Get fast access to treatment for shoulder pain at The Alexandra Hospital in Cheadle, Greater Manchester.
If your shoulder problems are caused by significant damage to the joint, you might need surgery. Shoulder surgery is one of our specialities at The Alexandra Hospital in Cheadle, Greater Manchester. Our team of experts offer a range of shoulder procedures, including minimally invasive surgery, complex repair surgery and shoulder replacement surgery.
It's important to get an expert assessment and advice if you have a problem with your shoulder. The Alexandra Hospital's team of specialist shoulder consultants can help you have better function and movement in your shoulders and arms.
Dr Puneet Monga is one of the expert team of shoulder specialists who work at The Alexandra Hospital. He has worked at some of the most advanced upper limb units in the UK and describes the Alexandra Hospital as "well equipped to perform a wide range of shoulder surgeries. The hospital offers personalised consultations in the bespoke Orchard Suite, advanced scanning facilities, access to talented physiotherapists, well-equipped theatres, dedicated ward teams and the backup of all major medical specialities on-site."
On this page, we'll give you all the information you need to understand the common causes of shoulder pain, when shoulder surgery might be recommended, and the kinds of shoulder surgery available at The Alexandra Hospital. We'll also discuss how to plan for shoulder surgery, what to expect from shoulder surgery and what your recovery from shoulder surgery might look like.
For more information on how Circle Health Group and The Alexandra Hospital might be able to help with your shoulder pain, call us or book online today.
The cost of treatment for frozen shoulder typically starts at £2,250*
Shoulder arthroscopy treatment costs typically start at £5,325*
Shoulder replacement surgery typically costs around £13,050*
You can see our guide to all treatment costs at The Alexandra Hospital on our treatment prices page.
*These are just guide prices for people paying for their own treatment. The actual cost of your treatment will be confirmed in writing ahead of time.
Patients of Circle Health Group have several options when paying for treatment.
Flexible payment options from Chrysalis Finance allow you to pay for your treatment in smaller monthly instalments, providing accessible and affordable solutions for covering private healthcare costs.
You can choose a repayment time period to suit you, from one to five years. If approved, you'll benefit from 12 months' interest-free credit.
For examples of what these instalments might be, you can use our Chrysalis Finance calculator.
Damage to your rotator cuff can be caused by a number of different reasons, including injuring yourself, if you have had a fall or accident, or from overusing your shoulder or repeating the same movement regularly. It is common to see patients who play sport, such as golf or tennis, experience injuries from overusing the shoulder or repeating similar movements.
Arthritis is another common cause of shoulder pain. There are several different factors that can cause arthritis but the two most common causes are wear and tear over time, or an injury or infection that can present suddenly. No matter the cause, arthritis causes the breakdown of the cartilage lining of the shoulder joints, making it rough and thin, causing inflammation and pain in the joints.
Another condition we see a lot at The Alexandra Hospital is 'frozen shoulder'. This causes shoulder stiffness which may also affect movement in your shoulder, and you might have pain when you do try to move it. This pain can affect your range of movement making you feel like your shoulder is stuck or frozen.
It's not often clear why patients develop frozen shoulder, but it is more likely to occur in people who are female or aged over 40 and those with diabetes.
Fortunately, in most cases, a frozen shoulder can be resolved with non-surgical treatment over two to three years.
If a shoulder is badly damaged, such as from a broken bone or dislocated shoulder, it will often need emergency treatment. However, many injuries will be less severe but can end up causing ongoing pain, weakness or instability in the shoulder.
Shoulder pain can often be treated without the need for surgery. At The Alexandra Hospital, your specialist shoulder consultant will discuss a range of options available. You may find that physiotherapy or steroid injections may resolve the issue, depending on how bad your condition is. However, surgery may be the best possible treatment for the more severe cases and cases where non-surgical treatments haven't provided a solution.
As there are many causes of shoulder pain, there are also many reasons why shoulder surgery might be recommended. The most common are:
A shoulder arthroscopy - also referred to as keyhole shoulder surgery - allows your doctor to see inside your shoulder, as well as diagnose and in some cases, treat the problem.
This is one of the most common procedures carried out at The Alexandra Hospital. Dr Puneet Monga, one of the hospital's expert consultants, describes the surgery as "very helpful in patients with shoulder pain either from rotator cuff problems or for those suffering from severe frozen shoulder."
He continues: "Often, patients who have not responded to physiotherapy and injections would find such surgical treatment beneficial. Keyhole surgery is also often used for patients with unstable or dislocating shoulders because of sporting injuries."
During the procedure, your surgeon will usually make around two to four small cuts around the joint. They will place a small telescope through one of the cuts so they can examine the joint. They will place surgical instruments through the other cuts if they need to treat any problems with the joint.
This treatment is usually performed under a general anaesthetic and typically takes about forty minutes.
An arthroscopic Latarjet is a procedure to treat anterior shoulder instability.
Often a soft tissue repair is not effective, especially when there is some bone loss from the front of the glenoid (the socket of the shoulder blade) and in these cases, a bone-block stabilisation procedure known as the Latarjet procedure is required.
The Latarjet procedure involves replacing the missing bone and transferring muscle to act as an additional muscular strut to increase stability and to prevent further complications.
Arthroscopic subacromial decompression surgery is used to remove inflammation around the muscles that move the shoulder and to remove spurs of bone (this is bony growth which has formed on the normal bone).
This type of surgery is performed via keyhole surgery, which means your consultant will insert a camera into your shoulder to examine the shoulder blade. Surgical instruments are then inserted into your shoulder through small incisions, and are used to restructure your shoulder blade. The operation is normally done as a day case, which means you won't have to stay in hospital overnight.
Shoulder replacement surgery is most commonly recommended to people with severe arthritis. The surgery involves removing damaged elements of your shoulder joint and replacing them with an artificial joint, also known as an implant or prosthesis.
This operation is normally carried out if physiotherapy, medicine and injections have not been successful in improving movement and reducing pain.
Reverse shoulder replacement is an alternative method to shoulder replacement surgery that we sometimes recommend if your rotator cuff is very damaged.
By bypassing the use of the damaged tendons and muscles in your rotator cuff, this procedure allows other muscles around your shoulder, such as the deltoids in your back, to support the joint, restoring your range of motion and helping to eliminate pain.
As with a standard shoulder replacement operation, an artificial joint is created to replaced the damaged one.
The best planning advice for shoulder surgery will depend on the kind of surgery you are having but there are some simple and often overlooked steps you can take before your operation.
The first step should be planning for your travel to and from The Alexandra Hospital and who to bring with you. The Alexandra Hospital is located in Cheadle, Greater Manchester, which is approximately a 20-minute drive from the centre of Manchester. For detailed directions on how to reach The Alexandra Hospital, see our hospital information page.
Following your surgery, you will be advised to avoid raising the affected arm(s) or carrying heavy objects, so arranging for a loved one to help you travel to and from the hospital is advised. Alternatively, we can help you to arrange a taxi.
Before having surgery, patients who smoke will be encouraged to eliminate or cut down on the use of tobacco products, including cigarettes. These products slow soft tissue and bone healing and increase the risk of post-surgical deep vein thrombosis.
The above list is not exhaustive but should give you an idea of the kind of steps you should be prepared to take to plan for your shoulder surgery and recovery. Your consultant will be able to advise you in more detail on the best ways to prepare for your required surgery.
Below we've listed the approximate recovery times for the most common types of shoulder surgery, as well as pain management and practical tips to help aid your recovery. However, your consultant will be able to advise you on the best estimates for recovery times for your specific surgery.
Full recovery can take anywhere between a week to several months, depending on the complexity of your condition and the extent of the surgery performed.
After Latarjet surgery, you will be required to wear a sling for up to four weeks. Patients typically begin physical therapy after four weeks and can see full movement return to the shoulder after approximately six weeks.
This procedure usually takes three to six months to fully recover from. Patients will most likely need help to wash and dress themselves at first but this should get easier after two to three weeks. It's recommended that patients take a few weeks off work after surgery, depending on their job.
It can take up to six months to fully recover from a full shoulder replacement. As with other more complex shoulder surgeries, patients are required to wear a sling for up to four weeks, followed by physiotherapy to help regain full range of motion in the shoulder.
As with standard shoulder replacement surgery, it can take up to six months to recover from reverse shoulder replacement. You will need to wear a sling for four weeks and undergo physiotherapy to reduce pain and improve overall joint function.
Pain levels will vary depending on the kind of surgery you have had but on the first night following surgery, you will typically be advised to take painkillers before going to sleep and again first thing in the morning to ensure you have a good level of pain relief while the effects of the anaesthetic wear off.
There are steps you can take to manage any pain you experience after your shoulder surgery alongside your prescribed pain relief medication. Ice packs can often be an effective, drug-free way to manage joint pain post-surgery. Be sure to talk to your consultant, however, as overuse can cause problems.
Understandably, many patients can find sleeping after shoulder surgery difficult, but sleep is vital for the healing process and there are some simple steps you can take to help get comfortable and prepare for a good night's sleep post-surgery. We've outlined some tips for sleeping after shoulder surgery below.
Advice on travelling after shoulder surgery will depend on the kind of surgery you've had and the extent and mode of travel in question. Your consultant will be able to best advise you on how and when it might be appropriate to travel. However, most patients are advised not to drive for 4-6 weeks post-surgery.
It's advisable to wait 24 hours before taking any form of travel other than necessary journeys from the hospital back home after minor operations. This advice is extended to seven days if you have had more complex surgery.
Air travel should only be taken if absolutely necessary in the first six weeks following shoulder surgery. You should contact your airline to inform them of your operation before your flight and discuss any slings or special assistance you may require, which will allow the airline to make any necessary arrangements.
You may not be able to move your shoulder while it heals in the weeks following shoulder surgery. This will make several everyday activities, including getting dressed, challenging while your shoulder heals. There are some simple steps you can take to make getting dressed after shoulder surgery easier:
Patients are advised to not wear traditional bras for up to four weeks following their shoulder surgery. Instead, a bra with a T-back or racerback straps is preferable. Fastening a bra following shoulder surgery can often be the most difficult part of getting dressed after surgery. Patients will typically be advised to wear a sports bra or bra with a front clasp, as these kinds of bras are much easier to put on using one hand.
However, if using a bra with a back clasp, there are some steps you can follow to help with putting on a bra after shoulder surgery.
Your consultant will be able to advise you when you can resume exercise following your surgery as this advice can depend on the kind of shoulder surgery you have had. Following minor surgeries, gentle exercise can resume after two to four weeks, while the advice for more complex procedures can extend to six months.
As part of your recovery plan, you may be required to undergo physical therapy exercised to help regain the full range of motion to the shoulder. Your physiotherapist will also be best placed to advise you on when you can begin exercising using your affected arm.
Golfers who have undergone shoulder surgery may face additional challenges when returning to the gold course. Your consultant and physiotherapist will be best able to advise you on how and when to resume playing golf following your surgery. It's essential that you follow their advice, as any energic movement in the shoulder before it's fully healed can result in further complications that may require additional treatment.
The general advice for golfers is to wait for a minimum of three months after surgery before returning to the green. Putting and chipping may be possible three months following your surgery, but it's recommended you wait up to six months before attempting full swings.
Many of our patients are from Manchester and the surrounding areas, but excellent road access makes it very easy to travel from further afield to visit with us.
When you visit The Alexandra Hospital, you will benefit from:
When you have a problem with your or shoulder, the very last thing you'll want it to wait weeks (or even months) to see somebody for help. We can arrange for you to see a leading orthopaedic consultant quickly, so that you can receive treatment sooner.
Consultations are available throughout the week. We can also provide remote appointments by telephone or video if required.
Your consultant is supported in their work by a multidisciplinary team of healthcare professionals, including radiologists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and nurses.
In an independent survey, 97.3% of people we treated said they were likely or extremely likely to recommend us to their friends and family.
Our on-site car park has 440 spaces, so you won't have to worry about where to park when you visit for your appointment.
For peace of mind and expert care, please contact us to book an appointment now. You can call us on 0808 159 6882 or book your appointment with us online.
