Why Shoulder Replacements are Needed
It's Easier to Develop Shoulder Damage Than Most Folks Realize
According to the latest statistics from the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS) 14 million shoulder problems cause Americans to visit the doctor annually. Men and women are equally prone to such problems, caused by a wide range of activities including other athletics (like swimming and tennis) and seemingly mundane pastimes, like hanging curtains and gardening
Understanding Shoulder Muscles
The two main components of the shoulder are the humerus and the glenoid. The humerus is the ball at the upper part of the arm. The glenoid is the socket that ball fits into; it’s at the end of the collarbone.
However, the bones themselves are only about 50 percent of the shoulder’s strength. They contain both the glamorous outer bicep muscles (the ones people see flexed all the time) and inner muscles. Even seniors can find ways to keep shoulders strong (the subject of another article), but of course make sure to talk to a doctor first.
Fixing Shoulder Damage
Unfortunately, it’s much too easy for most people to ignore shoulder problems. The knee and hip tend to get more attention because they’re weight-bearing joints, and it’s hard to find ways around them when they’re not working. So even a mild injury or arthritis can cause more aggravation. When it comes to shoulders, people often adapt by using elbows and hands more. The downside of that is by the time a patient seeks help for a shoulder injury, the damage is generally greater. That’s where shoulder replacement often becomes necessary.
The bad news is that fixing the tissues that the shoulder relies on is much harder than joint replacement. The good news is that prostheses have been more successful in working with a critical element: accommodating soft tissue tension. That leads to more good news: today’s shoulder replacement procedures are very good at relieving pain. So even when the process doesn’t restore full function, the patient’s life is improved immeasurably.
Finding a Shoulder Surgeon
Ultimately the key to recovery is a skilled surgeon. Surgeon? Interestingly, finding one is not just a matter of how many replacements he/she has performed. That’s because even busy shoulder surgeons may only replace around 125 joints a year, a far fewer number than hips or knees replaced annually by a specialist.
Among the things to rely on:
- Don’t just seek an orthopedic surgeon. Instead seek a specialist in shoulder surgery.
- How long has the doctor been in practice?
- How often has the physician treated this specific problem?
- Get referrals from people you trust, including family and friends
- Talk to physical therapists and find out whom they’d recommend a relative to.
- Talk to satisfied patients.
Finally, don’t forget to research. Obviously the Internet is a great place to start. One of the best places is the AAOS. There is also some information on the website for the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons society.
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