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Shoulder Pain Causes and Treatment
What most people call the shoulder is really several
joints that combine with tendons and muscles to allow a wide
range of motion in the arm — from scratching your back to
throwing the perfect pitch.
Mobility has its price, however. It may lead to
increasing problems with instability or impingement of the
soft tissue or bony structures in your shoulder, resulting
in pain. You may feel pain only when you move your shoulder,
or all of the time. The pain may be temporary or it may
continue and require medical diagnosis and treatment.
This article explains some of the common causes of
shoulder pain, as well as some general treatment options.
Your doctor can give you more detailed information about
your shoulder pain.
Shoulder pain is an extremely common complaint, and there
are many common causes of this problem. It is important to
make an accurate diagnosis of the cause of your symptoms so
that appropriate treatment can be directed at the cause. If
you have shoulder pain, some common causes include:
- Bursitis | Rotator Cuff Tendonitis
The most common diagnosis in patients with shoulder pain
is bursitis or tendonitis of the rotator cuff.
- Rotator Cuff Tear
Rotator cuff tears occur when the tendons of the rotator
cuff separate from the bone. Surgery is sometimes
necessary for this condition.
- Frozen Shoulder
Also called 'adhesive capsuliitis,' this is a common
condition that leads to stiffness of the joint. Physical
therapy and stretching are extremely important aspects
of treatment.
- Calcific Tendonitis
Calcific tendonitis is a condition of calcium deposits
within a tendon -- most commonly within the rotator cuff
tendons. Treatment of calcific tendonitis depends on the
extent of symptoms.
- Shoulder Instability
Instability is a problem that causes a loose joint.
Instability can be caused by a traumatic injury
(dislocation), or may be a developed condition.
- Shoulder Dislocation
A dislocation is an injury that occurs when the top of
the arm bone becomes disconnected from the scapula.
- Shoulder Separation
Also called an AC separation, these injuries are the
result of a disruption of the acromioclavicular joint.
This is a very different injury from a dislocation!
- Labral Tear
There are several patterns of a torn labrum and the type
of treatment depends on the specific injury.
- SLAP Lesion
The SLAP lesion is also a type of labral tear. The most
common cause is a fall onto an outstretched hand.
- Arthritis
Shoulder arthritis is less common than knee and hip
arthritis, but when severe may require a joint
replacement surgery.
- Biceps Tendon Rupture
A proximal biceps tendon rupture occurs when the tendon
of the biceps muscle ruptures near the joint.
When do you need to call your doctor about your shoulder
pain?
If you are unsure of the cause of your shoulder pain, or
if you do not know the specific treatment recommendations
for your condition, you should seek medical attention.
Treatment of these conditions must be directed at the
specific cause of your problem. Some signs that you should
be seen by a doctor include:
- Inability to carry objects or use the arm
- Injury that causes deformity of the joint
- Shoulder pain that occurs at night or while
resting
- Shoulder pain that persists beyond a few days
- Inability to raise the arm
- Swelling or significant bruising around the
joint or arm
- Signs of an infection, including fever, redness,
warmth
- Any other unusual symptoms
What are the best
treatments for shoulder pain?
The treatment of shoulder pain depends entirely on the cause
of the problem. Therefore, it is of utmost importance that
you understand the cause of your symptoms before embarking
on a treatment program. If you are unsure of your diagnosis,
or the severity of your condition, you should seek medical
advice before beginning any treatment.
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