Should Your Shoulder Still Hurt After Surgery?

November 6, 2015
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G2 Admin
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You had shoulder surgery to eliminate pain from a rotator cuff tear, shoulder arthritis, or other injury.  You followed your doctor’s directions for recovery and completed all your PT and exercises, but months later, you’re experiencing should surgery pain. Is this normal?

Unfortunately this is a familiar story, and one we’ve heard many times.  When patients go through surgery, recovery, and rehabilitation, they expect a return to their normal range of motion and a life without shoulder pain.  Many people just deal with the pain, but you don’t have to.  Shoulder surgery pain should be addressed and can often be corrected.

If your surgery was unsuccessful, your doctor will look for complications such as infection or a repair that did not heal correctly. It is possible the surgery was not performed in a way that addressed your specific shoulder injury, or the injury was not accurately diagnosed from the beginning.

Shoulder Revision Surgery

In some cases, your doctor may suggest revision surgery to correct a failed surgery or rebalance tissue that might be causing an issue. Dr. Goradia of G2 Orthopedics most often performs shoulder revision surgery arthroscopically, which allows him to see more inside the wound and is generally more comfortable for the patient than open surgery.

In arthroscopic surgery, a special camera designed for surgery with a long, narrow shaft, is placed through small incisions enabling your orthopedic surgeon to view the area with great detail. Specially-designed tools are then used to perform the surgical procedure with less trauma to the soft tissues.

If you’ve had surgery for your shoulder and are still living with limited range of motion, pain, or stiffness, you may be a candidate for revision surgery. Dr. Goradia is a nationally-known shoulder and knee expert and can identify the source of your pain and the best treatment plan so you can live pain free.  He sees patients in his Glen Allen and Midlothian, VA office. Call (804)-678-9000 or complete the form to schedule your consultation with Dr. Goradia today!