Patient Story
Shoulder Specialist
Our Approach to Shoulder Care
Shoulder strength and range of motion are crucial for maintaining independence and a high quality of life. Healthy shoulders are key to performing everyday tasks around the house or at work and enjoying physical activities like swimming, racquet sports, or throwing sports. Taking a proactive approach to maintaining shoulder health — by strength training, avoiding overuse, or seeing a specialist at the first sign of pain — can help prevent injury and chronic conditions like arthritis.
The specialists at Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush (MOR) confidently diagnose and treat a wide variety of shoulder pains, abnormalities, and even the most complex injuries and degenerative conditions. Whether you're suffering from a torn rotator cuff or labrum, a fracture of the collarbone, a dislocation, or another problem, we’ll work to restore normal, healthy movement and function to your shoulder. Our goal is to help you get back to an active, pain-free life as quickly and comfortably as possible, and our fellowship-trained physicians have the experience and expertise to provide solutions when others simply can't.
What We Do
- Acromioclavicular (AC) joint injury
- Broken collarbone (clavicle fracture)
- Dislocated shoulder
- Fracture
- Frozen shoulder
- Labrum tear
- Muscle sprain
- Rotator cuff tear
- Shoulder impingement
- Stress fracture
- Arthroscopic rotator cuff repair
- Arthroscopic shoulder stabilization
- Cartilage repair
- Ligament surgery
- Physical therapy
- Reverse shoulder arthroplasty
- Rotator cuff repair
- Shoulder replacement
- Total shoulder arthroplasty
- Arthrogram
- Bone Scan
- CT Scan
- Electromyography (EMG) and Nerve Conduction Study
- Fluoroscopy
- MRI
- Ultrasound
- X-Ray
Leaders in Non-Surgical and Minimally Invasive Treatments
Our expert shoulder care providers will always aim to help you avoid surgery if possible, using conservative treatments like physical therapy to restore function and mobility. When surgery is required, rest assured you have the region’s best team on your side, and one of the best in the nation. Our skilled surgeons are nationally recognized leaders in arthroscopic and minimally invasive procedures, including innovative outpatient surgeries like reverse shoulder replacement. We’ll only recommend surgery if it’s truly needed, so you can feel confident it’s the right option for you.
Ready to See a Shoulder Specialist?
Request an appointment today and get back to your best.
Providers
Frequently Asked Questions
Common signs of a rotator cuff tear include pain on the outer shoulder, weakness when lifting the arm overhead, trouble sleeping on the affected side, and a dull ache that worsens at night. A physical exam and an MRI or ultrasound confirm the diagnosis. Some tears are partial and can be managed without surgery; others are full-thickness and may require repair. An orthopedic evaluation helps determine the right path.
Partial tears and many age-related tears can improve with physical therapy, activity modification, and cortisone injections. Full-thickness tears, especially in active or younger patients, typically do not heal on their own and may require arthroscopic repair to restore strength and prevent further damage. The best approach depends on the tear size, patient age, and functional goals.
Most rotator cuff repairs require a sling for 4 to 6 weeks, followed by a gradual physical therapy program that progresses from passive to active motion and then to strengthening. Full recovery typically takes 4 to 6 months, with overhead activities and sports returning later. Patience with the protocol is critical to avoid re-tear.
Shoulder replacement is usually considered when arthritis or severe rotator cuff damage causes persistent pain, weakness, and loss of motion that hasn't responded to conservative care. Options include anatomic total shoulder replacement for intact rotator cuffs and reverse shoulder replacement for patients with large rotator cuff tears and arthritis. Our shoulder specialists determine which procedure is appropriate based on imaging and exam findings.
The labrum is a ring of cartilage that stabilizes the shoulder joint, and tears can occur from dislocations, repetitive overhead activity, or wear. Symptoms include catching, instability, and deep shoulder pain. Some labrum tears respond to physical therapy; others — especially tears causing recurrent instability or in athletes — may require arthroscopic repair. Sports medicine physicians at Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush commonly treat labral tears in throwing and overhead athletes.
Yes. Our sports medicine team cares for professional athletes — including the Chicago Bulls, White Sox, and Chicago Fire — as well as high school, college, and recreational athletes. The same surgeons and protocols used for professional teams are available to every patient. Return-to-play timelines are tailored to the sport, position, and injury.