Chronic shoulder pain and trauma can be frustrating and may prevent you from doing your normal activities, exercising, or even caring for yourself. If you’re dealing with shoulder problems and are exploring your options, shoulder replacement surgery at Silver State Orthopedics in Las Vegas may be your answer. Shoulder expert David Silverberg, MD, has advanced training and more than 15 years of experience treating shoulder injuries. To learn more, click or call to schedule a consultation today.
Who can benefit from a shoulder replacement surgery?
Shoulder replacement surgeries are performed when your shoulder is damaged or dysfunctional, both of which can be caused by:
- Osteoarthritis
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Rotator cuff arthropathy
- Post-traumatic arthritis
- Avascular necrosis
- Severe fractures
- Previous shoulder replacement surgeries that failed
You may benefit from a shoulder replacement surgery if you have one of the above conditions or have pain with movement, pain while resting, loss of range of motion, or shoulder weakness. You may also benefit from the surgery if your shoulder fails to improve with other treatments.
How do I know if I need a shoulder replacement?
Your first step is a consultation and evaluation with Dr. Silverberg. He will review your medical history and any prior treatments you may have undergone. He will also perform a thorough physical exam, in which he will test your range of motion, strength, and flexibility, and assess the movements that cause you pain.
Dr. Silverberg will also analyze your X-rays and MRIs. Based on this information, Dr. Silverberg will discuss if you’re a candidate for shoulder replacement surgery.
What happens during a shoulder replacement surgery?
Depending on your diagnosis, you will undergo either a traditional shoulder replacement surgery — used for osteoarthritis and other noncomplex types of arthritis — or a reverse total shoulder replacement surgery — used for complex types of arthritis related to rotator cuff tears.
During a traditional shoulder replacement, Dr. Silverberg removes damaged structures and replaces them with surgical prosthetics. He removes as little bone as possible, and many of the prosthetics he uses fuse to your natural bone over time.
In a reverse total shoulder replacement, Dr. Silverberg reverses the location of the prosthetic ball and socket, so the socket is below the ball rather than above — the opposite of your natural anatomy. This type of shoulder replacement makes normal range of motion possible when other replacement surgeries cannot. This is also an option if a prior shoulder replacement was unsuccessful and you’re still in pain.
What is recovery like after a shoulder replacement?
After your surgery, you will return home to recover with medications for pain relief and physical therapy when you are ready. Physical therapy will help restore your shoulder’s range of motion and increase its strength and stability.
Dr. Silverberg will follow up regularly to ensure you are healing properly and feeling an improvement in your shoulder’s comfort and function.
To see if shoulder replacement surgery is right for you, click or call to schedule a consultation with Dr. Silverberg at Silver State Orthopedics today.