What to Expect
Are you suffering from shoulder pain and curious about what a visit to a board-certified and fellowship-trained shoulder surgeon like Dr. David Hovis at The Shoulder Institute at ORTHOKnox will be like?
We want you to know you’re in good hands – and for you to be completely comfortable with your decision to come to The Shoulder Institute at ORTHOKnox. To that end, we’ve provided a brief overview below outlining what you can expect when you visit us.
1. Your Initial Consultation
At your very first visit, Dr. Hovis will discuss your symptoms with you, along with how the problem started, where it is felt, and exactly how you experience it. He will go over your medical history and may also take some initial X-rays.
Based on your initial exam alone, Dr. Hovis will have a good idea of the type of shoulder problem involved – for example, whether the injury is related to your rotator cuff, labrum (lining of your shoulder socket that helps to secure the joint), arthritis, or another issue affecting your shoulder.
In most cases, patients leave our office after their first visit with a pretty good understanding of why their shoulder hurts.
2. Diagnostic Imaging
Many patients who come to visit us about their shoulder pain will go on to get a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) test. This is important because an MRI reveals soft tissue injuries much better than X-rays. When patients return to our office with the MRI results, Dr. Hovis can show them on the MRI images exactly where the problem is. You will be able to “see” your rotator cuff, labrum, etc. that is causing your pain and symptoms.
3. Treatment Plan
At this point, Dr. Hovis and a new patient will agree on a treatment program. Most often, we will start with the most conservative approaches available. This might include cortisone injections, physical therapy, anti-inflammatory medications, and even modifying activity levels for a period of time.
If nonsurgical efforts are not successful at alleviating shoulder pain or other symptoms, surgery may be the next step. The type of surgery will depend on the shoulder condition involved.
4. After Surgery
If surgery was opted for, physical therapy for a period of time afterward will be the next step. The type of PT you need and for how long will depend on the shoulder condition being treated, its severity, and a patient’s treatment goals. In the vast majority of case, this will include various range-of-motion and strength training. After physical therapy is completed, our patients are often very happy to be relieved of their symptoms and pleasantly surprised to have regained their arm strength and range of motion to what it was before their shoulder injury.
Shoulder Surgery in Knoxville and Athens, TN
Do you have additional questions about what it will be like as a patient of Dr. Hovis at The Shoulder Institute at ORTHOKnox – or what your treatments options are? Call us at (865) 251-3030 or request an appointment now. We’re happy to help.