Shoulder & Elbow Care

If you're living with pain in your shoulder or elbow, partner with a team of experienced experts who specialize in caring for those specific joints. Our orthopedic specialists have advanced, fellowship training in sports medicine and shoulder surgery. Trust them to pinpoint the source of your symptoms and work with you to make a treatment plan tailored to your goals. Whether you need to return to work, want to get back to athletic activities, or hope to do daily tasks with less pain, look to us for comprehensive care.

Conditions We Treat

Rely on EvergreenHealth for an accurate diagnosis and personalized treatment of many common elbow and shoulder problems.

Elbow Pain & Injuries

A sudden blow to the elbow, repetitive motions, or gradual wear and tear can lead to conditions such as:

• Cubital tunnel syndrome – Numbness or tingling in the hands due to a pinched ulnar nerve near the elbow
• Elbow bursitis – Inflammation in a fluid-filled sac at the tip of the elbow
• Elbow fracture – Broken bone
• Golfer's elbow – Pain in your inner elbow or forearm because of too many forceful wrist and finger movements
• Tennis elbow – Pain in your inner elbow or forearm due to repeated stress on muscles used to straighten and raise your hand and wrist

Shoulder Pain & Injuries

Your shoulder is very flexible and gives your arm a wide range of motion. It may not be able to move as it should if you experience a condition such as:

• Calcific tendinitis – Pain due to hard calcium deposits impinging on soft shoulder tendons
• Frozen shoulder – Joint stiffness and pain
• Labrum tear – Soft-tissue injury that can lead to shoulder instability (looseness and repeated dislocations)
• Rotator cuff tear – Damage to tendons that help to stabilize control the shoulder’s movement
• Shoulder arthritis – Breakdown of the joint's cartilage, or cushioning
• Shoulder dislocation – Joint that popped out of place
• Shoulder impingement – Pain due to a shoulder bone rubbing against soft tissue when you raise your arm
• Shoulder separation – Collarbone that breaks away from the shoulder blade

Nonsurgical Care

Conservative treatment for elbow and shoulder pain should starts with nonsurgical treatments. These not only may be the best approaches for your condition, but they also limit your downtime by potentially avoiding surgery. Ask your doctor about:

• Barbotage – Treats calcific tendinitis by using a needle and saline (saltwater) to remove painful calcium deposits
• Exercises – Strengthen the muscles around your joint
• Hydrodilation – Loosens a frozen shoulder with an injection of saline (saltwater), as well as a pain-relieving anesthetic and steroid
• Injections of cortisone – Deliver a pain-relieving steroid/anti-inflammatory medicine to a joint
• Injections of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) or stem cells - Promote healing using natural substances from your body
• Rehabilitation – Includes physical therapy to improve strength and range of motion, as well as occupational therapy to help you more easily do daily tasks

Surgical Procedures

In some cases, surgery is the most effective treatment option. No matter what procedure you need, you'll benefit from our expertise. That's because EvergreenHealth has orthopedic surgeons experienced the most current, state of the art minimally invasive surgical treatments. We’ll help you get moving again as soon as it's safe after surgery.

Shoulder Replacement

If you choose to receive shoulder replacement surgery, you'll appreciate our advanced surgical technology that helps you get exactly the right implant and fit for your joint. You'll achieve your best long-term outcome with our complete program that provides one-on-one support and education throughout your preparation and recovery.