Stiffness, pain, and injury to the shoulder can severely impact one’s ability to lead their life without hassle. Whether the shoulder was recently injured or the issue has been building over time, the effect on everyday activities can be acutely noticeable when unable to perform tasks like lifting or carrying objects.

If your shoulder has been giving you a hard time, the first order of business is to rest and try at-home treatments. The next step? See an orthopaedic shoulder specialist.

Shoulder specialists have trained extensively in the treatment of the complex system that forms the shoulder muscle. A visit to a shoulder specialist will help you in preventing further injury to your shoulder and get back to a quality of life that allows you to do the things you enjoy most.

The fellowship-trained physicians at MidAmerica’s Total Joint Clinic and Hand to Shoulder Clinic include some of the countries top shoulder specialists. Dr. Adam F. Meisel, MD specializes in sports medicine, arthroscopy and comprehensive shoulder reconstruction.

While Dr. Meisel has a strong background in sports medicine, he and the team of shoulder specialists at MidAmerica treat patients from all backgrounds.

Dr. Meisel has stayed heavily involved in research, publishing his findings and is always looking for the next in cutting edge innovations that he can use to improve the lives of his patients.

When to See a Specialist

If you’ve been experiencing shoulder issues, you may be asking yourself, “When do I need to see a shoulder specialist?” The short answer: sooner is always better than later. Below is a list of scenarios for when it might be in your best interest to see a shoulder specialist:

• If your pain has lasted for several weeks.
• If your pain isnt being managed by at home treatments such as pain medications, stretching, or icing.
• If you’ve been formally diagnosed with an injury from your primary care physician.

Common Shoulder Injuries

The first step when seeing a shoulder specialist at MidAmerica is diagnosis. Common shoulder injuries include:

• Rotator Cuff Tear
• Shoulder Arthritis (including osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and post-traumatic arthritis)
• Tendon Injury
• Dislocation

Treatment

Once diagnosed, your team of shoulder specialists at MidAmerica will determine the best approach to treatment. Possible treatment methods may include:

Non-Surgical

Your specialist will likely recommend starting with a non-surgical approach, which might include:

• Corticosteroid injections to help reduce inflammation in the joint that causes pain.
• Physical Therapy to strengthen the shoulder and teach athletes to avoid further damage from their sport. Your physical therapist may include some gentle resistance exercises as well to increase blood flow to the shoulder and help promote healing.

If your shoulder is not responding sufficiently to non-surgical treatments, a shoulder replacement specialist will determine if you are a candidate for surgical treatment, and if so, what the best surgical approach is for you.

Surgical

There are several types of surgeries to treat a damaged shoulder. Your MidAmerica shoulder replacement specialist will determine which surgery best suits your needs. Surgeries performed by shoulder replacement specialists include:

Rotator Cuff Repair: This surgery involves the repair of the complex network of muscles and tendons that hold the shoulder joint in place and aid the joint in movement.

Shoulder Arthroplasty: Also referred to as total shoulder replacement, this surgery involves the complete replacement of the bones making up the shoulder joint.

Why MidAmerica?

The shoulder specialists at MidAmerica are recognized experts in the field of shoulder joint treatment and reconstructive surgery, but don’t take our word for it.

At MidAmerica, we aim to provide the highest quality care marked by courtesy, respect and integrity. To make an appointment at our Total Joint Clinic or Hand to Shoulder Clinic, or to learn more about MidAmerica’s Palos Hills and Mokena clinics and the different treatment options available to you, call (708) 237-7200. Most insurance plans are accepted.

A bad knee can make it extremely difficult to get “back in the game”. Outside of sports and exercise, damaged knees can make everyday tasks like sitting, walking, or climbing stairs next to impossible. Knee issues can develop from wear-and-tear over the years or a sustained acute injury.

Treatment for knee injuries range from preventative measures like braces and a knowledge of sports medicine and proper sports technique, to treatment methods like steroid injections, physical therapy, and if needed, surgery.

Knee specialists are doctors who have deep knowledge of the intricacies of the knee joint, and whose goal it is to return their patients to the highest level of knee function and mobility possible.

At MidAmerica Orthopaedics, the team of knee specialists at the Total Joint Clinic will work together to get you back to normal as swiftly and safely as possible. The team takes an integrative approach to treatment, combining physical therapy, non-surgical treatment, and surgical treatment if necessary.

On this team of knee specialists at the Total Joint Clinic is Dr. Sarkis M. Bedikian D.O. He is an orthopaedic surgeon specializing in reconstruction, hip replacement, and knee joint replacement.

Dr. Bedikian trained at Midwestern University and is affiliated with the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and American Osteopathic Academy of Orthopedics, among other professional groups.

Dr. Bedikian’s main focus is to improve a patient’s quality of life. He approaches treatment with each patient as a collaborative effort and partnership between patient and doctor.

Common Knee Injuries

Our knee specialists, including Dr. Bedikian, are well versed in the treatment of a wide range of knee injuries. Most knee issues stem from some type of arthritic damage. Common knee injuries and the arthritic causes of various knee injuries include:

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is known as “wear and tear” arthritis. It is the most common source of knee pain and knee damage in adults. With osteoarthritis the cartilage between joints wears away over time, causing the bone to painfully rub together. This friction between bone leads to stiffness, pain, and decreased mobility.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disorder in which the cartilage between joints is worn away by inflammation of the joint itself. Like osteoarthritis, this causes pain, swelling, and stiffness to the area.

Post-Traumatic Arthritis

Post-traumatic arthritis is caused by direct injury to a joint. A direct blow to the joint may cause acute and ongoing issues and cartilage damage leading to stiffness, pain, and mobility problems.

Treatment

As the condition of the knee joint worsens, it is important to seek treatment as soon as possible. Treatment options may involve pre-op physical therapy, steroid injections, surgery, and post-op physical therapy.

Your knee specialist will try the least invasive methods first and if you’re condition does not improve, they will consider whether you make a good candidate for joint replacement surgery.

Surgery

Knee replacement surgery, referred to as knee arthroplasty or total knee replacement, involves the insertion of implants to resurface the joint and replace the missing cartilage. Today, the surgery is typically performed in a minimally invasive manner and with the help of a robotic assistant.

During a minimally invasive total knee replacement, a knee replacement specialist will begin by creating a short vertical incision across the knee to access the joint. From there, a surgeon will cut the surrounding muscle to expose the joint. Finally, they will remove the damaged cartilage and replace each component of the knee joint with implants to recreate a healthy knee joint.

Why MidAmerica?

The knee specialists at MidAmerica are recognized experts in their field, but don’t take our word for it.

At MidAmerica, we aim to provide the highest quality care marked by courtesy, respect and integrity. To make an appointment with a knee specialist at the Total Joint Clinic, or to learn more about MidAmerica’s Palos Hills and Mokena clinics and the different treatment options available to you, call (708) 237-7200. Most insurance plans are accepted.

Your joint health is an integral part of your body’s overall health and well-being. Healthy joints allow us to walk, run, sit, throw, grab and reach — all movements that contribute to a high-quality and independent life. When your joints become injured, you can lose your ability to perform the simplest of everyday tasks like climbing stairs, lifting objects, or even sitting. To maintain your best quality of life, don’t skimp on the joint care. If joint pain and stiffness is interfering with your everyday life, it’s time to see a specialist.

Total joint specialists are highly trained medical professionals who have studied the complex system of bones, tendons, and muscles that make up the body’s various joints — including the shoulder, knees, and hip. The fellowship-trained physicians at MidAmerica’s Total Joint Clinic include some of the countries top, award winning total joint specialists.

Dr. Sarkis M. Bedikian

Dr. Sarkis M. Bedikian D.O. specializes in innovative hip and knee replacement surgeries, and strives to treat his relationships with his patients as a team effort to achieve optimum well-being.

Dr. Adam F. Meisel

Dr. Adam F. Meisel, MD specializes in sports medicine, arthroscopy and comprehensive shoulder reconstruction. Dr. Meisel aims to return his patients to an active lifestyle, whether that’s as an athlete or “weekend warrior”.

Under the care of, Dr. Bedikian, Dr. Meisel, or any of their colleagues at the Total Joint Clinic, you can rest assured that you will be receiving the highest quality of care from the highest quality of total joint specialists.

When to See a Specialist

If you’ve been experiencing joint pain and a loss of mobility that is affecting your quality of life, it’s time to see a total joint specialist. Without treatment, your joint’s condition will only deteriorate. If you are experiencing joint issues, don’t wait. See a specialist at the MidAmerica Total Joint Clinic, as soon as you can to get on the path to recovery.

Common Causes of Joint Injury and Pain

When you first arrive to MidAmerica to see a total joint specialist, the first thing your specialist will do is seek a diagnosis to explain your pain and lack of joint mobility. The major culprit when it comes to a majority of joint injuries is arthritis.

Arthritis is an inflammatory condition caused by the breakdown of the cartilage between joint bones. When the cartilage wears away, the bones painfully grind against one another. This friction leads to stiffness, loss of mobility, swelling and pain. Common types of arthritis include:

Osteoarthritis: known as the “wear and tear” arthritis, osteoarthritis is typically seen in older patients and is caused by the repeated motion of the joints which can eventually wear down the cartilage.

Rheumatoid arthritis: unlike osteoarthritis which comes with age, rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that causes the body’s immune system to attack otherwise healthy cartilage.

Post-traumatic arthritis: this form of arthritis results after experiencing injury to the joint. Whether you were in a car accident or experienced a sports related injury, trauma to the joint and surrounding muscles and bones can cause the joint cartilage to break down faster.

Treatment

Once your joint issue is diagnosed, your team of joint specialists at MidAmerica will determine the best approach to treatment. Possible treatment methods for various joint injuries or diseases may include:

Non-Surgical

No matter your injury, your team of joint specialists will likely recommend starting with a non-surgical approach, which might include:

• Physical Therapy to strengthen the muscles around the joint and teach the patient the best way to move to avoid further injury to the joint.
• Corticosteroid injections to help fight pain-causing inflammation.

While total joint replacement surgeries have steadily increased in popularity, and produce great results, surgery is still a significant hardship on the body which is why most specialists will opt for non-surgical treatment first. If non-surgical methods such as physical therapy do not effectively improve your joint health and quality of life, your total joint specialist will determine if you are an appropriate candidate for surgery, including total joint replacement.

Surgical

If the condition of your joint does not improve via non-surgical treatment, you may be a candidate for total joint replacement surgery. Total joint replacement surgery involves parts or the entirety of the knee, hip, or shoulder joint bone and cartilage being removed and replaced with a prosthesis. The prothesis, typically crafted from plastic or metal, allows the artificial joint to move and function as a healthy joint would.

Total joint replacement surgeries have been rising in prominence since the 1960s. As time has passed the techniques and prostheses used in total joint replacements have significantly advanced to include minimally invasive surgery techniques and specialty custom implants. Today, total joint replacement is shown to significantly reduce pain and increase function in the case of 90 - 95% of patients.

Total joint replacement surgeries performed by total joint specialists include:

Total knee replacement: Knee arthroplasty, or total knee replacement surgery, is one of the more complex total joint replacement surgeries. Replacing the knee joint involves replacing three parts of the joint, the medial (inside), lateral (outside) and patellofemoral (front) with metal or medical grade plastic.

The prostheses are typically held in place to the leg bones with bone cement or an advanced material that allows for new bone tissue growth to anchor the new joint.

Hip replacement: Also referred to as hip arthroplasty, involves replacing the head of the thigh bone (femur) and the hip socket (acetabulum). The replacement socket is typically crafted from a polyethylene, a medical grade plastic, and the femur head is typically crafted from metal. The metal and plastic slide smoothly against each other, mimicking the movement of healthy joint bone and cartilage.

Shoulder replacement: Similar to a hip replacement, a typical shoulder replacement (also referred to as shoulder arthroplasty) involves replacing the glenoid (shoulder socket) with a plastic prosthesis and the head of the humerus (upper arm bone) with a metal ball.

While this traditional method of shoulder replacement surgery is effective, reverse total shoulder replacement is growing in popularity. In a reverse shoulder replacement surgery, the metal ball is instead placed in the damaged shoulder socket while the plastic socket is affixed atop the arm bone.

This method takes pressure off the shoulder muscles and tendons, including the rotator cuff, which typically help hold and move the ball of the join in the shoulder socket. Reverse total shoulder replacement surgery can help patients avoid other injuries, such as a rotator cuff tear.

Why MidAmerica?

The team at MidAmerica’s Total Joint Clinic is comprised of specialists, surgeons and physical therapists, who are recognized experts in the field of joint treatment and replacement surgery. Our team works with each individual patient’s case to craft the best, least invasive integrative treatment plan to get each patient the best results possible with the shortest recovery time. But don’t take our word for it!

At MidAmerica, we aim to provide the highest quality care marked by courtesy, respect and integrity. To make an appointment at our Total Joint Clinic or to learn more about MidAmerica’s Palos Hills and Mokena clinics and the different treatment options available to you, call (708) 237-7200. Most insurance plans are accepted.