Nuno Sampaio Gomes

A rotator cuff tear is an injury to the tendons that help the shoulder move. The most common symptoms are pain when lifting the arm, weakness, and difficulty performing simple tasks, such as combing your hair. If you experience these symptoms, visit us for a physical examination and, if necessary, an MRI scan.

“Frozen shoulder” happens when the tissue surrounding the shoulder joint becomes inflamed and thickened, making it difficult and painful to move the arm. It can develop after an injury, surgery, or without an obvious cause. Treatment includes physiotherapy, medication, and in some cases, injections or surgery.

This may be biceps tendonitis, an inflammation of one of the tendons that connects the biceps muscle to the shoulder. It is common with repetitive activities or physical exertion. Rest, medication, and physiotherapy usually resolve it; if there is no improvement, we can suggest other treatments.

When the shoulder “comes out of place,” it is a dislocation, where the arm bone comes out of its normal position in the joint. It causes severe pain, deformity, and inability to move the arm. Immediate consultation is important to relocate the shoulder, avoid complications, and receive a rehabilitation plan to prevent new dislocations.

You should seek specialized care and an opinion from an orthopedist regarding shoulder pathologies. Medical advice often differs between professionals, depending on their experience and the type of problem involved.

It depends on the type of surgery. Generally, there is a 3- to 5-week period of immobilization of the arm with a brace, allowing simple, pain-free movements. However, there are procedures after which prolonged immobilization is not necessary. As a rule, physical rehabilitation is indicated postoperatively. In some cases, you may be unable to work and/or play sports for up to 6 months, depending on your needs.

Some surgeries generate more pain than others in the postoperative period, and shoulder surgeries are included in this group. However, peripheral anesthesia—a "prick" in the neck to numb the arm, in addition to general anesthesia that puts the patient to sleep—is very helpful in pain control during the first 12 hours. After hospital discharge, appropriate analgesic medications will be prescribed.