Understanding

Shoulder Injuries

Like the cervical spine, the shoulder is a very flexible joint. It is this flexibility that makes it vulnerable to injury. Furthermore, patients often refer to “shoulder” pain that actually represents a spine problem, as well as, “neck” pain, that is actually a shoulder problem. In fact, I have seen patients who even went on to have surgical procedures to address the pain only to discover that it was the other body part that was causing the symptoms. For this reason, it is important to see an orthopedic surgeon who is familiar with both areas so that the true etiology of the pain is determined and treated appropriately. Unfortunately, not all spine surgeons are trained in orthopedics, and they can be misled. If the etiology of the pain is coming from the shoulder, then a steroid injection, physical therapy, medications, and activity modifications usually solve the problem. Occasionally, it becomes necessary to perform a minimally invasive arthroscopic procedure. If this is needed, Dr. Apazidis will review your MRI with you and explain all the options and prognosis for improvement.