Achieving a personal-best performance or helping your team to a victory is a great feeling. If you spend the next several days dealing with severe shoulder discomfort, though, the feeling of excitement is fleeting. You may need to consult a sports medicine surgeon to diagnose the issue and discuss your treatment options.
Trust an experienced sports medicine surgeon in New York to discuss your best options for shoulder pain treatment. Learn more about the most common reasons to seek help from a surgeon.
Your Current Shoulder Pain Treatment Isn’t Helping
If you’ve been seeing your family doctor for shoulder pain treatment but it’s not improving, it’s time to see a surgeon with a specialty in orthopedic treatments.
What is orthopedic sports medicine? It is a sub-specialty within orthopedics that focuses on sports-related injuries to the musculoskeletal system, including those affecting the shoulder. A surgeon working in this area has experience with sports injuries and can provide an accurate diagnosis and suggest treatment options in areas where family doctors might struggle.
It’s common for family doctors to recommend treatments like rest and medication because they frequently work well. According to University of Michigan Health, about 75% of shoulder injuries heal with non-surgical treatments. However, if your problem is not improving, seeking an opinion from a sports medicine surgeon is a smart idea.
Your Shoulder Pain Relates To Overuse
Overuse can lead to shoulder injuries, especially for younger athletes whose bodies are still developing. A study from Nationwide Children’s Hospital estimated that high school athletes in the United States suffer about 120,000 shoulder injuries annually. Shoulder overuse injuries are possible in sports where athletes use the same motion repeatedly, such as in volleyball attacks, racquet sports, or baseball pitching.
You might need surgery to correct the damage from overuse of the shoulder joint. A surgeon can do a detailed assessment of the injury and determine whether surgery is a good initial treatment option.
You Suffered an Impact Injury at Practice or a Game
If you can track the shoulder injury to a specific moment in time where an impact on the shoulder occurred from a fall or collision with another player, your chances of needing surgery increase. In a case like this, you can potentially receive a better outcome and a faster recovery by seeing a surgeon for your initial treatment. Impact injuries in contact sports are more likely to need surgery.
According to a study of NCAA athletes published at the National Library of Medicine, women’s lacrosse athletes had the highest proportion of shoulder injuries requiring operation at 15.4%. Among men’s sports, football players had the highest proportion of shoulder injuries requiring operation at 9.9%.
Learn More About Your Options for Treating Shoulder Pain From Our Sports Medicine Surgeon in New York
When you need a shoulder pain specialist, rely on the experts at New York Spine Specialist. We can schedule a sports medicine surgeon consultation for a rotator cuff injury, injury after a fall or collision, or other issues you’re experiencing.
In addition to discussing treatment options, our experts can provide advice for preventing spine injuries and avoiding further shoulder problems. To schedule an appointment, contact us today at (516) 475-4810.
Our doctors accept most insurance plans, including workers’ compensation, no-fault, and PIP (personal injury protection). Same-day appointments with our sports medicine surgeon may be available.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you have questions about the best shoulder injury treatment options, our team can provide advice. We attempt to alleviate your pain while returning maximum range of motion to the joint.
When Should I Consider Shoulder Surgery?
You should consider surgery on your shoulder if pain or weakness is limiting your daily activities. Determining when to see a doctor for shoulder pain should occur after a few days of discomfort.
Is It Possible To Wait Too Long for Shoulder Surgery?
It is usually not possible to wait too long for shoulder surgery. Waiting and allowing more deterioration to occur in the shoulder joint will make the surgery and recovery more complex, though.
How Do You Know If Pain in the Shoulder Is Serious?
The most common signs that shoulder pain is serious and may need surgery are sudden pain, swelling, redness, and limited joint movement. If the discomfort interrupts sleep, see a doctor.
What Is the Most Common Reason To Do Sports Medicine Shoulder Surgery?
The most common reason people seek surgery from a sports medicine surgeon is damage to the shoulder tendon. This type of injury causes discomfort, pain, and a limited range of motion.