Patient Story
Shoulder Specialists
Shoulder Care at Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush
The shoulder is the most mobile joint in the body, and that mobility is exactly what makes it vulnerable. Shoulder pain can come from the rotator cuff, the labrum, the joint surface, or from instability after a dislocation — and identifying which one is the first step toward treating it.
The shoulder specialists at Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush are board-certified, fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeons and non-surgical sports medicine physicians who evaluate the full range of shoulder problems: rotator cuff tears, instability and dislocations, labral tears, arthritis, frozen shoulder, impingement, and fractures. Our approach starts with the least-invasive treatment likely to work for your shoulder. When surgery is appropriate, our team performs arthroscopic and reconstructive procedures, including anatomic and reverse shoulder replacement.
Meet Our Shoulder Specialists
Shoulder care at Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush is delivered by board-certified physicians with fellowship training in shoulder and elbow surgery, sports medicine, or physical medicine and rehabilitation. Several are team physicians for professional and collegiate organizations, and the group maintains academic ties to Rush University Medical Center.
Because shoulder problems range from an inflamed rotator cuff to a complex revision replacement, matching you to the right physician matters. Our shoulder team includes surgeons who focus on arthroscopic rotator cuff and labral repair, surgeons who focus on anatomic and reverse shoulder replacement, and non-surgical physicians who manage shoulder pain without an operation. If you are not sure which you need, our schedulers can help direct you.
When to See a Shoulder Doctor
Most shoulder pain from a minor strain settles within a week or two with rest and activity modification. It is reasonable to see an orthopedic shoulder specialist when:
- Pain limits reaching overhead, lifting, or dressing
- Pain wakes you at night, or you cannot sleep on that side
- The shoulder feels weak, or the arm gives way when you lift
- The shoulder has dislocated, or feels like it is going to
- You have lost range of motion, or the shoulder is stiffening
- Pain follows a fall or a direct blow, or has persisted beyond two to three weeks
- You hear or feel catching, clicking, or grinding with movement
You do not need a referral to be seen at Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush, and you do not need to have decided on surgery. Many patients are evaluated, treated non-surgically, and never need an operation.
This page is general information and is not medical advice. Discuss your symptoms with a physician who can examine you.
Shoulder Conditions and Treatments
Our shoulder specialists diagnose and treat the full range of shoulder conditions, from acute injuries to long-standing wear.
Rotator cuff tears
The rotator cuff is a group of four muscles and tendons that hold the shoulder in its socket and lift and rotate the arm. Tears range from partial fraying to full-thickness tears that separate the tendon from the bone, and they can develop gradually with age or suddenly with an injury. Many partial tears are managed without surgery; larger or full-thickness tears may require arthroscopic repair.
Shoulder instability and dislocations
The shoulder trades stability for range of motion, which is why it is the joint most likely to dislocate. After a first dislocation the supporting tissue is often stretched or torn, and the shoulder can begin to slip repeatedly, sometimes during ordinary movements. Treatment ranges from a structured rehabilitation program to arthroscopic stabilization, depending on how often it happens and what you need the shoulder to do.
Labral tears (SLAP and Bankart)
The labrum is a rim of cartilage that deepens the shoulder socket and anchors the biceps tendon and ligaments. Tears are common in throwing and overhead athletes and after a dislocation, and they often present as catching, deep aching, or a sense that the shoulder is not seated properly. Some are managed with therapy; others are repaired arthroscopically.
Shoulder arthritis
Shoulder arthritis is the loss of the smooth cartilage surface of the joint, which leads to pain, stiffness, and grinding with movement. It can follow years of wear, an old injury, or a long-standing rotator cuff tear. Non-surgical care comes first; when it no longer controls symptoms, shoulder replacement is one of several options to discuss with your surgeon.
Broken collarbone (clavicle fracture)
The collarbone is one of the most commonly broken bones, usually from a fall onto the shoulder or onto an outstretched arm. Many clavicle fractures heal in a sling without surgery. Fixation is considered when the bone ends are widely separated, shortened, or broken into several fragments.
Frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis)
Frozen shoulder is a progressive stiffening of the capsule surrounding the joint, and it typically moves through a painful phase, a stiff phase, and a gradual thawing phase. It is more common in people with diabetes and after a period of shoulder immobilization. Most cases are managed without surgery, using physical therapy and injections.
Shoulder impingement
Impingement describes rotator cuff tendons being compressed beneath the bony arch of the shoulder, often producing pain when reaching overhead or behind the back. It frequently occurs alongside tendon inflammation or a partial cuff tear. Most cases respond to therapy aimed at shoulder mechanics.
AC joint injuries
The acromioclavicular joint sits at the top of the shoulder where the collarbone meets the shoulder blade, and it is commonly injured in falls and contact sports. Injuries range from a mild sprain to complete separation of the joint.
Biceps tendon injuries
The long head of the biceps tendon runs through the shoulder joint and is a frequent source of front-of-shoulder pain, sometimes alongside a rotator cuff or labral problem. Treatment depends on whether the tendon is inflamed, partially torn, or fully ruptured.
Shoulder arthroscopy
Arthroscopic surgery uses a small camera and instruments placed through several small incisions, letting the surgeon see and treat structures inside the joint without a large opening. Most rotator cuff repairs, labral repairs, and stabilization procedures at Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush are performed this way.
Rotator cuff repair
Repair reattaches the torn tendon to the bone, usually with anchors placed arthroscopically. Recovery is staged — a period in a sling, then supervised motion, then strengthening — and your surgeon will set the protocol for your repair.
Labral and instability repair
Labral repair reattaches the torn cartilage rim, and instability procedures restore the structures that keep the shoulder seated. The right procedure depends on what is torn, how many times the shoulder has dislocated, and whether there is any bone loss.
Shoulder replacement
Anatomic total shoulder replacement resurfaces the ball and socket, and is used when the rotator cuff is intact. Reverse shoulder replacement switches the positions of the ball and socket so the deltoid muscle can power the arm, and is used for patients who have arthritis alongside a large rotator cuff tear.
Non-surgical treatment
Physical therapy, activity modification, anti-inflammatory medication, corticosteroid injection, and orthobiologic treatment are used first for most shoulder problems.
Recovery differs by procedure, by the extent of the injury, and by the individual. Your surgeon will describe what to expect in your case.
- Arthrogram
- Bone Scan
- CT Scan
- Electromyography (EMG) and Nerve Conduction Study
- Fluoroscopy
- MRI
- Ultrasound
- X-Ray
Non-Surgical Shoulder Treatment
Most shoulder problems are treated without surgery, and that is where evaluation at Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush usually begins. Depending on the diagnosis, non-surgical care may include a structured physical therapy program, activity modification, anti-inflammatory medication, corticosteroid injection, or orthobiologic treatment such as platelet-rich plasma.
Imaging — X-ray, ultrasound, or MRI — is used to confirm the diagnosis before a treatment plan is set, rather than as a first step. Our surgeons also perform arthroscopic and minimally invasive procedures, including outpatient reverse shoulder replacement, when an operation is the right course.
What to Expect at Your First Shoulder Appointment
A first shoulder visit typically includes a history, a physical examination of the shoulder and neck, and X-rays taken on site. If the examination suggests a soft-tissue injury, an MRI or ultrasound may be ordered. You will leave with a working diagnosis and a plan, which in most cases begins with non-surgical treatment. If surgery is being considered, you will discuss the options, the alternatives, and what recovery involves before anything is scheduled.
Bring any prior imaging, a list of your medications, and your insurance card. Imaging is available at several of our locations.
Team Physician and Academic Affiliations
Physicians at Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush serve as team physicians for the Chicago White Sox (since 2003), the Chicago Bulls (since 2004), and Chicago Stars FC. An MOR physician serves as a team physician for the Chicago Steel, and MOR serves DePaul University athletics. Our foot and ankle specialists care for dancers at the Joffrey Ballet and Hubbard Street Dance Chicago. The group maintains academic ties to Rush University Medical Center.
Whether you compete professionally or play on weekends, you are evaluated in the same offices by the same physicians.
Ready to See a Shoulder Specialist?
Request an appointment below, or view our locations.
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 period in a sling followed by a gradual physical therapy program that progresses from passive to active motion and then to strengthening. Recovery is staged over several months and varies by the size of the tear, the repair performed, and the individual. Your surgeon will set the protocol for your repair and explain what to expect at each stage.
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 and White Sox — as well as high school, college, and recreational athletes. Professional athletes and recreational athletes are seen by the same physicians, in the same offices. Return-to-play timelines are tailored to the sport, position, and injury.
An orthopedic shoulder specialist — an orthopedic surgeon with fellowship training in the shoulder, or a non-surgical sports medicine physician. Both evaluate shoulder pain; which one you see depends on what is causing it, and a first visit with either can determine that. Seeing a shoulder specialist does not commit you to surgery.
Two things are worth asking about: fellowship training specific to the shoulder, and how often the surgeon performs the particular procedure you may need. A surgeon who performs rotator cuff repairs weekly and one who performs reverse shoulder replacements weekly are not always the same person. It is reasonable to ask directly, and reasonable to seek a second opinion.
No referral is required to request an appointment. Some insurance plans require one for coverage, so it is worth checking with your plan before your visit.
The information on this page is general and is not a substitute for a medical evaluation. Talk to a physician about your own symptoms.