Central Maine Healthcare

Where You are the Center

Bridgton Hospital

Arm and Hand Pain

We use our hands for just about everything, so a little soreness from time to time is normal. But if an injury or  persistent pain makes even simple daily tasks seem impossible, it may be time to seek relief.

One of the most common causes of hand and wrist pain is arthritis (including osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis), resulting in inflammation, stiffness and swelling in the joints. Usually arthritis comes with the wear-and-tear of age, though a sudden and traumatic injury such as a broken wrist or finger, torn ligament or sprain can also cause the condition later. Left untreated, the nagging pain can become excruciating, making it difficult to use your hands and lead a productive, active life.

Relief Starts Here

Whether you’re struggling with recent or chronic pain, the board-certified orthopaedic experts at the Orthopaedic Institute of Central Maine (OICM) can help. We’ll work closely with you to create a personalized treatment plan, whether that’s physical therapy, a minimally invasive treatment or the latest and most effective surgical options.

Conditions We Treat

Some of our specialties include:

  • Carpal tunnel syndrome
  • Congenital conditions
  • Dislocations
  • Fingertip and nail bed injuries
  • Fractures
  • Ganglions and masses
  • Sprains and strains
  • Repetitive stress injuries
  • Tennis elbow
  • Osteoarthritis
  • Post-traumatic arthritis
  • Tendon/nerve injuries

Skilled Hands to Help Heal Yours

We always begin by listening, to understand exactly what you’re dealing with and how it’s impacting your life. Then together, we’ll find the best solution for your pain, which may include:

Minor injuries: This includes things like strains and sprains. These can often be taken care of by applying ice and wrapping the hand or wrist with an elastic bandage.

Nonsurgical treatments: Appropriate pain medication, anti-inflammatory medications, cortisone injections, and physical therapy are all nonsurgical treatment options for many conditions — tennis elbow, for example. But, when conservative measures fail to alleviate pain and restore mobility, surgery may be necessary.

Surgery: Our surgeons specialize in a full range of hand, wrist, and elbow surgeries, from hand reconstruction to microscopic repair of nerve injuries. Our goal is to help relieve pain, restore function and helping you get back to what you need and love to do.

Orthopaedic Excellence, Close to Home

The Orthopaedic Institute of Central Maine offers locations near where you live and work – so you never had to travel far to find the world-class care you need:

  • Central Maine Medical Center – Lewiston, Maine
  • Bridgton Hospital – Bridgton, Maine
  • Rumford Hospital – Rumford, Maine

Back, Neck and Spine

Neck and back pain can happen at home, at work or to just about anyone who sits too long or moves without proper body mechanics. In fact, experts estimate that nearly 80 percent of U.S. men and women will be affected by spine-related pain at some point in their lives.

Neck pain is frequently caused from the facet joints and from the discs, which are deep in the spine. The pain you’re experiencing may originate from these areas and affect the surrounding nerves.

Back pain is a more complicated and personal experience due to the overlap of nerves in the structures of the spine. This makes it difficult for the brain to distinguish between injury in one structure versus another, which is why scans and X-rays are often used to determine the root cause of the pain.

Relief Starts Here

Whether you’re struggling with recent or chronic pain, the board-certified orthopaedic experts at the Orthopaedic Institute of Central Maine (OICM) can help. We’ll work closely with you to create a personalized treatment plan, whether that’s physical therapy, a minimally invasive treatment or the latest, minimally invasive surgical options.

Conditions We Treat

Just some of our specialties include:

  • Degenerative disc disease
  • Disc compression
  • Herniated discs
  • Lower back pain
  • Neck pain
  • Sacroiliac (SI) joint pain
  • Sciatica
  • Spinal stenosis

Helping Put Your Back Pain Behind You

We always begin by listening, to understand exactly what you’re dealing with and how it’s impacting your life. Then together, we’ll find the best solution for your pain, which may include:

Nonsurgical treatments: Whenever possible, your OICM spine surgeon will recommend non-invasive options, which can bring complete relief. One common treatment is therapy services and an exercise program, often supplemented with medication. We also offer quick in-office procedures such as injections or nerve blocks.

Surgical options: When non-invasive treatments are not enough to manage or solve your neck and back pain, you may need surgery to eliminate pain and restore mobility. Our skilled surgeons perform many types of complex procedures with excellent outcomes, including laminectomy, foraminotomy, disc replacement, kyphoplasty, and discectomy. We use the latest, minimally invasive techniques, which often offer significantly less pain and fewer complications, while minimizing damage to healthy tissue and helping promote a fast recovery.

Orthopaedic Excellence, Close to Home

The Orthopaedic Institute of Central Maine offers locations near where you live and work – so you never had to travel far to find the world-class care you need:

  • Central Maine Medical Center – Lewiston, Maine
  • Bridgton Hospital – Bridgton, Maine
  • Rumford Hospital – Rumford, Maine

Why Choose Us

Bone, joint or muscle pain can really hurt – especially when they keep you from what you love.

At the Orthopaedic Institute of Central Maine (OICM), we can help you get back on track, fast. Our board-certified surgeons treat a full range of orthopaedic conditions affecting the hips, knees, spine, shoulders, hands, wrists, feet and ankles.

We’ve helped thousands of people throughout central and western Maine find life-changing relief, and can do the same for you through:

Award-Winning Care

OICM has earned several elite distinctions, including the Gold Seal of Approval® from the Joint Commission for total hip, knee and shoulder replacement, as well as hip fracture care. That means you don’t need to travel to Portland or Boston for orthopaedic excellence – you’ll find the highest, national standards of safety and care right here in your hometown.

Innovative Approach to Your Care

A key component to our success is the multidisciplinary care approach we’ve developed. We call it Core Connect Care℠, and it is the only program of its kind in Maine. On your initial visit, you’ll be paired with your own dedicated team, which may include your surgeon, specially trained nurses, physical therapists and other specialists, depending on your unique needs. These friendly, familiar faces will be with you at every step, creating a close connection and circle of care. Our aim is make your experience as productive and stress-free as possible.

Outstanding Patient Results

Find extra peace of mind knowing that we consistently score higher than the national average of orthopaedic facilities and hospitals. Our patients go home sooner, recover faster and report a higher level of comfort and satisfaction than most patients in other hospitals. We also have a 0% complication rate for many orthopaedic procedures. Learn more about our exceptional patient outcomes.

Dedicated Joint Replacement Program

If joint replacement is right for you, rest assured you’re in highly skilled hands. Our board-certified, fellowship-trained surgeons are skilled in some the latest, most minimally invasive techniques available, like anterior hip replacement, to help you get moving again sooner.

Every step of your journey is highly coordinated, starting with pre-operative testing and an educational class so you know just what to expect before, during and after your procedure. From there, we’ll guide you seamlessly through surgery, physical therapy and life with your new joint.

Comprehensive Fracture Care

Our recognition by The Joint Commission® as one of the nation’s top-tier orthopaedic programs means we’ve also achieved excellence in bone fracture care. After an accident or fall, we can quickly and effective repair even the most complex fractures, right on-site. Working closely with our rehabilitation team, we’re committed to helping restore full function and mobility, and get you back to enjoying life.

Orthopaedic Excellence, Close to Home

Best of all, it’s all offered at locations near where you live and work – so you never have to travel far to find the world-class care you need:

  • Central Maine Medical Center – Lewiston, Maine
  • Bridgton Hospital – Bridgton, Maine
  • Rumford Hospital – Rumford, Maine

Sports Medicine


If an injury has you sidelined or playing with pain, it’s time to team up with the sports medicine specialists at the Orthopaedic Institute of Central Maine. We care for athletes of all ages and abilities, with treatments ranging from personalized rehabilitation and pain management options, to advanced surgical techniques, if needed.

Our specialists – including orthopaedic physicians and surgeons, physical therapists, athletic trainers and more – work closely together and with you to create a personal plan based on your needs and goals. So, whether you’re a weekend warrior or full-time pro, we’ll help you get back in action.

Helping You Reclaim Your Game

Caring for an injured athlete is more than just applying a brace. Our sports medicine physicians provide hands-on, proven techniques that target the cause of your pain to restore strength, function and flexibility.

Just some of our specialties include:

  • Acute sports injuries: from common sprains, strains and dislocations, to more serious conditions like anterior cruciate ligament and rotator cuff tears, and complex fractures
  • Overuse sports injuries: treatment for tennis elbow, stress fractures, shin splints and tendonitis
  • Injury prevention: education and training to improve body mechanics and balance and reduce the risk of getting hurt

Our program also provides team physician coverage for Bates College and we proudly serve as consultants for high school athletics throughout central and western Maine.

Minimally Invasive Techniques to Help Speed Healing

Whenever possible, we opt for non-invasive treatment, including therapy services regimens. But when surgery is your best solution, we offer the latest options designed with athletes in mind. That includes arthroscopic reconstructive surgery of the shoulder, elbow, knee, foot and ankle, which usually offer less pain and faster recovery versus traditional open surgery.

Shoulder Replacement

We know how hard it can be living with a severely painful shoulder. Even simple tasks like lifting groceries or getting dressed can be difficult, let alone doing the activities you love.

At Central Maine Healthcare, we may have just the solution for you. Our board-certified orthopaedic surgeons specialize in shoulder replacement surgery, a common procedure in which injured or diseased joints are replaced with state-of-the-art artificial parts. We offer both traditional shoulder replacement as well as reverse shoulder, including innovative solutions which completely customize surgery to your unique anatomy.

Your surgeon can help determine if shoulder replacement is right for you. If so, you can count on the highest standards of care close to home, with a program that has earned the Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval®, among other national distinctions.

You can also see every step of the process by watching our shoulder replacement videos.

Getting Your Shoulder, and Life, Back in Motion

Depending on your needs, your surgeon at Central Maine may first recommend nonsurgical options like medication or physical therapy. But, if you’re dealing with bone-on-bone arthritis or a traumatic injury, and other treatments haven’t brought relief, you may be a good candidate for total shoulder replacement.

The procedure involves replacing arthritic joint surfaces with a highly polished metal ball attached to a stem and a plastic socket. Our surgeons specialize in the latest, least invasive techniques, which can help restore virtually the exact anatomy of your shoulder. That means a more natural feeling, mobile and longer-lasting solution.

For completely torn rotator cuffs and severe, related arthritis, we also offer reverse shoulder replacement. In this procedure, the socket and metal ball are switched, meaning their natural position is reversed. The metal ball is fixed to the socket and the plastic cup is fixed to the upper arm bone (humerus). This allows you to use the deltoid muscle, instead of rotator cuff, to move and lift your arm. Reverse shoulder is typically recommended for patients with:

  • A completely torn rotator cuff that cannot be repaired with treatments like arthroscopy
  • Cuff tear arthropathy, a complex type of shoulder arthritis
  • A previous shoulder replacement that was unsuccessful
  • Severe shoulder pain and difficulty lifting your arm away from your side or over your head
  • A complex fracture of the shoulder joint

Support for Every Step

The thought of shoulder replacement may seem overwhelming, but we try as hard as possible to make it a seamless, easy process for you.

It starts with our pre-operative class, where you’ll learn what to expect through the entire process. From there, we’ll guide you seamlessly through surgery and rehabilitation, which often begins immediately after surgery in one of our dedicated orthopaedic units. A physical therapist will work one-on-one with you to strengthen the shoulder joint and enhance range of motion, so you can get back faster to what you need and love to do.

Orthopaedic Excellence, Close to Home

The Orthopaedic Institute of Central Maine offers locations near where you live and work – so you never had to travel far to find the world-class care you need:

  • Central Maine Medical Center – Lewiston, Maine
  • Bridgton Hospital – Bridgton, Maine
  • Rumford Hospital – Rumford, Maine

Pre-Surgery Education

Have an upcoming joint replacement surgery? Scheduled patients should be sure to join the Orthopaedic Institute of Central Maine (OICM) for a highly informative class and prep for your procedure with confidence.

During this highly informative session, you will:

  • Learn more about joints and how they work
  • View a presentation on joint replacement surgery
  • Go over details about preparing for surgery
  • Review what to know about discharge
  • Be given an overview of home care and rehabilitation
  • Get pain management strategies

You’ll also have the chance to ask any and all questions and connect with other patients on a similar journey.

Classes are held at:
As of July 8th, 2024, classes will be held at 690 Minot Avenue.

  • Education sessions are held every other Monday with the exception of holidays.
  • Knee Education: 8:30am – 10:00am
  • Hip Education: 10:30am – 12:15pm
  • Spine Education: 12:30pm – 1:30pm
  • Shoulder Education: 2:00pm – 3:00pm 

Central Maine Healthcare Orthopedics Office
690 Minot Avenue
Auburn, Maine

To save your spot at an upcoming class, call (207) 783-1328. We look forward to seeing you!