Why Shoulder Replacement Surgery May Be Necessary For Pitchers With Shoulder Arthritis

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Eight years ago, I tore the meniscus in my left knee while squatting down to dust the furniture in my living room. Initially, I assumed the pain would subside in a few days. Unfortunately, the pain, and swelling, only got worse over time. So, I underwent surgery to remove the part of my meniscus that was torn. Unfortunately, I’ve developed osteoarthritis in this knee during the years since my surgery. I’ve tried several home treatments to relieve my symptoms. Sadly, none of them have worked. Because I miss my active lifestyle, I’m considering making an appointment with an orthopedist. On this blog, you will discover the latest trends in osteoarthritis treatment.

Why Shoulder Replacement Surgery May Be Necessary For Pitchers With Shoulder Arthritis

31 May 2018
 Categories: , Blog


Baseball pitchers often suffer from a variety of shoulder problems due to the nature of their career. However, few problems will be as debilitating as shoulder arthritis. When it occurs, the pitcher may require shoulder replacement in order to stay active.

Pitchers Are Prone To Shoulder Problems

The repetitive nature of pitching, paired with the extreme speeds they achieve with their throws, can cause a variety of serious shoulder problems that are hard to manage. As a result, they often spend much of their life icing their shoulder or treating it for various injuries.

Unfortunately, all of these injuries are likely to contribute to the development of more serious conditions. In some instances it could even lead to shoulder arthritis. When this problem occurs, a pitcher is going to be taken out of the game until they do something to manage it.

Shoulder Arthritis Can Be Debilitating For Pitchers

Arthritis in the shoulder is a serious problem because it can make a pitcher's arm nearly impossible to use for baseball. While arthritis may not attack it constantly, even one attack during a game can be debilitating and take them out for the rest of the week. Even worse, it can cause other types of damage that make it impossible for them to throw.

Those who are suffering from advanced shoulder arthritis caused by pitching should really consider the many benefits of shoulder replacement surgery. While this treatment method will take some time from which to recover, it will help to keep pitchers from losing their position in the long run.

How Shoulder Replacement Surgery Can Help You Recover

Shoulder replacement surgery for arthritis is a wise choice for pitchers because it will take the damaged shoulder joint out of the body and replace it with a more stable variety. This metal shoulder joint won't be affected by arthritis and, with time and practice, will give you just as much pitching control as you would have had with your original shoulder. And in some instances, it can even add years to your career that would have been cut short by serious arthritis. 

So if you are a pitcher who wants to save their career, it might be time to research shoulder replacement surgery. Yes, this surgery will take out of play for a season and take about a year from which to recover. But if you get it done early enough, you could save yourself from early retirement.