an internist, or a rheumatologist. However, when medical management is not effective, an orthopaedic surgeon should be consulted to determine if surgery is an option. In some cases, the orthopaedic surgeon may be the first physician to make the diagnosis of arthritis.

Note: Many factors will go into making your joint pain diagnosis. Be sure to print out the results of your Self-Test, 10 Questions to Ask Your Doctor, and Information Your Doctor May Need From You and show them to the orthopaedic surgeon during your visit.

Find an Orthopaedic Doctor Search for Orthopedic Doctors in your area. Receive the names and addresses of Orthopedic Doctors who have used or are familiar with Stryker products.

While every orthopaedic evaluation is different, there are many commonly used tests that an orthopaedic surgeon may consider in evaluating a patient's condition. In general, the orthopaedic evaluation usually consists of:

• A thorough review of your medical history
• A physical examination
• X-rays. In addition to X-rays that will reveal bone changes in your shoulder and signs of general joint deterioration, your surgeon may also order an arthrogram (an X-ray taken to see if a special dye leaks out of the shoulder joint, indicating a rotator cuff tear) and/or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the shoulder.
• Additional tests as needed. These may include laboratory testing of blood, urine, or joint fluid and/or a bone scan of the joint and surrounding soft tissue.

An abnormal X-ray may reveal:

• Narrowing of the joint space
• Cysts in the bone
• Spurs on the edge of the bone
• Areas of bony thickening called sclerosis
• Deformity or incorrect alignment
• Other abnormalities