Shoulder Pain
Description
Throwing a ball, picking up your child, reaching to grab your dinner plate – all of these activities involve your shoulder, which is one of the most mobile and freely moving joints of the body.
There’s actually more than one joint involved in making up your shoulder, and they all work together to give you the ability to flex, extend, rotate, and move your arm in all sorts of directions. However, if one of the components of the joint(s) becomes irritated or injured, it can lead to shoulder pain.
It’s important to remember that there are many different structures involved in making up your joints. There are, of course, bones that connect to one another via soft tissues like ligaments. There is typically cartilage that either lines the bones themselves or lines the inside of the joint (sometimes called the labrum). Muscles and tendons also help to provide support and structure to your joints, and bursa, which are fluid-filled sacs around the joints, allow for smooth movements and cushioning. Because there is so much involved in joints, there are many potential causes of shoulder pain.
Causes & Triggers
Shoulder pain can come on immediately, like in the case of a fall and fracture, or it can come on slowly over time, like in the case of overuse injuries.
Overuse or repetitive use can lead to conditions such as tendinitis or bursitis, which is a term used to describe inflammation of either the tendon or the bursa. You may have heard of rotator cuff tendinitis, which is the inflammation of the tendons along the muscles that connect from your shoulder blade to your arm, which helps provide you with rotation in your shoulder joint.
Other causes of shoulder pain can include impingement, instability, arthritis, or adhesive capsulitis, which is commonly called frozen shoulder. Tumors or infections can also lead to shoulder pain or pain and/or other symptoms in other areas of the body.
Just as there are many potential causes of shoulder pain, there are a range of symptoms that you may experience depending upon the condition related to your pain.
Signs & Symptoms
Pain can be achy, dull, sharp, or shooting. In some cases, nerves can be involved, which can sometimes lead to sensation changes like numbness, tingling, or burning. Pain may stay in one spot, and it may be tender to the touch. In other cases, the pain may travel down one arm into the elbow, forearm, hand, or fingers.
Other symptoms that may indicate a possible shoulder condition include:
- Restricted range of motion
- Can include issues with reaching, hair care, dressing, etc.
- Reduced strength
- Discomfort, difficulty, or pain with positioning (sitting, standing, driving)
- Discomfort, difficulty, or pain with work-related tasks that involve shoulder movement
You may also find that you have difficulty lying on your side or sleeping due to pain or discomfort. If you’re experiencing these types of symptoms, it’s important to see a healthcare provider, like a physician or physical therapist, who can help you determine the possible cause of your pain and the extent of the injury. They will also work to help you find the best treatment options for your specific situation.
Tips & Treatment
Often, a physician or physical therapist will see you to assess and diagnose the source of your pain. They may order imaging to help them with the diagnostic process, but they will also take into consideration how your pain came about, how long you’ve had pain, where it’s located, and the activities that make pain worse or better.
Once they have an understanding of your current condition and past medical history, they may perform additional tests to assess strength, range of motion, or special tests that are specific to certain diagnoses. Following a diagnosis, and depending on the severity of the condition or injury, some of the treatment options you may discuss with your healthcare provider include:
- Physical therapy
- Medications
- Injections
- Surgical repair
With conservative care, a physical therapist will work with you, often to improve strength, range of motion, and/or decrease your pain through exercises, movements, and other recommendations. As you progress, the physical therapist may begin to work with you on specific tasks or activities that you’re looking to get back to or improve upon. A physician may also prescribe medications or injections as a part of a treatment plan.
In other cases, you may be referred to a specialist, like an orthopedic surgeon, to discuss surgical options. If conservative treatment does not improve your condition, or if your injury is more severe, a physician may recommend surgery, such as a gluteal tendon repair, as a treatment option.
