Frequently Asked Questions

Dr. Jurek’s specialty is shoulder surgery. She completed an Advanced Shoulder and Elbow Open and Arthroscopic Fellowship at the Kerlan-Jobe Clinic in Los Angeles and a Sports Medicine Fellowship at the Santa Monica Orthopedic Group.

Yes, Dr. Jurek is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon specializing in shoulder surgery.

Yes, Dr. Jurek is accepting new patients. Call (206) 386-2600 to schedule a consultation.

Dr. Jurek is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon who has completed two orthopedic fellowships, one specializing in advanced shoulder and elbow surgery and the other in sports medicine. She treats a broad range of acute and chronic shoulder injuries and conditions ranging from dislocations, fractures, and rotator cuff tears to arthritis, failed previous surgeries, and infections.

While Dr. Jurek’s surgical outcomes are superior, it is her day-to-day interactions with her patients before, during, and after surgery that truly set her apart. She understands the importance of trust and transparency in the doctor-patient relationship, and to that end spends the necessary time to meet with her patients one-on-one during every visit, thus ensuring that the resulting treatment plan addresses all of her patient’s needs and goals.

As a dedicated athlete herself, she understands the vital importance of returning her patients to their sports. As the mother of a little boy and four energetic dogs, she also understands the importance of being able to do the hundreds of things each day that require strong, pain-free shoulders. Her overarching goal is to provide extraordinary medical care to her patients and to return them to the activities that are important to them as soon as possible. For Dr. Jurek, it all begins with developing an honest and informative relationship and dialogue.

Check out Dr. Jurek’s patient reviews here.

Dr. Jurek’s office is located on 601 Broadway, 7th Floor, Seattle, WA 98122. Check out our location page for a map and directions, and parking information.

The three most common causes of shoulder pain include shoulder inflammation, rotator cuff tears, and osteoarthritis.

Tendinitis (or tendonitis) is irritation or inflammation of a tendon, the cord-like tissue that secures muscle to bone. The rotator cuff tendons and the biceps tendon are frequently locations of tendinitis in the shoulder. Bursitis is inflammation of the bursa, a slippery sac of fluid that cushions and reduces friction between the surfaces of a bone and soft tissue. The bursa most frequently implicated in shoulder pain is the subacromial bursa, which sits immediately above the rotator cuff. When a bursa becomes inflamed, this can lead to severe pain and dysfunction of the shoulder and can frequently mimic the symptoms of a rotator cuff tear. Learn More

A reverse shoulder replacement is a type of replacement (arthroplasty) surgery unique to the shoulder joint that is used to address specific situations where a standard shoulder replacement surgery would be unsuccessful. It is termed a “reverse” because it switches up the anatomy of the shoulder, replacing the socket portion of the joint with a ball and the ball portion of the joint with a socket. This unique configuration allows the deltoid muscle to become the power source of the shoulder.

The reverse shoulder replacement is frequently used in patients who have large, irreparable rotator cuff tears and have significant shoulder arthritis as well (this condition is called Rotator Cuff Tear Arthropathy). Reverse replacements are also frequently used to treat patients with certain types of severe shoulder fractures, patients with failed anatomic shoulder replacements, and certain patients with severe shoulder instability and bone loss. Learn More

Yes, Dr. Jurek has extensive experience performing revision shoulder surgery for patients who have had previous, failed shoulder surgery. Revision surgery is used to treat patients with complicated conditions such as loose, painful, or infected shoulder replacements, recurrent shoulder instability (dislocations) after a previous stability surgery, and recurrent tears after previous rotator cuff repair surgery. Learn More

The answer depends on what type of shoulder surgery you have. If you have a repair of your torn rotator cuff or labrum, you will need to wear a sling for approximately 6 weeks. If you have surgery to fix your fractured shoulder or clavicle, you may only need to wear a sling for a week or two. Before surgery, Dr. Jurek will talk with you at length and will let you know exactly what to expect in the days and weeks following your surgery as you recover.

The vast majority of Dr. Jurek’s rotator cuff repair surgeries are performed arthroscopically (utilizing tiny incisions and specialized surgical instruments including a tiny camera). This technique allows Dr. Jurek to visualize and address the injury completely without having to make large incisions or traumatize healthy tissue. Dr. Jurek also uses arthroscopic techniques to treat labrum tears, remove loose bodies, and treat some types of fractures. Learn More

Yes, cortisone injections frequently are effective in relieving pain caused by shoulder arthritis. The injection usually comprises a combination of a corticosteroid called Depo Medrol (Methylprednisolone Acetate) and a local anesthetic called lidocaine. The injection can be performed during your clinic visit with Dr. Jurek.
Check out our Cortisone Injections FAQs on our Shoulder Arthritis page.