Shoulder Pain Specialist
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Rapid City Orthopedics
Joseph L Humpherys, D.O.
Orthopedic Surgeon & Sports Medicine located in Rapid City, SD
Shoulder pain can suddenly strike if you suffer an injury. Pain can also develop slowly, brought on by deterioration of a joint or any part of it. Whatever’s causing your shoulder pain, Joseph Humpherys, DO, at Rapid City Orthopedics in Rapid City, South Dakota, can help. Dr. Humpherys has undergone specialized fellowship training to do complex shoulder surgeries like arthroscopic rotator cuff repair and reconstruction. To benefit from his experience in relieving shoulder pain, call the office today or book an appointment online.
Shoulder Pain Q&A
What causes shoulder pain?
Many things can cause shoulder pain. The most common include:
- Arthritis
- Rotator cuff tears
- Bursitis
- Tendinitis
- Fractures
- Dislocations
- Labrum tears
- Shoulder instability
- Frozen shoulder
- Shoulder impingement syndrome
- Bone spurs
- Biceps tendon tears
Playing sports is a common way to injure your shoulder, and you could also damage it in a fall, at work, or in an auto accident. Conditions like arthritis and bursitis develop more slowly after periods of joint wear-and-tear or prolonged overuse.
How is shoulder pain treated?
If you injure your shoulder, apply ice several times a day and avoid anything that makes the pain worse. Some injuries heal without treatment, but there’s a risk that you could suffer long-lasting problems like shoulder instability. This condition is where your shoulder feels loose and will give way or dislocate quite readily.
Dr. Humpherys prescribes treatments that reduce pain and inflammation and help you build up the shoulder, like:
- Physical therapy
- Anti-inflammatory pain medicine
- Strengthening and stretching
- Bone marrow aspirate concentrate (BMAC) injections
- Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections
- Steroid injections
These treatments offer reasonable success rates for many patients. But if you aren’t making progress, Dr. Humpherys might need to operate.
What does shoulder surgery involve?
Procedures Dr. Humpherys offers include:
- Rotator cuff repairs
- Latarjet for shoulder instability
- Bankart and other labral repairs
- Biceps tendon repairs
- Pectoralis major repairs
- Anatomic shoulder replacement
- Reverse shoulder replacement
In many cases, Dr. Humpherys uses arthroscopy to assess and treat the causes of shoulder pain. Shoulder arthroscopy allows him to see the inside of the joint without making substantial cuts through the muscles. That means you experience less pain and heal much faster.
Shoulder arthroscopy is typically an outpatient procedure, which means you can go home the same day as your surgery. This is a far more cost-effective and convenient approach than performing open surgery, which requires a hospital stay and a long rehabilitation period.
Dr. Humpherys specializes in minimally invasive techniques but can also do open surgery where required. To find the best treatment for your shoulder pain, call Rapid City Orthopedics today to schedule a consultation or book an appointment online.
