Get relief with state-of-the-art shoulder and upper extremity treatments.
A sore or painful shoulder, elbow or upper extremity problem makes it difficult to get much done, let alone enjoy active living. You don’t need to struggle through ongoing discomfort any longer. Turn to the specialists at Western Pennsylvania Orthopedics.
Our experienced surgeons are recognized and respected leaders in upper extremity and shoulder treatments. In fact, we instruct other orthopedic specialists in the latest care and treatment of shoulder issues.
Shoulder and Upper Extremity: Leading-edge procedures for better living.
At Western PA Orthopedics, we have performed thousands of upper extremity procedures, including joint reconstruction and the most complex arthroscopic surgeries, to provide individuals just like you with lasting pain relief. We offer a number of innovative procedures, including patient-specific surgery, arthroscopy and reverse total shoulder arthroplasty, and our surgeons are known for treating the full range of shoulder and upper-extremitiy conditions and injuries, including:
- Rotator cuff tears – Signs that you may have a rotator cuff problem include swelling and tenderness in the front of the shoulder. You may have pain and stiffness when you lift your arm. There may also be pain when the arm is lowered from an elevated position.
- Total joint replacement – For certain individuals, shoulder arthroplasty (joint replacement) can provide needed relief and restore physical function and range of motion. Our specialists can perform a shoulder replacement procedure on a “short-stay” basis, letting you go home that same day or the next day.
- Labral tears – Symptoms include an aching sensation in the shoulder joint, catching of the shoulder with movement and shoulder pain with specific activities.
- Shoulder instability – You may suffer from shoulder instability or dislocation if you experience pain, repeated instances of the shoulder giving out and/or a persistent sensation of the shoulder feeling loose, slipping in and out of the joint or just “hanging there.”
- Frozen shoulder – This condition involves stiffness, pain and limited range of movement in your shoulder. These symptoms may occur after an injury or overuse, and they can sometimes be related to a disease such as diabetes or stroke.
- Pectoralis (pec) tendon tears – Most patients say they hear a “pop,” feel a significant tearing sensation in the front of the chest or shoulder, and experience significant weakness and decreased range of motion due to pain.
- Calcific tendonitis – Calcium crystals are deposited in the tendon of the rotator cuff muscles. These crystals can increase in size and eventually rupture, causing extreme pain.
- Superior labrum anterior and posterior tears (SLAP tears) – These tears are common in throwing athletes, such as baseball pitchers, but can occur in anyone after a traumatic injury to the shoulder. If you’re experiencing pain deep in the shoulder, popping or clicking in the shoulder and decreased strength or range of motion, give us a call. You may also notice these symptoms get worse with shoulder movements or overhead activities, such as throwing.
- Bicep tendon tears & tendonitis – Overuse of biceps can result in tendonitis. In cases of serious or constant overuse, a tendon may fray and eventually tear. The most obvious symptom is a sudden, severe pain in the upper part of your arm or at the elbow. You may hear or feel a “pop” when a tendon tears.
- Fractures – If you aren’t instantly aware of a broken bone, symptoms indicating you may have a fracture include pain, swelling, bruising and a change of shape at the surface of the skin due to the protruding bone in the affected region.
- Cubital tunnel syndrome – This condition is brought by the increase of pressure on the ulnar nerve (the nerve alongside the elbow). The compression can lead to pain and numbness in the elbow and the sensations of pins or needles in a person’s fingers, especially in the ring and little fingers. If not corrected, symptoms can worsen, resulting in a decreased ability to pinch the thumb and little finger, decreased overall hand grip, muscle wasting in the hand and claw-like deformity of the hand.
- Tennis and golfer’s elbow – The condition most often affects the dominant arm (i.e., the right arm in people who are right-handed). You may notice pain in the elbow that spreads into the upper arm or down to the forearm, or weakness of the forearm. Pain can begin suddenly or can develop gradually over time.
- Carpal tunnel syndrome – This condition starts with gradual numbness or tingling in your thumb, index and middle fingers that comes and goes and is frequently worse at night.
- Trigger finger – Warning signs that you may have this condition include finger stiffness (particularly in the morning), a popping or clicking sensation as you move your finger, tenderness or a bump at the base of the affected finger, finger catching in a bent position (which suddenly pops straight) or a finger locked in a bent position.
- Numbness and tingling in the hand and upper extremities
- Hand or arm pain
- Arthritis of the shoulder
If you think you may have a shoulder or upper extremity issue or condition, don’t wait and hope it will go away on its own. Contact us today. We can and want to help. Call us at 814.255.6781.