The shoulder is about as complex a joint as they come! It’s made up of three different bones: the clavicle, the scapula, and the humerus. An injury to any of these bones or the surrounding tissue can cause significant shoulder pain and result in a loss of shoulder mobility. Injuries to the shoulder are relatively common and can vary dramatically in severity. If you’ve recently suffered a shoulder injury or have started experiencing shoulder pain, it’s time to see a New York shoulder surgeon!
These are 4 of the most common shoulder injuries:
Fractures
Fractures occur whenever you break a bone. When it comes to fractures to the bones that make up the shoulder joint, often you think of the collarbone. The collarbone is usually damaged by a fall, direct hit, contact sport, or a motor vehicle accident. While the collarbone may be one of the most frequently injured, the other two bones in the shoulder (scapula and humerus) can also be fractured – the humerus tends to be fractured close to the shoulder joint at the very top of your arm. Fracturing the scapula is rare, but can happen in contact sports like football or through the trauma of a motor vehicle accident.
Arthritis
Arthritis is inflammation of one or more of your joints. In a diseased shoulder, inflammation causes pain and stiffness. Arthritis of the shoulder is common, and there are 5 major types of arthritis that affects the shoulder joint. They’re listed below from most to least common:
- Osteoarthritis
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Posttraumatic Arthritis
- Rotator Cuff Tear Arthropathy
- Avascular Necrosis
To know for sure if you are suffering from arthritis of the shoulder, you need to be seen by a New York shoulder surgeon for an exam, an X-ray may also be needed.
Tendon Inflammation
Tendon inflammation occurs in the forms of bursitis and tendinitis, which differ from one another but are both caused by inflammation in the shoulder joint. Bursitis occurs when excessive use of the shoulder leads to inflammation and swelling of the bursa (small fluid-filled cushioning sacs) between the rotator cuff and part of the shoulder blade known as the acromion. Tendinitis is a result of inflammation in the tendon that connects muscle to bone. The most commonly affected tendons in the shoulder are the four rotator cuff tendons and one of the biceps tendons.
Instability
Shoulder instability occurs when the head of the upper arm bone is forced out of the shoulder socket. This can happen over time due to overuse, or as a result of a traumatic incident like a collision or fall. Shoulder dislocations, either partial or full, fall into this category and often cause damage to the surrounding tissues. Once a dislocation occurs and the surrounding stabilizing tissues are compromised, a future dislocation becomes more likely. Repeated dislocations can cause a litany of further problems, including arthritis of the shoulder. If you’ve recently dislocated your shoulder, or have in the past and are still experiencing discomfort, make an appointment with a New York shoulder surgeon!
Make An Appointment With A New York Shoulder Surgeon
Shoulder injuries are unfortunately all-too-common, and depending on your age, the risk for further injury or persistent pain may be higher than you think! If you’ve suffered a shoulder injury or have been living with shoulder pain for an extended period of time, make an appointment with a New York shoulder surgeon at OrthoManhattan! Our practice boasts some of New York’s top shoulder doctors, and they’re all passionate about providing the highest level of care possible. To make an appointment, call the office during business hours or submit a contact form in the top right corner of the page.