Shoulder Pain: Causes and Treatment

The anatomy of shoulder comprises various joints (clavicle, scapula and humerus), muscles, ligaments and tendons, which functions together to allow movement of the arm. A problem or disorder in any of these structures may cause shoulder pain. Pain may be localized or include the areas around the shoulder. Usually, an individual suffers from shoulder pain due to overuse of shoulder portion, carrying and/or lifting heavy objects.

Symptoms of shoulder pain may be mild or severe; pain may lasts for a few days or persist for many days. Some of the common symptoms of shoulder pain include inability to raise the arm or carry objects, joint deformity in shoulder portion and at times, infection signs like high fever and burning sensation. Shoulder pain is considered severe, if pain aggravates during rest and at night.

Shoulder Pain: Causes

Shoulder pain is one of the most common ailments, which is caused by many reasons. Majority of the patients suffering from shoulder pain have problems with the soft tissues, muscles and tendons. Very rarely, bone problems cause shoulder pain. Let's take a look at the causes of shoulder pain.

Bursitis: A major cause of shoulder pain is bursitis, an inflammation in the bursa (fluid-filled sac that reduces friction). In general, shoulder bursitis occurs due to injury, infection and/or rheumatic reasons, which causes inflammation between the humerus and acromion. Shoulder bursitis is common in people who has very narrow space in between the shoulder bones.

Injury: Injury in and around the shoulder area may cause dislocation and/or instability of the shoulder joints. The symptom of shoulder pain due to injury is more noticeable when moving or lifting the arm. At times, dislocation of shoulder joint may cause deformity, especially if left untreated for a prolonged duration.

Tear in Rotator Cuff: The muscles and tendons that surround the shoulder joints are collectively called rotator cuff. The rotator cuff is responsible for the joint stability and movement of the shoulder in various angles. An injury in any one of the tendons results in a torn rotator cuff that causes severe shoulder pain. Though rotator cuff tear can occur in any age group, it is more common among the older citizens.

Tendinitis: Another cause of shoulder pain is tendinitis, which occurs due to wearing and tearing of the tendons. Tendinitis can be either acute or chronic. The former refers to a short-term problem, usually caused due to sports activities and/or overuse of the shoulder portion. Chronic tendinitis, on the other hand, is caused due to aging process or degenerative diseases.

Frozen Shoulder: Frozen shoulder, also referred to as adhesive capsulitis, restricts the movement of the shoulder joints, resulting in shoulder pain. A frozen shoulder causes contraction of the capsule that surrounds the shoulder joints. The exact cause of frozen shoulder is not known.

Arthritis: Pain in the shoulder portion is a complication of shoulder arthritis, majority of which is either osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis. In an osteoarthritis patient, there is a progressive wear-and-tear of the cartilage that covers the shoulder joints; whereas, inflammation in the joint lining is present in case of rheumatoid arthritis. Shoulder arthritis mostly affects the elderly people.

Other Causes: Shoulder pain can also be caused due to other medical complications such as spine problem, liver disease or heart disease. An individual suffering a heart attack may also experience pain in the left shoulder. At times, shoulder pain results from the side effects of certain medications.

Proper diagnosis of shoulder pain is always advisable to choose a correct treatment option. The diagnosis is based on the symptoms, physical examination (swelling, inflammation and deformities) and medical history of the patient. For confirmation of the shoulder problem, the orthopedist may conduct certain tests such as ultrasound, X-ray, computed tomography (CT scan), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), electromyogram (EMG) and arthroscopy .

Shoulder Pain: Treatment

Shoulder pain treatment is entirely based on the cause (s). General treatment methods for shoulder pain involve rest and altering activities by limiting those, which can aggravate the condition. Physiotherapy and massage therapy are the most effective methods to improve the strength and flexibility of the affected part. However, the recovery time varies from one patient to another. In addition, the orthopedist may prescribe over-the-counter medications like pain relievers to reduce pain and inflammation.

It is observed that more than 90 percent cases of patients suffering from shoulder pain recover by following simple treatment methods like ice pack and heat pad application in the affected area and shoulder mobilization exercises. In a very rare case, the surgical option is recommended to relieve shoulder pain. As far as the treatment of shoulder pain is concerned, it is always advisable to consult and seek advice from a qualified orthopedist before you opt for any treatment options.