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Dr. Hibbitts
Shoulder Injury Specialist

Sunnyvale, Texas & Greater Dallas Area
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Shoulder Anatomy
Common Symptons
Common Injuries
Treatments for Shoulder Pain

Shoulder Injury Specialist | Sports Injuries & Chronic Shoulder Pain Treatment

Shoulder pain? CONTACT US to meet with shoulder injury specialist Dr. John Hibbitts for diagnosis and treatment, whether your pain was caused by a sports injury or an accident at work or home. 

Proudly Serving the Sunnyvale, Texas Community

Dr. John M. Hibbitts has diagnosed and treated shoulder pain and injuries for more than 20 years. Founder of the Sunnyvale Sports Medicine and Orthopedic Center, he is a top specialist in shoulder injuries in the Sunnyvale and Dallas, Texas, areas.  

Bringing high-quality shoulder care to all populations, we 

  • Accept TRICARE insurance for active duty and veteran military members.  
  • Accept workers’ compensation insurance. 
  • Offer discounts for law enforcement, firefighters, and first responders.  
  • Treat student-athletes and are developing relationships with the Sunnyvale Independent School District and Rowlett School District, Rowlett High School, Sunnyvale High School, and Horn High School.  

The Sunnyvale Sports Medicine and Orthopedic Center is conveniently located near Highway 80, only minutes from I-635.

Sunnyvale, TX Sports Medicine Specialist | Sports Injury Shoulder Specialist

As a sports medicine specialist, Dr. Hibbitts diagnoses, treats, and restores injured people to full function after sports and exercise-related musculoskeletal injuries and conditions. He is an experienced orthopedic surgeon, who focuses his practice on injuries to the complex structures of the knee, ankle, and shoulder joints. 

Anatomy of the Shoulder

The complex “ball-and-socket" joint of the shoulder attaches the arm to the torso. Several bones, muscles, and tissues allow your shoulder mobility and flexibility.   

Athletic movements, like throwing, catching, stretching, and absorbing impacts, strain or damage the shoulder over time. An experienced shoulder injury doctor, Dr. Hibbitts diagnoses your specific shoulder pain to advise you on the best long-term treatment options for optimal recovery. 

Shoulder Bones

  • Humerus: the bone of the upper arm that forms the “ball” of the ball-and-socket. 
  • Scapula: the “shoulder blade” which forms the “socket” of the ball-and-socket.  
  • Acromion: a small projection of bone off the scapula. 
  • Coracoid Process: a bone projection off the scapula, shaped like a hook.  
  • Clavicle: the “collarbone,” which stabilizes the up-and-down movement of the chest and arms.   

Shoulder Muscles

Numerous muscles meet in the shoulder joint, connecting the arm and torso in a series of layers. 

These muscles include: 

  • Trapezius 
  • Levator scapulae 
  • Rhomboids 
  • Pectoralis major 
  • Pectoralis minor 
  • Deltoid 
  • Biceps 
  • Triceps

Shoulder Soft Tissue

  • Rotator cuff: muscles and tendons surrounding and supporting the shoulder, allowing for a full range of motion.  
  • Bursa: Sacs filled with fluid that cushion and protect the tendons and rotator cuff.  
  • Labrum cartilage: A layer of cartilage along the inside of the scapula, lining the “socket” where the humerus fits.   

Common Symptoms Treated
by a Shoulder Injury Specialist

Sports-related shoulder injuries can create chronic issues if not treated by a sports shoulder injury specialist. Whether caused by a sudden injury or overuse over time,  Contact Us immediately if you experience any of these symptoms:  

  • Pain: Aching or throbbing, especially pain that radiates from the shoulder down the arm or pain severe enough to disrupt sleep. 
  • Immobility: Decreased range of motion, inability to flex or rotate the shoulder. 
  • Movement abnormalities: Popping noises or grinding sensations. 
  • Frozen shoulder: Stiff or immovable shoulder joint. 
  • Inflammation: Swelling or bruising. 
  • Tenderness: Sensitivity to touch. 

Call shoulder injury specialist Dr. John Hibbitts if you experience any shoulder pain. Make an appointment today! 

Common Injuries
That Cause Shoulder Instability

As a sports shoulder injury specialist, Dr. Hibbitts can help with your shoulder pain. The most common causes for shoulder pain are:  

  • Sports-related injury 
  • Accidents at work/strain on the job 
  • Overuse and re-damaging minor injuries over time 

He will diagnose your injury and prepare your custom treatment plan, getting you on the path to recovery in no time. 

Here are some common shoulder conditions:

Bone Fracture

A bone fracture occurs when a bone connected to the shoulder is broken, often by a severe, sudden impact. The clavicle is the most commonly broken shoulder bone, and nearly all clavicle fractures require surgery.

Shoulder Dislocation

A shoulder dislocation occurs when the humerus or a smaller bone comes out of position. When the shoulder is dislocated, you feel pain and a “popping” sensation if the arm is raised.

Rotator Cuff Tear

Rotator cuff tears happen when one of the tendons or muscles surrounding the top of the humerus detaches or overstretches. Common causes include a sudden impact or twist or repeated movements over time.

Torn Proximal Bicep Tendon

A torn proximal bicep tendon occurs when a tendon that attaches the bicep to the shoulder becomes detached. Proximal bicep tears commonly result when you receive a direct and forceful impact to the shoulder, such as bracing a hard fall. Repeated overuse can also damage the tendon.

Frozen Shoulder

“Frozen shoulder” is caused by inflammation that limits your shoulder’s movement. When the shoulder is “frozen” or “locked,” you feel stiff and tight and may experience pain when moving your shoulder in any direction.

Shoulder Impingement (“Swimmer’s Shoulder”)

A shoulder impingement results when the acromion presses into the rotator cuff. When inflammation is present or if the rotator cuff is injured, you may feel radiating pain along the scapula and back of the shoulder.

Labral Tear

A labral tear occurs when an accident or overuse causes a disconnection in the labrum cartilage of the rotator cuff. Most labral tears can be treated without surgery.

Overuse, Strains & Sprains

A strain occurs when one or more of the muscles or tendons that attaches the structures in the shoulder is overstretched or slightly torn. Sprains occur when ligaments become stretched or slightly torn.

Arthritis

Arthritis inflammation causes pain in the joints. The two most common types are osteoarthritis, the “wear-and-tear" that occurs with aging, and rheumatoid arthritis, when the immune system attacks the joints and which can develop at any age.

Tendonitis

Tendonitis in the shoulder occurs when a tendon becomes inflamed. It is frequently caused by repeated movements and overuse.

Bursitis

Bursitis results from an inflamed bursa. In the shoulder, this sac sits on the rotator cuff over the tendons. Pain and pressure when you move your arm overhead, accompanied by swelling, may be bursitis.
Untreated shoulder injuries result in long-term physical limitations. If you experience an injury, schedule an appointment with our shoulder injury specialist to prevent further problems.

Diagnostic Tests Used by Our Shoulder Injury Specialist

Accurate diagnosis by a specialist for a shoulder injury assures that you’ll receive the best treatment for your specific condition.
Various imaging tests that Dr. Hibbitts may use include:
X-Rays
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
Computerized Tomography (CT) Scan
Ultrasound imaging

Treatments for Shoulder Pain

Dr. Hibbitts, Sunnyvale Sports Medicine and Orthopedic Surgery Center, and our experienced shoulder surgeon and injury specialist team offer both surgical and nonsurgical treatments, delivering short-term and long-term pain relief.

Shoulder Surgeries

Depending on the extent of your injury, surgery may be the best and most permanent solution to your shoulder pain.  You may need to undergo shoulder replacement surgery if necessary.

Dr. Hibbitts performs arthroscopic shoulder surgery, which uses small incisions and an endoscopic camera rather than large open surgical sites. These are usually outpatient procedures, and patients enjoy a quick post-operative recovery time.  

Frozen Shoulder Treatment

Frozen shoulder is often treated with nonsurgical methods, such as physical therapy, rest, and corticosteroid injections. However, if that doesn’t work, Dr. Hibbitts may recommend surgery to remove scar tissue or shoulder-joint adhesions.

Nonsurgical Shoulder Pain Treatments

Many common shoulder injuries are treatable without surgery, but be careful not to re-injure the joint or cause any more serious shoulder problems, as most shoulder ailments flare up with overuse. Follow-up appointments with our shoulder injury specialist ensure good progress on your treatment plan.  

Rest, Ice, Compression & Elevation (“RICE”)

Use these first-aid steps to immediately relieve pain and reduce swelling of a new shoulder injury: 

  • REST the shoulder by limiting movement with a sling or brace.
  • ICE the joint in the painful area and surrounding muscles. 
  • COMPRESS the shoulder, if possible, with a medical bandage or wrap. 
  • ELEVATE the shoulder above your heart by sitting or lying comfortably on a pillow. 

Physical Therapy

Gentle, monitored stretches and exercises can relieve pressure on inflamed areas of the shoulder joint and strengthen the surrounding muscles to alleviate long-term misalignment and its effects.

Corticosteroid (cortisone) Injections

With an intramuscular injection of cortisone, a shoulder doctor treating injuries can alleviate moderate to severe shoulder pain and inflammation. The effects can last several weeks, and patients frequently benefit from combining injections with physical therapy or other nonsurgical treatments. 

Pain & Anti-Inflammatory Medication

Nonprescription (“over-the-counter") analgesic and anti-inflammatory medications, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Motrin), and naproxen (Aleve), can control mild to moderate joint pain. If you experience severe or ongoing pain, your doctor may prescribe pain killers or anti-inflammatory pharmaceuticals.   

Get to Know John Hibbitts, M.D.
Shoulder Injury Specialist
Near Dallas, Texas

Shoulder Injury Specialist Dr John Hibbitts

Since 2000, Dr. John M. Hibbitts has been a board-certified orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist working with patients to alleviate pain and improve their lives.  

Dr. Hibbitts completed his B.S. in exercise physiology at the University of Texas at Austin and his Medical Degree at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. His residency training occurred at the University of South Carolina Department of Orthopedic Surgery with a fellowship conducted at the Cincinnati Sportsmedicine and Orthopedic Center.

By founding the Sunnyvale Sports Medicine and Orthopedic Surgery Center, Dr. Hibbitts establishes himself as a shoulder pain specialist in the Dallas, TX, area. 

Memberships in multiple medical organizations:  

  • American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons 
  • American Medical Association 
  • South Carolina Medical Association 
  • Texas Medical Association 

Dr. Hibbitts is an athlete and father of three. He also enjoys participating in martial arts, bodybuilding, and rugby, as well as competitive marksmanship.  

For more than 20 years, shoulder injury specialist Dr. Hibbitts has assisted hundreds of patients in recovery from their injuries. Our entire team would be honored to help you.   

© 2024, John Hibbitts, M.D. All Rights Reserved.