Newswise , April 2010— Shoulder and upper
extremity injuries are very common according
to Non-Surgical Orthopaedics, P.C. Many of
them result from years of cumulative
injuries punctuated by a trauma such as a
motor vehicle accident, falls, or sports
injuries. These injuries cost consumers,
their employers and insurance companies
billions of dollars a year in treatment and
productivity losses.
Cumulative and trauma injuries can result in
rotator cuff tears, fractures, bursitis
(inflammation of the fluid-filled sac, or
bursa, that lies between a tendon and skin,
or between a tendon and bone), tendonitis,
nerve injuries and even degenerative joint
disease.
Symptoms to look for include:
• Loss of range of motion: This can either
be cumulative or sudden in nature. Many
people lose some range of motion as they
age; however, these injuries can begin to
affect day-to-day activities in a very
painful way
• Pain in the shoulder or upper extremity:
How many OTC pain pills did you pop today?
• Weakness: This can be either sudden or
gradual
• Ecchymosis: This is found largely in
trauma injuries, and is a skin discoloration
caused by the escape of blood into the
tissues from ruptured blood vessels
• Muscle aches, swelling and numbness or
tingling are also key symptoms
In order to diagnose and understand the
exact extent of your injuries, our doctors
will conduct an assessment, including a
thorough physical examination, focusing on
the painful area. Through palpation for
tenderness, range of motion assessments,
focused orthopaedic and neurological exams
and other diagnostic tests, a tentative
diagnosis can usually be made.
After a presumptive diagnosis, treatment may
include medications, physical therapy, or in
some cases, patients may receive
trigger-point injections into muscle spasms
with such drugs as Lidocaine, a local
anesthetic.
For more extensive spinal injuries, the
physicians at Non-Surgical Orthopaedics also
perform a variety of spinal and epidural
injections and procedures.
Traditionally, medications such as anti-inflammatories
(NSAIDs), muscle relaxants, analgesics,
topical creams or neuropathic pain
medications have been used. Although a small
percent of patients with the injuries above
may ultimately require surgery, treating
musculoskeletal conditions non-surgically is
the focus of Dr. Weil’s practice.
About Non-Surgical Orthopaedics, P.C.
Non-Surgical Orthopaedics, P.C. believes in
a hands-on approach to patient care in order
to ensure the proper treatment plan is
implemented for the greatest level of pain
relief and return to daily activities. Dr.
Weil also recommends patient education –
perhaps most important for the patient’s
overall well-being – including instruction
in home exercises along with a return to
activities.
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