Patient Education: About Shoulder Replacement

Diagnosing Shoulder Pain
• Medical history
• Physical examination
• X-rays
• Other tests

Diagnosis

Medical History
• How and when did the pain start?
• If the pain has occurred before, how was it treated?
• What activities aggravate the pain?
• What activities relieve the pain?

Physical Examination
• Tenderness to the touch
• Weakness in the muscles
• Extent of passive and active range of motion

X-ray Evaluation - Osteoarthritis of the Shoulder
X-rays of an arthritic shoulder show a narrowing of the joint space, changes in the bone and the formation of bone spurs (osteophytes).

Additional Tests
• Blood tests
• Urine analysis
• Computerized Tomography (CT) scans
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scans
• Arthroscopy

Treating Shoulder Pain
• Rest
• Physical therapy
• Pain medications
• Anti-inflammatory medications
• Surgery

<< Return to Previous Page | Patient Education | Next Page >>