Chronic shoulder pain can have a variety of causes, from severe damage from a sports injury or car accident to wear and tear of the joint’s structures over years of normal daily use. The approach to treatment will depend on the patient and their unique anatomy and lifestyle needs.

Doctors will always consider conservative, nonsurgical methods of treatment first. But for some patients who have severe rotator cuff damage from osteoarthritis, reverse shoulder replacement can help reduce pain and restore the range of motion in a person’s joint.

Reverse shoulder replacement surgery is an alternative to traditional shoulder replacement surgery. The unique implant design changes the mechanics of the shoulder, as the ball-and-socket device that is used for traditional repair is reversed.

The procedure can help to relieve intense pain that can stop people in their tracks when performing routine tasks, such as cleaning, dressing, and combing hair.

For more information about reverse shoulder replacement, contact our joint replacement experts at Tahoe Forest Orthopedics & Sports Medicine by calling (530) 587-7461 or make an appointment request.