Shoulder Archives - Dr Bothma

Shoulder Pain & Weakness

Dr Bothma — Mon, 01 May 2023 09:17:57 +0000

There are many causes for shoulder pain and weakness. Injury of the shoulder with persisting pain and dysfunction is commonly seen in our specialist shoulder practice.
Other causes include arthritis, disorders affecting the rotator cuff muscles, shoulder tendon problems, inflammatory conditions, shoulder instability and nerve related problems.
Infections and tumours of the shoulder region are rare but of a more serious nature.
Occasionally, shoulder pain and weakness are caused by spinal disorders of the neck.
Dr Bothma will methodically assess the cause of your shoulder pain and / or weakness. Special investigations such as x-rays, scans and blood tests, may be required.

Dr Bothma — Mon, 01 May 2023 09:17:22 +0000

The shoulder is the pivotal joint of the upper extremity. It is capable of an almost incredible range of motion and strength but it’s agility makes it vulnerable to injury.
Sport, gym and outdoor activity related shoulder injuries are common. Injuries vary from simple muscle and tendon strains, to injuries of the rotator cuff group, clavicle separation, shoulder dislocation and fractures.
Shoulder injuries commonly occur during activities of daily living around the house, in public places such as the street and during sport and other recreational activities. Severe shoulder injuries are usually due to a fall, road traffic accident or bicycle / motorcycle related incidents.
Sometimes the injury is limited to the clavicle (collar bone) and its joints.
Treatment may include medication, sling immobilisation, physiotherapy, biokinetics and, if necessary, surgery to repair damaged soft tissue or fractures.
Recovery from shoulder injuries is usually slow, requiring patience and self-discipline.
Dr Bothma will evaluate your shoulder injury and advise you on appropriate treatment.

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Dr Bothma — Mon, 01 May 2023 09:16:47 +0000

The rotator cuff is a group of small muscles surrounding the shoulder joint. It is responsible for dynamic shoulder joint stability and precision of joint motion.
Entrapment, inflammation, tearing or weakness of the rotator cuff group usually cause persisting pain and dysfunction of the shoulder.
Rotator cuff problems are rare in young people and common in the above-50 age group.
Treatment depends on the underlying problem and although nonsurgical treatment can be successful, arthroscopic (keyhole) surgery is frequently required and offers excellent solutions to otherwise difficult problems.
Dr Bothma will investigate your rotator cuff problems thoroughly and will discuss the diagnosis and management options in detail with you.

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Dr Bothma — Mon, 01 May 2023 09:16:09 +0000

A sensation of looseness or instability of the shoulder with popping, snapping and pain is usually preceded by an injury where the shoulder may have dislocated.
When there is looseness of the shoulder without injury, there is usually an element of generalised ligament laxity (double-jointedness) with or without rotator cuff involvement.
Shoulder instability can be very disabling, even with occupational or day-to-day activities and it is often impossible to participate in sport or other recreational activities.
A shoulder that dislocates (comes out of joint) on normal daily activities or during sport, requires a specialist’s attention.
Failure to address instability may lead to irreversible shoulder joint damage.
Dr Bothma will assess the nature of the shoulder instability as well as related factors that may complicate or contribute to the instability. He will discuss the findings and recommend treatment options comprehensively with you.
Shoulder instability that does not respond to a strengthening program, usually requires surgical intervention.

Dr Bothma — Mon, 01 May 2023 09:15:31 +0000

Stiffness of the shoulder can follow a shoulder injury or surgery to the shoulder. This complication is mostly unpredictable and if it occurs, usually requires further treatment.
A “Frozen shoulder” develops spontaneously, usually without any recollection of an injury or precipitating event. The shoulder gradually stiffens up. This is a painful condition and can be very disabling.
Sometimes, stiffness of the shoulder may be associated with other shoulder problems such as rotator cuff disease, arthritis, infection and tumours.
Shoulder stiffness requires a thorough investigation (including x-rays and scans) and Dr Bothma will advise you on appropriate management.

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Dr Bothma — Mon, 01 May 2023 09:14:44 +0000

Much like the other large joints, the shoulder may also be affected by arthritic conditions such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, gout related arthritis and other less common arthritic diseases. The smooth lining of the joint surface is damaged or destroyed with increasing pain, stiffness and dysfunction of the joint.
Persisting malfunction or deficiency of the rotator cuff muscle group, may also lead to shoulder arthritis.
There is a high incidence of shoulder arthritis following injury of the joint cartilage due to trauma or infection.
Early and intermediate stage arthritis of the shoulder may be successfully treated by nonsurgical means, but advanced arthritis with pain and stiffness usually require joint replacement surgery.
Dr Bothma will assess your arthritic shoulder and advise you on the appropriate treatment options.

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Dr Bothma — Mon, 01 May 2023 09:12:55 +0000

Nowadays, most shoulder conditions requiring surgery are treated by minimally invasive arthroscopic (keyhole) techniques.
The surgeon uses a thin tube-like telescope camera system to look inside the joint and specially designed instrumentation to perform the surgery via small incisions around the shoulder.
Arthroscopic surgery reduces the effects of surgery on the shoulder and decreases recovery time substantially.
The surgery is performed under general anaesthesia. The anaesthetist performs a nerve block for post-operative pain control. An overnight hospital stay is required.
Dr Bothma has 25 Years of shoulder arthroscopic surgery experience.

Dr Bothma — Mon, 01 May 2023 09:10:04 +0000

Advanced shoulder arthritis, not responsive to non-surgical treatment, usually requires a shoulder replacement. The primary motivation for shoulder replacement surgery, is pain relief.
A prosthesis is implanted to replace the joint surfaces and restore smoothness, motion, stability and function.
Shoulder replacement / arthroplasty surgery is also applied to non-repairable shoulder fractures.
The procedure usually requires a 3 to 4 day hospital stay, an arm sling for 6 weeks and after surgery physiotherapy.
Dr Bothma has a broad experience in shoulder replacement procedures and will select the appropriate prosthesis for your requirements.