Shoulder Pain When Lifting Arm

The shoulder joint is used in a wide range of activities as compared to any other joint in the body. The shoulder joint is made up of a ball and socket arrangement and the ball is much larger than the socket that holds it. This is the reason that it is more susceptible to injuries than any other joint in the body.

There are various reasons of shoulder pain when lifting arm. Besides, the other diseases and disorders within the body like heart diseases, cervical spine disorders and other ailments can cause a referred pain in the shoulders. Here are the causes of shoulder pain when lifting arm.

Common Causes of Shoulder Pain
Pain in shoulder when lifting arm can be due to numerous reasons varying from arthritis, to calcification in the tendons or injury to the joint. Here are some of the common causes of shoulder pain when lifting arm.

Shoulder Dislocation
Extreme rotation of the shoulder joint or stretching can lead to dislocation of the shoulder joint. Many times, some patients suffer from frequent dislocation of the shoulder. In this case, it is called shoulder instability. Also, there can be a partial dislocation of the shoulder joint which is called subluxation. Shoulder dislocation causes shoulder pain when lifting arm.

Rotator Cuff Injury
The rotator cuff is a set of muscles which controls and stabilizes the motion of the shoulders. Acute tear of these muscles can be a result of sudden powerful movement. The main symptom of rotator cuff injury is shoulder pain when lifting arm over head.

Kayaking and pitch throwing athletes can suffer from the acute tear of the rotator cuff muscles. Also, there can be a chronic tear of these muscles. The chronic tear is due to the rubbing of tendons over each other. This tear of rotator muscles is usually experienced by people over 40 years. The chronic tear of the rotator muscles develops over a long period of time.

Shoulder Separation
In shoulder dislocation, the ball and the socket joint gets dislocated. However, in the shoulder separation, the collarbone and the shoulder-blade is separated. A blow on the shoulder or outstretched hand can cause shoulder separation. A bump in the middle of the shoulder can be felt with hands. Also, while taking the X-ray image, the patient is told to hold weights in his hand to make the separation clearer.

Inflammation of Supraspinatus Tendon
Shoulder pain when lifting arm to the sideways is due to the inflammation in the supraspinatus tendon. Severe pain is experienced when the arm is rotated at 60 degrees sideways. Overuse of the muscles near the shoulders, especially by athletes, is a common reason of supraspinatus inflammation.

Acromioclavicular Joint Injury
AC joint present in the shoulder area, can get injured when one lands on the shoulder or elbow. Excessive outstretched hands can also cause serious injuries to this joint and can lead to shoulder pain when lifting arm. Injury to the acromioclavicular joint causes pain at the end of the collarbone. The AC joint becomes very painful due to this injury. Also, swelling is seen in these areas. Depending upon the severity of assault, there are 1-6 grades of the injuries that can happen to the AC joint.

These were some of the causes of the shoulder pain when lifting arm. However, if there is a sharp pain in the shoulder when lifting your arm, you must consult a physician immediately for proper diagnosis and treatment. The treatment would vary from medications to shoulder exercises depending upon the underlying illness.

A person experiencing pain in the shoulder can apply ice pack for instant relief. He must take proper rest and let the shoulder area relax for a few hours during which he can apply an ointment for pain relief or can have a painkiller. However, one must remember that these are only for temporary relief and a proper examination of the affected area is a must.