shoulder pain | Causes, treatments and frequently asked questions (2023)

FAQs

What is the most common reason for shoulder pain? ›

The most common cause of shoulder pain occurs when rotator cuff tendons become trapped under the bony area in the shoulder. The tendons become inflamed or damaged. This condition is called rotator cuff tendinitis or bursitis.

Look for the following red flags that indicate the need for urgent investigations and/or referral to secondary care: acute presentation with a history of trauma (especially if pain restricts all passive and active movements); systemic symptoms such as fever, night sweats, weight loss, or new respiratory symptoms; ...

In addition to spine or disc issues, you can also experience shoulder pain from other health problems, ranging from pneumonia, pancreatitis, and gallstones to inflammation around the heart and heart attack.

You may experience a dull ache, sharp pain or mild tenderness. Other signs of shoulder bursitis include: Shoulder stiffness or a feeling of swelling. Painful range of motion.

There may be a snapping sensation and immediate weakness in your upper arm. Tears that develop slowly due to overuse may also cause pain and arm weakness. You may have pain in the shoulder when you lift your arm, or pain that moves down your arm.

The drop arm test is used to assess for full thickness rotator cuff tears, particularly of the supraspinatus. This can be useful when diagnosing sub-acromial pain syndrome (shoulder impingment) or to differentiate between shoulder and rotator cuff pathologies.

Injections around the rotator cuff are helpful in providing relief, restoring function, and facilitating rehabilitation. However, partial and complete rotator cuff tears will not heal with cortisone injections and can make them worse. In fact, injections may compromise healing after surgery.

What exercises aggravate rotator cuff? ›

Of all the joints in your body, the shoulder joint has the greatest range of motion. Because of its incredible mobility, it is more likely to be injured or sustain painful problems.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs, can relieve shoulder pain by reducing inflammation in the shoulder joint. Ibuprofen and naproxen are two NSAIDs doctors commonly recommend. If over-the-counter NSAIDs don't relieve your pain, your doctor may prescribe a stronger dose for weeks or months.

Osteoarthritis (disease causing the breakdown of joints) Polymyalgia rheumatica. Rheumatoid arthritis (inflammatory joint disease) Rotator cuff injury.

There are a few different heart disease-related sources of shoulder pain. The condition most commonly associated is probably a heart attack, but other potential cardiac conditions can also trigger this pain.

MRI gives clear views of rotator cuff tears, injuries to the biceps tendon and damage to the glenoid labrum, the soft fibrous tissue rim that helps stabilize the joint. MR imaging of the shoulder is typically performed to diagnose or evaluate: degenerative joint disorders such as arthritis and labral tears.

Kehr's sign in the left shoulder is considered a classic symptom of a ruptured spleen.

Generally speaking, anger and pride can create tension that results in shoulder neck pain. Additionally, an increased mental workload can cause extra shoulder tension. You may literally feel like you are carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders. It's a saying for a reason!

Sudden inability to move a joint. Excessive swelling, redness, bruising or a rash in the affected area. Sharp or shooting pain, especially when you exercise or exert yourself. A fever.

Does shoulder bursitis show up on xray? ›

X-ray images can't positively establish the diagnosis of bursitis, but they can help to exclude other causes of your discomfort. Ultrasound or MRI might be used if your bursitis can't easily be diagnosed by a physical exam alone.

Bursitis of the shoulder (impingement syndrome) occurs when there is swelling and redness between the top of the arm bone and the tip of the shoulder. Between these bones lie the tendons of the rotator cuff and a fluid-filled sac called the bursa, which protects the tendons.

In this test you begin by placing the injured arm behind your back, with the back of your hand resting on you lower back. Now try to raise your arm off of your back.. If you feel pain or weakness when trying to lift your hand off of your back, that is a sign that there could possibly be rotator cuff injury involved.

Although a rotator cuff tear won't show up on an X-ray, this test can visualize bone spurs or other potential causes for your pain — such as arthritis. Ultrasound.

Osteoarthritis is the most common type of shoulder arthritis. Also called wear-and-tear arthritis or degenerative joint disease, osteoarthritis is characterized by progressive wearing away of the cartilage of the joint.

One of the more painful scenarios that can develop in the human body is frozen shoulder. Officially referred to as adhesive capsulitis, frozen shoulder significantly decreases the shoulder's pain-free range of motion as the joint stiffens up.

The testing movement involves the patient performing internal rotation (IR), by lifting the hand off the back while the examiner places pressure on the hand[2]. The test is considered to be positive if the patient cannot resist, lift the hand off the back or if she/he compensates by extending the elbow and shoulder[2].

Rotator cuff tears do not heal on their own without surgery, but many patients can improve functionally and decrease pain with nonsurgical treatment by strengthening their shoulder muscles. Just because there is a tear, does not necessarily mean a surgery is needed.

Rotator cuff tendon tears often cause pain at night. The pain may even wake you. During the day, the pain is more tolerable, and usually only hurts with certain movements, such as overhead or reaching toward the back. Over time, the symptoms become much worse and are not relieved by medicines, rest, or exercise.

What is the downside of cortisone shots? ›

There's concern that repeated cortisone shots might damage the cartilage within a joint. So doctors typically limit the number of cortisone shots into a joint. In general, you shouldn't get cortisone injections more often than every six weeks and usually not more than three or four times a year.

Topical gel or cream is another option for nighttime relief for rotator cuff pain. Apply a cream or gel to the shoulder about 30 minutes to an hour before bedtime for best results. Creams such as Aspercreme, Bio freeze, and Voltaren are over-the-counter topicals that may help with nighttime rotator cuff pain.

When one (or several) injections fail to fix your problem, often the next recommended step is surgery. The majority of the people we work with are seeking pain relief for their back, knee, neck or shoulder WITHOUT the need for surgery and other procedures.

What causes rotator cuff tendinitis? This condition is often caused by or associated with repetitive overhead activities such as throwing, raking, washing cars or windows and many other types of highly repetitive motions. It may also occur as a result of an injury.

People with shoulder injuries should initially refrain from exercises that encourage any movement or movement overhead. Forget about activities like throwing a ball or specific weight training at the gym like overhead presses and pull-ups.

During the recovery phase of a rotator cuff injury, avoiding overhead lifts with any weight is highly recommended. Movements that require the shoulders to be put under intense pressure or performing complex motions will put more strain on the muscles and potentially cause more significant injury.

You should see your GP if: the pain doesn't improve after two weeks. it's very difficult to move your arm or shoulder. the pain started after an injury or accident, like a fall.

Shoulders can be injured in many ways, including trauma, torn tendon, or simply overuse. Fortunately, an injured shoulder doesn't always require surgery.

Shoulder pain can usually be corrected with a simple non-operative treatment, such as anti inflammatory medications and physical therapy; cortisone injections can also help reduce pain and discomfort. If nonoperative management fails to improve pain and discomfort, surgery may be necessary.

Tendon Disorders

A damaged tendon can result in high levels of pain or limited motion in the arm. In the case of the shoulder, both bicipital tendinitis and rotator cuff tendonitis may require surgery to correct the issue.

What is the main cause of shoulder pain? ›

The most common cause of shoulder pain is when rotator cuff tendons become inflamed or trapped in your shoulder. This is called rotator cuff tendinitis, or irritation of these tendons and inflammation of the bursa, small slippery fluid filled sacs that the tendons glide over.

Muscle relaxers work by depressing your central nervous system. This leads to muscular relaxation, and it stops painful muscle spasms. Muscle relaxers are a great choice if your shoulder pain is so severe it prevents you from sleeping or disrupts your daily tasks.

Applying heat to your shoulder increases the blood flow to the area, meaning it's good for symptoms that might be brought on by poor circulation. This means applying heat to your shoulder is good for treating frozen shoulder or stiffness as well as muscle spasms and can really help with arthritis pain.

There are a few different heart disease-related sources of shoulder pain. The condition most commonly associated is probably a heart attack, but other potential cardiac conditions can also trigger this pain.

Call Emergency Services if you have sudden pressure or crushing pain in your shoulder, especially if the pain starts in your chest, jaw, or neck. If you fall on your shoulder and feel sudden intense pain, you should see a doctor because you may have torn rotator cuff or dislocated your shoulder.

Make an appointment with your doctor if your shoulder pain is accompanied by: Swelling. Redness. Tenderness and warmth around the joint.

A study published online Dec. 20, 2016, by the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine found a connection between heart disease risk factors (such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and diabetes) and shoulder problems (such as joint pain or rotator cuff tendinitis or tear).

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs, can relieve shoulder pain by reducing inflammation in the shoulder joint. Ibuprofen and naproxen are two NSAIDs doctors commonly recommend. If over-the-counter NSAIDs don't relieve your pain, your doctor may prescribe a stronger dose for weeks or months.

What does a pinched nerve in your shoulder feel like? ›

A pinched nerve in the shoulder will typically cause pain, numbness, or discomfort in the shoulder region. A person may also have other symptoms, which include: changes in feeling on the same side as the shoulder that hurts. muscle weakness in the arm, hand, or shoulder.

X-rays of an arthritic shoulder will show a narrowing of the joint space, changes in the bone, and the formation of bone spurs (osteophytes). This X-ray shows severe osteoarthritis of the glenohumeral joint.

It's a potent medication that is very effective for many people and is often used for arthritis pain. For superficial joints – like hands, wrists and even knees – it can be very effective. However, the joints of the cervical spine in the neck, and most of the shoulder joint, are deeper than the Voltaren can penetrate.

In the case of shoulder arthritis, the blood flow cannot reach the head of the humerus bone (the “ball” of the “ball-and-socket” shoulder joint). The condition may result from shoulder trauma, alcohol abuse, or the use of high-dose steroids. It is progressive and will worsen with the passing of time.

You can usually do things to help ease shoulder pain yourself. You should see your GP if your shoulder pain doesn't begin to feel better after two weeks.

Shoulder pain can usually be corrected with a simple non-operative treatment, such as anti inflammatory medications and physical therapy; cortisone injections can also help reduce pain and discomfort. If nonoperative management fails to improve pain and discomfort, surgery may be necessary.