Surgery for a dislocated shoulder can be done with the traditional large incision or arthroscopically, using very small incisions and long surgical instruments to reach the area to be repaired. Both types of surgeries have their pros and cons.

Shoulders are joints that take on a heavy load from us. They have to be able to turn and pivot, and the must be able to bear a significant amount of weight. They get jarred from time to time as we unexpectedly catch something that is falling, for example, and we often stretch them more than they should be. As a result, once they've been hurt, it may be difficult to get them back to their original condition.

Reactions to steroid injections have been reported and can be either local or systemic. Local reactions refer to skin and muscular changes around the site of the injection. Rash, redness, tenderness, and as you described, skin peeling can occur. Muscle spasms present at the time of the injection may go away (a positive side effect of the drug).

Whether or not steroid injections help with shoulder pain has been debated and studied for quite some time. There is some evidence that certain soft tissue disorders respond well to steroid injections. There is also some proof that injecting the correct site makes a difference in results.

Arthroscopic surgery, surgery where the doctor makes a few tiny incisions and uses long, narrow instruments to perform the surgery, is an increasingly popular option when it is possible. Shoulder surgery is one area where arthroscopic technique is frequently used. It is used often when a shoulder has been dislocated, leaving the joint unstable. Unfortunately, the surgery isn't always successful over the long-term and the shoulder may dislocate again.

Do steroid injections help with shoulder pain or not? This question has been debated and studied for quite some time. There is some evidence that certain soft tissue disorders respond well to steroid injections. There is also some proof that injecting the correct site makes a difference in results. The outcome of this study supports the importance of accurate needle placement and injection for best results.

Not all injuries or problems involving the shoulder (or other joints) can be seen on x-rays. X-rays show the bones and some of the body structure, but not everything. In cases such as your husband's, the x-rays are good for ruling out other medical problems that could have been causing pain, such as a fracture or a dislocation.

Lori A. Michener, PhD, PT, ATC, et al. Reliability and Diagnostic Accuracy of 5 Physical Examination Tests and Combination of Tests for Subacromial Impingement.

When doctors are testing for injuries of muscles, bones or joints, there is a lot that they can't see. However, they do know that if you can do certain movements, then certain problems may be ruled out. The reverse is true too. If you can't do certain motions or movements, then there are certain problems that the doctor may consider. By doing a few different tests, the doctor may be able to narrow down your particular problem, avoiding a misdiagnosis.

The shoulder is a joint that takes on a big burden. It needs to be able to take on a heavy load and still be able to move around freely as we need it to. When pain strikes the shoulder, however, it can become difficult to do some of the most minor of tasks. And shoulder pain is common. Slightly more than 33 percent of visits to doctors for complaints of muscle, joint, or bone pain are because of shoulder problems.

SLAP stands for superior labral anterior-posterior. It refers to an injury affecting the labrum, a fibrous rim of cartilage around the edge of the shoulder joint. To help you better understand this, it might be helpful to review some basic anatomy. The shoulder is made up of three bones: the scapula (shoulder blade), the humerus (upper arm bone), and the clavicle (collarbone). A part of the scapula, called the glenoid forms the shoulder socket.