Expert assessment for your shoulder concerns
Shoulder replacement is often a last resort in terms of surgery and treatment, with many, less invasive interventions available for those struggling with a debilitating injury or condition.
People frequently visit Shirley Oaks Hospital complaining of shoulder pain and other shoulder-related symptoms.
Located in Shirley Oaks Village on the outskirts of Croydon, our private hospital sees patients from South West London, East Surrey and beyond. People come to use from local areas such as Sutton, Banstead, Coulsdon, Purley and Wallington, as well as Warlingham, Kenley and Chipstead. We also see many patients from further afield. People travel to us to seek the expertise of our experienced consultants and to make the most of our great facilities and compassionate team of healthcare professionals.
Based in Croydon, the hospital is made up of many consultants within orthopaedics, each with a different specialism — for example, lower limb orthopaedics.
Shoulder pain can be mild, moderate, or severe and it can be caused by lots of different conditions or injuries.
If you are experiencing any symptoms that may indicate a serious cause of shoulder pain, you should seek medical assistance urgently. Visit your GP in the first instance, who will refer you to a shoulder specialist, should you require further and more specialised medical advice.
“The condition is also called shoulder impingement — where the shoulder tendons are worn by rubbing against bony spurs of the shoulder blade.”
Other causes include:
Simple injuries can also be to blame for shoulder pain, says Mr Iossifidis. “A fall or wrenching of the shoulder can precipitate a shoulder condition and result in pain. This can allow stiffness to develop.”
Repetitive use of the shoulder in certain positions and during normal household or leisure activities, such as when reaching forwards, backwards, or above the head, could be common culprits if you have a sore shoulder.
Shoulder surgery might be helpful if other non-surgical treatments do not relieve shoulder pain or restore the shoulder’s mobility and function.
In most cases, shoulder problems respond well to conservative (non-surgical) treatments and therapies. This can include pain relief medication, rest, and physiotherapy. These problems are typically due to muscle, tendon, and other soft tissue injuries. Partial injuries such as sprains may also recover on their own.
However, sometimes these treatments aren’t effective enough at managing pain or the underlying condition or injury.
Some of the more common sporting injuries we see at Shirley Oaks Hospital include acromioclavicular joint (ACJ) injuries, shoulder joint dislocations and rotator cuff injuries.
Labral tears, biceps tendon tears, bursitis, and fractures are also frequently seen, as are ACJ injuries, shoulder dislocations and labrum injuries. The latter three injuries are more commonly seen in contact sports (football, rugby, and wrestling, for example).
Rotator cuff, biceps and labrum tears are often seen in patients who take part in sports involving heavy weightlifting or throwing. Fractures, meanwhile, are seen when patients take part in sports involving direct impact and falls.
Below is an overview of some of the most common shoulder-related conditions seen by our shoulder surgeons in Croydon.
The acromioclavicular joint (ACJ) is the hard lump on the top of your shoulder and this joint can be easily injured by athletes who take part in contact sports, cycling or in those who throw objects over their head.
The joint is commonly sprained by repeated falls on the shoulder, or when tackling others (such as during a rugby match).
If the joint becomes fully dislocated, a prominent lump can be seen on top of your shoulder, while sprained joints tend to cause more long-term pain than joints that are dislocated.
For patients experiencing either of these conditions, exercises and physiotherapy may improve the pain. However, shoulder surgery may be required for persistent pain and disability.
The most mobile joint in the body, the shoulder joint is also the easiest to dislocate. In some patients we see here at Circle Health, mild trauma can be enough to cause the shoulder to ‘pop out’ of its joint.
Dislocations can reoccur in more than 50% of young people, says Mr Iossifidis.
“This can lead to further instability and shoulder joint bony and soft tissue injuries. This is the reason why we always recommend early surgical reconstruction.
A relatively common condition, rotator cuff tendonitis is also known as bursitis, impingement syndrome or supraspinatus tendonitis.
Occurring with repeated overhead use of the arm, it can be seen in older athletes, who may also develop bony spurs (from the ACJ or the acromion). These then press against the rotator cuff tendons above the shoulder joint, with exercises, activity modification and physiotherapy often improving the symptoms.
If rotator cuff tendinitis persists, though, arthroscopic or ‘keyhole shoulder surgery’ — with cleaning of the subacromial bursa and removal of the bony spur — may be required for some patients.
A group of tendons that provide movement and stability of the shoulder, the rotator cuff can be torn due to an injury.
This can result in pain and weakness, with early keyhole surgical repair stopping the progression of the tear.
The labrum is the meniscus of the shoulder joint, and the biceps tendon is attached to it. Labral tears can occur with falls, direct blows to the shoulder, and due to throwing or pulling injuries.
Superior labral tears, meanwhile, are more often seen in sports which involve overhead throwing, heavy lifting and tackling sports.
During a heavy lift, hard throw, tackle or fall, the biceps tendon anchored to the labrum in the shoulder joint is pulled off its bone attachment, with the resulting tear causing deep pain. The pain is felt inside the shoulder with lifting and sports and these tears may be diagnosed with an MRI scan and confirmed and treated with keyhole surgery.
The biceps tendon tear at the shoulder tends to be associated with a superior rotator cuff tear.
Biceps tendon dislocation, however, is linked to anterior rotator cuff tears, with biceps lesions being diagnosed with MRI scans. The condition can then be treated with keyhole surgery, with early repair and/or tenodesis advisable.
It is relatively common to experience a stiff and/or painful shoulder following an injury and it is essential to treat it early. An experienced physiotherapist and shoulder surgeon is the correct combination for an early recovery; visit Shirley Oaks Hospital for a consultation in the first instance.
You can discuss any signs that you might need shoulder surgery with our specialist.
No one should have to suffer from shoulder pain, which can also result in limited movement of your joints and stiffness of the upper limbs.
A relatively common issue, shoulder pain is widely treated at Circle Health Group’s Shirley Oaks Hospital, with everything from physiotherapy to pain management injections to consider.
Our shoulder and upper limb specialist, Mr Iossifidis can diagnose a wealth of shoulder-related conditions and talk you through some of the available procedures.
Mr Iossifidis — a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh and member of the British and European Shoulder Surgical Association — works hard behind the scenes to keep abreast of shoulder surgery innovations.
Publishing and presenting this research on shoulder surgery across the UK and Europe, he has successfully treated many people who were once suffering from shoulder pain.
If you are experiencing shoulder pain and you would like to receive a swift diagnosis and get back to doing what you love — such as playing tennis — Mr Iossifidis can help.
Our consultant shoulder and upper limb surgeon specialises in shoulder replacement, reconstructive and arthroscopic (keyhole) shoulder surgery, and sports injuries of the upper limb.
“Shoulder pain may present in different ways,” says Mr Iossifidis. “It may also be associated with stiffness or weakness, and you may feel pain over the outside, the back of the shoulder or upper arm with overhead activities, such as when putting your coat on or reaching your mid back.”
Those with shoulder pain might also notice the pain is at its worst at night or when lying on their side.
Those experiencing shoulder pain will be examined and, later, some ultrasound scans may be needed.
Following diagnosis, you will be given a detailed treatment plan and the possibility of undergoing a wealth of onsite treatment, which includes:
Where possible, you may be able to avoid the cost implications of an MRI scan, which will also shorten the time from consultation to treatment.
Instead, he will do his best to manage your symptoms conservatively. While shoulder surgery is a predominantly successful procedure, it is a major operation that comes with a lengthy recovery period.
Shoulder surgery alternatives are readily available at Shirley Oaks Hospital.
There are a host of ways to relieve shoulder pain, but there is rarely a ‘quick fix’. Instead, it can take time and perseverance and, in many cases, a physiotherapy programme.
For those struggling with shoulder pain, it can seem like there is no end in sight to your suffering. The good news, though, is that most neck pain can improve without the need for surgery.
If you are experiencing non-surgical shoulder pain, it is most likely that your GP will refer you to a physiotherapist. You can also book a physio appointment for shoulder pain at Shirley Oaks Hospital.
If you are recommended physiotherapy, you will need to put some time in at home, following a tailored set of exercises that will go a long way to improving your symptoms.
Working with a physiotherapist and/or our pain management team here at Shirley Oaks Hospital, can help you on the road to recovery when it comes to your shoulder-related symptoms.
Exercises to do after shoulder surgery will be laid out for you by our shoulder specialist. You will be given instructions on completing a range of exercises designed to improve your pain.
There are several types of surgical procedures that are used on the shoulder. They depend on the underlying conditions they are aiming to treat and manage.
Modern procedures (keyhole surgery) or traditional surgery (open surgery) are the two main types to consider, with keyhole surgery being the preferred option for many patients.
Having advanced significantly in recent years, keyhole surgery has become the treatment of choice. Much like robotic surgery, it allows for quicker recovery time.
Arthroscopic shoulder surgery uses a small camera, instruments, and radiofrequency probe, inserted in the joint through small incisions in the skin. The information from the camera is transmitted to a screen, which allows the surgeon to treat the joint.
During the procedure, your surgeon may make an additional small incision to use other small surgical tools that will help treat and repair any damage.
Arthroscopy can be used both to diagnose shoulder problems and treat them.
Keyhole surgery can be much less traumatic and leave smaller scars than more traditional surgical routes.
Open surgery for the upper limb is now only performed at Shirley Oaks Hospital for shoulder arthritis (total or surface shoulder replacement).
People with advanced arthritis of the shoulder whose joint is severely damaged may benefit from shoulder replacement surgery.
In this procedure, the affected parts of the joint are replaced with artificial parts. These are called implants or prostheses.
Our shoulder surgeons also perform the surgery for fractures of the shoulder, humerus, or clavicle, and for soft tissue conditions. The latter includes tennis elbow, golfer’s elbow, trapped nerves (elbow and carpal tunnel syndrome), and hand contractures.
You can also find out more about self-payment — and the benefits of this for your treatment — by heading here.
Private shoulder replacement surgery costs UK can vary from hospital to hospital. You may find, though, that shoulder surgery isn’t necessary and other, more minor interventions may improve your symptoms.
Though recovery time following shoulder surgery will vary, it tends to take around three months until you are almost or completely pain-free.
You will then find that you can comfortably manage your usual, day-to-day activities, but it can take a while longer before you can resume some sports.
You can also call our team on 020 8655 5500 to schedule a visit to the hospital or learn about the different treatments and shoulder replacement surgery we offer, as well as up-to-date prices.
Questions like ‘how long after shoulder surgery can I drive?’, ‘how dangerous is shoulder surgery?’, and ‘how necessary is shoulder surgery?’ can all be addressed during your consultation and subsequent appointments.
Located on the outskirts of Croydon, Shirley Oaks Hospital is within easy reach of all major road and rail networks. It also has a large car park for those who wish to drive.
Offering a range of private treatments for those who live in Croydon and the surrounding areas, the hospital can be found on Poppy Lane, Shirley Oaks Village, Croydon, Surrey, CR9 8AB.
Book an appointment online today or call us on020 8655 5500; our opening hours are Monday to Sunday, 8am to 10.30pm.
We look forward to welcoming you to Shirley Oaks Hospital.
Reception: 020 8655 5500
Mon-Fri: 8:30am-8pm
Sat: 8:30am-1:30pm
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