Shoulder and Elbow Services

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Shoulders and elbows help us be active and productive, but pain or injury can slow us down. At Southeast Orthopedics & Sports Medicine, our experts provide the advanced care you need if your shoulder or elbow requires medical attention.

Your Experts for Shoulder or Elbow Pain

Our orthopedic team treats a variety of shoulder and elbow conditions. These include:

Dislocation
Labrum injury
Fracture
Arthritis
Ligament sprain
Tendon and muscle strain

We perform total shoulder joint replacement, but we often begin with more conservative therapies. Finding the right treatment for you starts at your first appointment.

Know what they are, how they're fixed.

Facts on frozen shoulders

The shoulder is the most movable joint in the whole body—unless you have adhesive capsulitis. Also known as frozen shoulder, this condition gradually reduces how much you can move your arm around.

Treatment can help reduce the pain and movement limitations that come with this condition.

Symptoms of frozen shoulder

Frozen shoulder generally happens in three stages. These stages are sometimes referred to as freezing, frozen and thawing.

During the freezing stage, the shoulder starts to ache and feel stiff. Pain becomes worse with movement and is often worst at night.

In the frozen stage, the shoulder doesn't hurt quite as much, but stiffness worsens. During the four to six months of this stage, daily activities may be very difficult.

The thawing stage marks a gradual return of motion. This can take months or years, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS).

Who's at risk?

Doctors don't know the exact cause of frozen shoulder, according to the AAOS.

Whatever the cause, the result is abnormal bands of tissue between joint surfaces and a lack of the fluid that normally lubricates the joint to help the arm move.

Frozen shoulder occurs more often in women than in men, and the condition usually shows up between ages 40 and 60, the AAOS says. People with diabetes, heart disease, thyroid problems or Parkinson's disease are at higher risk. The condition can also develop after an injury or surgery.

Treatment can help

If your doctor suspects frozen shoulder, he or she may ask about your symptoms, watch the way you move, press on parts of your shoulder or order tests. Common tests used to diagnose shoulder problems include x-rays, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasound scans.

Once frozen shoulder is confirmed, treatment usually begins with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (such as ibuprofen or aspirin), heat and gentle stretching, according to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.

Ice therapy, corticosteroid injections and physical therapy may also be used.

In rare cases when other treatments don't work, a doctor may recommend surgery to cut the abnormal tissues.

In time, while you may not get a full range of motion back, you should be able to return to many of the activities you enjoyed before frozen shoulder, according to the AAOS.

Reviewed 9/17/2022

You can expect personalized, one-on-one care with our orthopedic team. First, we'll take a complete medical history and perform a physical exam. We'll look at your range of motion and strength, and order radiology and other diagnostic tests. Our goal is to have a complete picture of your shoulder and elbow health. Then we can determine the treatment path that best meets your needs.

We offer a wide range of treatments for both shoulders and elbows. These include personalized rehabilitation, pain-relief injections and osteopathic manipulation. We also offer platelet-rich plasma protein for tendon sheath injuries, which can help the body heal itself.

Sometimes surgery is the best option. When that's the case, you can rest easy knowing you're in skilled hands.

Our friendly orthopedic team includes a fellowship-trained upper-extremity surgeon. His advanced training helps us provide state-of-the-art shoulder and elbow care close to home. You don't have to travel to see an expert.

Other specialists at Southeast Orthopedics & Sports Medicine include physical therapists, board certified advanced practice providers and physicians who focus on sports medicine. They'll partner with you during your entire health journey, from diagnosis through treatment, rehab and beyond.

A bone health specialist is also available to help people with fragile bones, osteoporosis or other high-risk bone conditions. Not many hospitals offer this level of care.

Make an Appointment with a Shoulder or Elbow Expert

No matter your shoulder or elbow problem, you'll receive outstanding orthopedic care at SoutheastHEALTH. Request an appointment online or call us at 573.519.4960 today.

Shoulder and Elbow Services