Why does my shoulder hurt?

To help you get a better idea of why your shoulder hurts, take a look at how it works. Your shoulder has the greatest range of motion of all your joints. A ball-and-socket joint, it gets tremendous support from several muscles and other soft tissues that keep the joint in the proper position and moving freely. Frequently referred to as the rotator cuff, this collection of muscles and tendons provides the shoulder joint with stability and support.1 When it’s working well, you don’t think about your upper arm bone (humerus), your shoulder blade (scapula), your collar bone (clavicle), or all the soft tissue helping them work well. But, when something’s wrong, the pain can be debilitating.

With three main bones, four main muscles, and lots of supportive soft tissues, the complex shoulder moves like no other joint in the body.


Your shoulders really get involved.

Because your shoulder joint contributes to so many of your body’s movements, it gets put to the test every day. Your pain may be due to overuse, an injury, or chronic swelling or inflammation – most often referred to as arthritis.

osteoarthritis (OA), the most common form of arthritis associated with shoulder pain, can be caused by wear-and-tear over time or can develop years after an injury, like a dislocation.1

Cuff-tear arthropathy, often the result of a significant injury to the rotator cuff muscle or muscles, can lead to changes in the bone and surrounding tissue, limiting your movement and making your arm feel weaker.2

Avascular Necrosis (AVN) occurs when normal blood supply doesn’t reach the ends of the bone to keep them healthy. As bony matter dies, the ends of the bones weaken, sometimes collapse, damaging some of the surrounding cartilage and soft tissue with it. AVN can affect the shoulder joint, most commonly at the top end of the long upper arm bone, the humerus.3

Your doctor will examine your shoulder and may ask you to take a few tests to determine the source of your pain.

Find out why your shoulder hurts.

Find a doctor in your area who specializes in shoulders.

What will a doctor do?

Every doctor is different, but many follow a similar approach to helping you understand your shoulder pain. At your first appointment, your orthopaedic doctor will ask you a few questions about when and where your shoulder hurts to assess what’s going on. The doctor may understand what’s going on right away because you show classic symptoms of a particular problem. The doctor may also ask you to have an additional diagnostic test, like an X-ray or an MRI.

Pain relief doesn’t always mean surgery. Your doctor may recommend a combination of treatments to alleviate your pain and help you get moving again – perhaps a course of physical therapy, rest, ice, or over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medication. If you have pain in your chest that radiates down your arm, or if you have severe pain, swelling, or discoloration, seek emergency medical treatment.

One out of every four Americans has some form of arthritis.4

References:
  1. The Arthritis Foundation. What is Osteoarthritis. https://www.arthritis.org/about-arthritis/types/osteoarthritis/.
  2. Rotator cuff tear arthropathy: evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment: AAOS exhibit selection. Bone Joint Surg Am. 2012 Mar 21;94(6):e34. dos: 10.2106/JBJS.K.00746. Nam D, Maak TG, Raphael BS, Kepler CK, Cross MB, Warren RF. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22438007.
  3. The Mayo Clinic. Dislocated Shoulder. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/avascular-necrosis/symptoms-causes/syc-20369859.
  4. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Arthritis. https://www.cdc.gov/chronicdisease/resources/publications/factsheets/arthritis.htm
Important information


ReUnion System Indications for Use:

For use as a Hemi or Total Shoulder Replacement: Aseptic necrosis of the humeral head; Painful, disabling joint disease of the shoulder resulting from: degenerative arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis or post traumatic arthritis; Proximal humeral fracture and/or dislocation; Clinical management problems where arthrodesis or alternative reconstructive techniques are less likely to achieve satisfactory results; Revision of previous unsuccessful total shoulder replacement, resurfacing or other procedure.

Glenoid components are intended for cemented use only. The humeral stem components are intended for both cemented and cement less use. In the case of revision, when ReUnion TSA humeral stems are well fixed, the system is indicated for conversion to a total shoulder arthroplasty. In conjunction with ReUnion TSA humeral and glenoid components, if the natural glenoid provides sufficient bone stock, ReUnion TSA humeral stems can be converted from a hemiarthroplasty to a total shoulder arthroplasty, as well as revised from an existing total shoulder arthroplasty to a secondary total shoulder arthroplasty. It is also indicated for conversion to a hemiarthroplasty. In conjunction with ReUnion TSA humeral components, ReUnion TSA humeral stems can be converted from a total or ReUnion RSA reverse shoulder arthroplasty to a hemiarthroplasty, as well as revised from an existing hemiarthroplasty to a secondary hemiarthroplasty, in treatment of previously failed shoulder arthroplasty cases where revision to a reverse shoulder arthroplasty is inappropriate.

ReUnion Reverse Arthroplasty System (RSA): The ReUnion RSA Shoulder System is intended for primary, fracture, or revision of total Shoulder replacement. The patient’s joint must be anatomically and structurally suited to receive the selected implant(s), and a functional deltoid muscle is necessary to use the device. The patient’s joint must have gross rotator cuff deficiency, a functional deltoid muscle and be anatomically and structurally suited to receive the selected implant(s). Painful, disabling joint disease of the shoulder resulting from: degenerative arthritis or rheumatoid arthritis; Proximal humeral fracture; Revision of previously failed shoulder joint replacement; Glenoid Baseplate components are intended for cement less use with the addition of screw fixation; The Humeral Stem components are intended for both cemented and cement less use; In the case of revision, when ReUnion TSA humeral stems are well fixed, the system is indicated for conversion to a reverse shoulder arthroplasty.

In conjunction with ReUnion RSA humeral and glenoid components, ReUnion TSA humeral stems can be converted from a semi or total shoulder arthroplasty to a reverse shoulder arthroplasty, as well as revised from an existing reverse shoulder arthroplasty to a secondary reverse shoulder arthroplasty, in treatment of a grossly deficient rotator cuff with sever arthropathy or previously failed joint replacement with a grossly deficient rotator cuff. The patient must have a functional deltoid muscle, and be anatomically and structurally suited to receive the implant(s).

The ReUnion RFX System, when used with ReUnion TSA Humeral and Glenoid components, is indicated for use as a Hemi or Total Shoulder Replacement: Aseptic necrosis of the humeral head; Painful, disabling joint disease of the shoulder resulting from: degenerative arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, or post traumatic Arthritis; Proximal humeral fractures and/or dislocation; Clinical management problems where arthrodesis or alternative reconstructive techniques are less likely to achieve satisfactory results; Revision of previous unsuccessful total shoulder replacement, resurfacing or other procedure. In the case of revision, when ReUnion RFX humeral stems are well fixed, the system is indicated for conversion to a total shoulder arthroplasty. In conjunction with ReUnion TSA humeral and glenoid components, if the natural glenoid provides sufficient bone stock, ReUnion RFX humeral stems can be converted from a hemiarthroplasty to a total shoulder arthroplasty, as well as revised from an existing total shoulder arthroplasty to a secondary total shoulder arthroplasty. It is also indicated for conversion to a hemiarthroplasty. In conjunction with ReUnion TSA humeral components, ReUnion RFX humeral stems can be converted from a total or reverse shoulder arthroplasty to a hemiarthroplasty, as well as revised from an existing hemiarthroplasty to a secondary hemiarthroplasty, in treatment of previously failed shoulder arthroplasty cases where revision to a reverse shoulder arthroplasty is inappropriate. The glenoid components are intended for cemented use only. When used with ReUnion RSA Humeral and Glenoid Components.

The ReUnion RFX System, when used with ReUnion RSA humeral and glenoid components, is intended for primary, fracture, or revision total shoulder replacement. The patient’s joint must have gross rotator cuff deficiency, a functional deltoid muscle, and be anatomically and structurally suited to receive the implant(s). Painful, disabling joint disease of the shoulder resulting from degenerative arthritis or rheumatoid arthritis; Proximal humeral fractures; Revisions of previously failed shoulder joint replacements.

In the case of revision, when ReUnion RFX humeral stems are well fixed, the system is indicated for conversion to a reverse shoulder arthroplasty. In conjunction with ReUnion RSA humeral and glenoid components, ReUnion RFX humeral stems can be converted from a semi or total shoulder arthroplasty to a reverse shoulder arthroplasty, as well as revised from an existing reverse shoulder arthroplasty to a secondary reverse shoulder arthroplasty, in treatment of a grossly deficient rotator cuff with severe arthropathy or previously failed joint replacement with a grossly deficient rotator cuff. The patient must have a functional deltoid muscle, and be anatomically and structurally suited to receive the implant(s). Glenoid Baseplate components are intended for cement less use with the addition of screw fixation. Source: Stryker Instructions for Use K161863

The information presented is for educational purposes only. Stryker is not dispensing medical advice. Please speak to your doctor to decide which type of surgery is right for you. Only your doctor can make the medical judgment which products and treatments are right for your own individual condition. As with any surgery, joint replacement surgery carries certain risks. Your surgeon will explain all the possible complications of the surgery, as well as side effects. Additionally, the lifetime of a joint replacement product is not infinite and varies with each individual. Also, each patient will experience a different post-operative activity level, depending on their own individual clinical factors. Your doctor will help counsel you about how to best maintain your activities in order to potentially prolong the lifetime of the device.

Stryker Corporation or its divisions or other corporate affiliated entities own, use or have applied for the following trademarks or service marks: ReUnion, SmartLock, SOMA, Stryker, X3. All other trademarks are trademarks of their respective owners or holders.


RU-AWI-1_Rev-1, 02-2019

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