Shoulder And Elbow Unit

The shoulder is a highly mobile joint that is prone to wear and tear. Issues can include impingement, tears to the rotator cuff tendons, frozen shoulder, instability and the damage caused by arthritis.

Pain in the elbow can also be caused by arthritis, but it might be due to ligament injuries, pressure on the ulnar nerve or repetitive strain injuries, such as tennis elbow or golfer’s elbow. That’s why it’s so important to speak to a specialist.

If the pain in your shoulder or elbow is affecting your day-to-day life, has lasted more than a month, wakes you up at night or you’ve noticed that it is getting worse, book a consultation with a specialist.

Some shoulder or elbow issues can improve with rest, physiotherapy or other non-surgical interventions. However, this isn’t always the case, and issues such as tendon tears, bone spurs or arthritis, may require surgical intervention.

When you book an appointment, you’ll be seen by one of our friendly consultants. They will want to discuss your symptoms, ask about any pain you’re experiencing and explore your previous medical history to get a clear understanding of your pain.

They will examine your shoulder or elbow and may ask you to move it into different positions (they may also want to move your shoulder or elbow around themselves). This will help them to see the range of motion you currently have and understand precisely where and when you experience pain and discomfort.

When you have a clearer understanding of what is causing your pain, you can start to move forward.

Following a physical examination and discussion of your medical history, your consultant may refer you for a diagnostic scan, such as an MRI, X-Ray or ultrasound. They might also want to send you for blood tests to check for inflammation. These tests are often carried out on the same day as your appointment.

You won’t have all the tests listed above, and the consultant may want you to have additional tests that aren’t listed here. These will be thoroughly explained to you beforehand so that you know how and why you’ve been referred.

It should be noted that your consultant may decide that you don’t require surgery. It may be that you would benefit from non-surgical interventions, such as physiotherapy.

If the consultant does recommend surgery, they will make sure you are fully informed about the procedure and will answer any questions you might have.

For complex shoulder surgery, a computer-navigated system helps the surgeon position the implant to improve the functional outcome for patients having shoulder replacement surgery.

These new levels of accuracy are achieved through the system allowing fine adjustments to get the most accurate result.

We are a specialist unit, which means we are dedicated to diagnosing and treating shoulder and elbow pain. Our team of experts are here to answer any questions you might have about your diagnosis, surgery or recovery.

What’s more, at Sulis Hospital, we understand that long waiting lists for surgery can affect your fitness, health and well-being. That’s why we’re committed to delivering timely appointments for investigation, diagnosis and surgery. Get in touch today to book your consultation.

If you do require surgery, we believe that you’ll find no better place to have it done than Sulis Hospital Bath.

At Sulis Hospital Bath, we like to do things differently. That’s why, unlike many other hospitals, you’ll benefit from:

• receiving your treatment within two weeks of initial diagnosis: with no waiting lists, we can get you treated and back to good health quickly.
• being treated in our specialist Shoulder and Elbow Unit: where every member of staff is an expert on shoulder and elbow surgery and can answer any questions you may have
• our multidisciplinary team: we have built an incredibly strong and diverse team of like-minded medical experts who all work together every day to achieve the best possible result.
• Being able to draw upon such a vast amount of shared experience means that you will always receive the very best treatment and care possible.