Blog Archive

What is Shoulder Arthritis? Shoulder arthritis, also known as glenohumeral arthritis, occurs when the cartilage in the shoulder joint deteriorates, leading to pain, stiffness, and decreased range of motion. This condition can affect individuals of all ages, but it's more common in older adults due to wear and tear over...

A boutonnière deformity is a type of hand injury that affects the tendons and joints in a finger. A hard blow, a deep cut, or even arthritis can cause tendon damage in a finger, which can make the middle joint jut upward and the tip of the finger jut upward as well....

From building friendships to getting regular exercise, sports offer a lot of benefits for people of all ages. It’s fun, but unfortunately, playing sports can also be dangerous. An estimated 8.6 million Americans suffer sports-related injuries each year. While it’s impossible to prevent every sports injury, there is a lot you can...

Are you in pain? Whether it’s the result of a recent injury or a degenerative condition, such as arthritis, musculoskeletal pain can steal your mobility and limit your quality of life. Traditional treatments, such as pain medication and physical therapy, are effective for some people, but if you’ve tried everything...

Cells are the basic building blocks of every living thing. There are more than 200 different types of human cells, and your body is home to trillions of them. Each type of cell has a specific purpose, and the most versatile of them all is the stem cell. Stem cells...

Sports are a great way to stay active and socialize with others. But, no matter your pastime, playing sports can cause injuries, especially in the arms and shoulders. Reaching up, throwing, handling a racquet or club, or even falling awkwardly on your arm can all put you at risk of...

Arthritis is a very common joint condition, affecting 24% of American adults. You probably know at least one person who has it, and if that person is your parent, grandparent, or sibling, you may wonder if an arthritis diagnosis is inevitable for you, too. Some types of arthritis can run in...

A hairline fracture is a tiny crack in a bone. Unlike stable fractures and compound fractures, a hairline fracture doesn’t go all the way through the bone, but that doesn’t mean it’s any less serious. Hairline fractures are painful, and pain often gets worse over time. They can take about eight...

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy is one of the most popular methods of regenerative medicine today. Using elements of your own blood, PRP therapy maximizes your body’s natural healing ability to repair damaged tissue, relieve pain, and restore healthy function. With a low risk of side effects and customizable treatment, PRP...

A ganglion cyst is a noncancerous lump that develops on a joint. It can appear suddenly, change in size and shape rapidly, and swell with activity. Discovering that you have a ganglion cyst can be startling. Although they’re almost always harmless, some ganglion cysts can press on nerves, cause pain,...

It’s no secret that physical activity benefits both your body and your mind. But unfortunately, many athletes are all too familiar with a common downside of physical activity, and that’s injury. Regularly participating in exercise and sports can increase your risk of getting injured, from tendonitis to torn rotator cuffs....

Any serious injury to the musculoskeletal system is considered trauma, and these injuries can involve bones, joints, muscles, ligaments, tendons, and other soft tissues. Typically, these injuries occur due to external issues, such as car accidents, falls, or sports mishaps. Trauma often causes immediate pain, swelling, and other symptoms, and...

You rely on your hands for almost every task you do. Whether you’re playing a game, working at a computer, or even relaxing on the couch scrolling your phone, you’re using the bones, muscles, and tendons in your hands and fingers. Since you use your hands almost constantly, you’ll probably...

More than 54 million Americans have arthritis. There are nearly 100 types of arthritis, but they all share some key similarities. Arthritis is a degenerative condition that makes joints stiff, swollen, and painful, and it can affect nearly any joint in the body, including the elbow. Elbow arthritis can severely...

Are you bothered by musculoskeletal pain? About half of American adults suffer from musculoskeletal disorders, which include chronic conditions and injuries to bones, joints, and muscles. These musculoskeletal conditions can be debilitating, and finding effective treatment can be difficult. If you’ve tried all the conservative options out there, and you...

Maybe you slept in an awkward position. Maybe you got hurt during your workout. Or, maybe you’ve noticed more pain with age. Shoulder pain can develop for a number of reasons, but how can you tell if you should see a doctor about it? Kristopher Downing, MD, & James Andry,...

Your rotator cuff consists of a group of tendons and muscles that connect your arm to your torso. Your rotator cuff helps hold your shoulder joint together and allows for a wide range of movement, making your shoulder joint one of the most flexible joints in your body. Unfortunately, this...

Persistent ulnar neuritis, cubital tunnel syndrome, ulnar nerve entrapment at the elbow...that chronic ache along the inner aspect of the elbow with associated clumsiness and weakness and numbness of the small finger side of the hand can be quite debilitating and potentially disabling if left undetected or untreated. In its...

If you’re facing orthopedic surgery, are you looking at the recovery process with trepidation? If so, you don’t have to. Physical therapy can help you heal quicker and get you back to doing the things you love. In this blog, Kristopher Downing, MD, & James Andry, MD of Upper Extremity...

You rely on your hands for nearly everything you do. And when pain or dysfunction stops them from working like they used to, you notice very quickly. Your hands are made up of a complex network of muscles, tendons, and delicate bones. A wide variety of hand injuries, wrist injuries,...

Orthopedic injuries take many forms, and suffering from one can limit your life. The term “orthopedic” refers to the skeletal system and the associated ligaments, muscles, and joints. Maybe you suffered a ligament tear playing your favorite sport. Or maybe you have osteoarthritis, and you’ve noticed that joint pain is...

Some hand injuries happen in a moment. A sports accident or the attempt to catch yourself as you fall can leave you with a fracture. In other cases, a hand injury can develop more slowly. Overuse or arthritis can cause joint pain and stiffness that builds over time.  Kristopher Downing,...

If you find yourself with a shoulder injury, your first question might be, “When can I get back in the game?” The answer depends on the severity of your injury and the sport you play, but Upper Extremity Specialists is here to help. Sports that require throwing or repetitive overhead...

You rely on your shoulders throughout the day. Whether you’re reaching into a cabinet, cooking dinner, or driving, all of these actions require your shoulder muscles. And if your shoulder hurts, it can stop you in your tracks. If you’re suffering severe shoulder pain, a rotator cuff injury could be...

More than 1 million total joint replacements are performed each year in the United States. A total joint replacement is a specialized surgical procedure that removes damaged components of a joint and replaces them with prosthetics. Shoulder replacement surgery is a treatment option for people who have severe arthritis or...

Your shoulders are extremely mobile joints. These structures are made up of bones, muscles, and tendons, and they all work together to give your arms motion. Because of this complexity, shoulders are uniquely susceptible to damage and injury. This also means any number of factors can cause shoulder pain. At...

About 6.3 million Americans suffer broken bones — also called fractures — each year. Broken bones are some of the most common musculoskeletal injuries among people of all ages, and the average person sustains two during their lifetime. Your bones are naturally hard, but they can bend slightly to absorb...

A sprain is a stretched or torn ligament. When you think of a sprain, an ankle sprain might be the first injury that comes to mind. But did you know that nearly any ligament in your body can be sprained? Your shoulder contains ligaments that connect your bones and help...

Your body is unique. Musculoskeletal injuries and chronic conditions, such as arthritis, can restrict your mobility and inhibit your daily life. And the best way to treat these issues can vary from person to person. Conservative treatments, such as physical therapy and medications, can help some people with musculoskeletal issues,...

Our elbows take a lot of abuse, so it’s not surprising that elbow disorders are pretty common. However, because they can involve numerous parts of your elbow joint, there could be numerous things to blame. That’s where we come in. After spending more than two decades practicing orthopedic medicine, Thomas...

Regenerative medicine is a type of treatment that’s rising rapidly in the world of orthopedics. Why? Because it utilizes your body’s natural ability to heal itself without the need for drugs or surgery. Orthopedic conditions can be complicated. Illnesses and injuries that affect the musculoskeletal system are often painful and...

Hand injuries can happen to anyone. A few of the most common causes of hand injuries are getting hurt in sports, making repeated motions at work, and developing chronic conditions, such as arthritis. When you suffer a hand injury, it can quickly make even the simplest tasks challenging. For top-quality...

Regenerative medicine taps into your body’s natural ability to heal itself. It has the power to enhance and speed up the healing process, and it only uses elements from your own body. When it comes to treating orthopedic conditions affecting bone, muscle, and joints, the team at Upper Extremity Specialists,...

As the most flexible joint in your body, your shoulder gives you the ability to lift, reach, and carry things in your daily life. It’s made of three bones that work together in a ball-and-socket joint. The shoulder joint is held together with tendons and ligaments, but because it has...

Injuries happen to everyone. Whether you’re an athlete or an office worker, inflammation, fractures, and more can limit your mobility and cause significant pain. To top it off, recovering from a musculoskeletal injury is often a daunting process.  But Kristopher Downing, MD, Daniel Brereton, DO, and our team at Upper...

As two of your most flexible joints, your shoulders help you move through life. They help you reach, stretch, lift, hug, and much more. But the range of motion in your shoulders also puts them at greater risk for injury. Arthritis, injury, and overuse — or a combination of all...

Your biceps muscle is located on the front of your arm, between your shoulder and elbow. It’s a bi-articular muscle, because it helps control both shoulder and elbow movement. Your biceps muscles are essential in lifting your forearms. If one of them hurts, it can quickly begin to limit your...

Your elbow joint connects the three bones in your arm: the humerus, ulna, and radius. Along with these bones is cartilage, synovial tissue, and synovial fluid. If any of these parts are damaged through injury or a degenerative condition, pain and joint inflammation can result.   Chronic elbow pain can...

Your shoulder is one of the most flexible joints in your body. It’s held together by your rotator cuff, which consists of a group of tendons and muscles. Whenever you move your arm, reach above you, or lift something, you use your rotator cuff. Because your shoulders get so much...

The thought of staying awake for surgery might not sound too appealing, but when it comes to hand surgery, it’s growing in popularity. And there are good reasons for it. There are a number of benefits, from improved surgical outcomes to shorter recovery times, that make it worth considering. WALANT,...

Shoulder replacement surgeries are common, with more than 50,000 performed each year in the United States. These surgeries remove damaged bone and cartilage and replace part or all of the joint with a prosthesis.  You may need to consider replacing a shoulder if you have severe joint damage from an...

Elbow injuries take a variety of forms. Some can cause radiating, sharp pain down your arm to your hand that feels like hitting your funny bone. Other injuries cause a dull, constant ache and joint stiffness. Injuries affecting your elbow can make it difficult to perform your work or enjoy...

Endoscopic carpal tunnel release can be done, and is frequently done, on both wrists during one session of general anesthesia. This allows for one episode of surgical care and one postoperative rehabilitation period. Patients are advised to and should be able to return to activities of daily living, light work...

Carpal tunnel syndrome is a very common condition that affects the hand and fingers. It’s caused by a pinched nerve in your wrist, and symptoms often include pain, numbness, and loss of grip strength. Anyone can develop carpal tunnel, but your gender, occupation, and some health conditions can increase your...