The most common form of arthritis is osteoarthritis (degenerative joint disease). This disease can cause pain, swelling, and decreased motion in your shoulder. Osteoarthritis is most often a result of wear and tear from using the shoulder. Recurrent injuries like dislocated shoulders can also increase the risk of osteoarthritis among younger patients.
The two most common osteoarthritis symptoms are pain during shoulder movement and limited range of motion in the shoulder. Over-the-counter medications can be used to reduce pain and inflammation in patients with this condition. Stretching exercises can help maintain range of motion. Steroid injections are also an option if symptoms persist. However, if non-surgical treatments are ineffective, we may recommend total shoulder replacement to restore the shoulder joint. During this procedure, Dr. Dines will replace the diseased joints with artificial implants to reduce pain and improve the range-of-motion. Dr. Dines is one of the leaders in total shoulder replacement and has performed more total shoulder replacements than anyone in New York.
