Q&A with Shoulder Surgeon Mr Marcus Lee
Consultant Shoulder Surgeon Mr Marcus Lee answers questions about Frozen Shoulders, steroid injections and other topical issues relating to the shoulder. Mr Lee is a Consultant Orthopaedic Shoulder and Elbow Surgeon at University College Hospital (NHS) and the Hospital of St John & St Elizabeth (privately in St Johns Wood). Mr Lee’s main interests are upper limb trauma, arthroscopic and open shoulder & elbow surgery, sports injuries and shoulder & elbow joint replacement.Mr Lee is a Member of the British Elbow & Shoulder Society.
Common questions about Shoulder Pain answered
BOOST PHYSIO have had very positive dealings with Mr Lee and highly recommend him as an excellent shoulder surgeon. His private practice is based in St Johns Wood at The Hospital of St John and St Elizabeth. For appointments with Mr Lee contact his private secretary on 020 7121 0341
BOOST PHYSIO: Tell us about the latest understanding about Frozen Shoulders.
Mr Marcus Lee: The Frozen Shoulder remains an enigmatic condition. It even has many names. Whilst it is a common cause of shoulder pain and restriction, there is still much to learn, and the processes which lead to it forming in the first place are unknown. We know it is more common in people with diabetes, and certain other conditions. A genetic link has been suggested, but the evidence is still rather flimsy.
BOOST PHYSIO: Are there new treatment techniques and options that you offer for Frozen Shoulder?
Mr Marcus Lee:There are all sorts of treatments for the Frozen Shoulder and it can be quite confusing. What I try to achieve in my practice is to first of all obtain the correct diagnosis. From there a plan of management can be formulated. Frozen Shoulder is recognised as having different phases, so the management should depend on the phase of the disease and the patient’s preferences. In general, I try to start with more conservative, less risky treatments first.
BOOST PHYSIO: Many patients are nervous about steroid injections- is this justified?
This is an image of the front of the right shoulder showing examples of some tears to the rotator cuff of the shoulder
Mr Marcus Lee: Steroid injections for shoulder conditions have been in common use for many years. The dosages used are small, and the side effects tend to be minimal. Having said that, steroid injections still need to be carefully controlled, and it is not advisable to have too many. When offering a steroid injection, I usually prefer that they are given in conjuction with an ultrasound or x-ray scan, so we get more information about the joint, as well as a ‘targeted’ injection.
BOOST PHYSIO: How important is the physiotherapy exercise rehab for patients with shoulder conditions?
Mr Marcus Lee: I think when you see a physiotherapist, it is key that both parties have a good understanding of what they want to achieve, from the outset. The shoulder is a complex joint that takes some understanding, so a physiotherapist is well-placed to look at an individual as a whole. Once that is achieved, one can start to look at individual elements, such as coordination, smoothness of movement and strength in the joint itself. If both a surgeon and a physiotherapist are involved in a person’s care, it is definitely more productive if they communicate effectively.
Boost Physio treats all shoulder injuries ranging from frozen shoulder to rotator cuff injuries, dislocations to post-operative rehabilitation. We always work very closely together as part of the medical team looking after the patient.
BOOST PHYSIO staff at our East Finchley Branch
Mon-Thurs 8am-9pm
Fri 8am-3pm
Sat/Sun 9am-6pm
BOOST PHYSIO works with major insurance companies like: BUPA, AVIVA, WPA, CIGNA and Simplyhealth. We usually deal directly with your insurance company.
