Are You Wondering When And Where to Get Total Shoulder Replacement Surgery?
If you have struggled with ongoing shoulder pain, the idea of simply replacing the injured joint has probably crossed your mind. Total shoulder replacement surgery has been helping patients like you experience significant relief and even restored range of motion. If this sounds like the solution you have been hoping for, take a few minutes now to get the facts about shoulder replacement surgery.
When considering a procedure like this, it is important that you start by gathering as much information as possible. What exactly does the operation involve? When should you pursue this procedure, and when is it best to wait and try something else? And lastly, do you know where to get total shoulder replacement surgery? The experts at Rothman Orthopaedic Institute can help to answer these questions as you consider this potentially life changing procedure.
Shoulder Replacement Surgery
The shoulder is a ball-and-socket joint which when functioning properly allows a great range of motion. However, when the shoulder is injured in an accident or because of a degenerative disease like arthritis, then the bones, muscles, or cartilage can cease to function properly. From worn away cartilage to bone spurs, there are a variety of different forms this injury can take.
If the injury in your shoulder is primarily in the bone or cartilage, your doctor may recommend total shoulder replacement. In this procedure, the injured bone and cartilage of the ball and socket are replaced with metal and plastic prostheses. A metal ball is joined to the top of the humerus (arm bone) and a plastic socket is joined to the shoulder blade. The primary goal of this surgery is to relieve pain in the shoulder, although many patients find their mobility improved as well.
How to Talk to Your Doctor
Before asking your doctor where to get total shoulder replacement surgery, it is important to start the conversation with whether or not you need the procedure. Although total replacement is the most common type of shoulder replacement surgery, there are other forms that may be a better fit for you. Additionally, if there are other, non-surgical options that you have not yet tried for your shoulder pain, your doctor may recommend these first.
When talking with your physician about total shoulder replacement and other options, he or she will ask you about other aspects of your current and past health. What conditions do you currently have? Have you undergone shoulder surgery in the past? These and other questions can help your doctor determine whether or not total shoulder replacement surgery is right for you.
Where to Get Total Shoulder Replacement Surgery
Once your doctor does decide that the procedure is your best option, the next question is where to get total shoulder replacement surgery. If you live in or around Philadelphia, the answer is clear; Rothman Orthopaedic Institute is the leader in orthopaedic research, development, and operations. Our surgeons bring an advanced level of expertise and experience because they specialize in one particular area of orthopaedics. So, you can have confidence that your shoulder surgeon at Rothman Orthopaedic Institute is one of the best doctors for the job.
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