Shoulder discomfort is a frequent symptom with various causes. The shoulder enables arm movement, and its extensive range of motion increases the chance of injury. Some of the most common reasons for shoulder pain include arthritis, muscle strains, or dislocations. The approach to treatment can involve rest, medications, or surgery, depending on the underlying cause.
Shoulder discomfort is among the most prevalent musculoskeletal issues affecting individuals across all ages and lifestyles. It can result from daily strain, sports-related injuries, or degenerative conditions. Recognising the root cause of shoulder pain is essential for choosing the right treatment. In this article, we will discuss the main causes of shoulder pain and offer treatment options tailored to specific ailments.
What is Shoulder Pain?
Shoulder pain refers to any discomfort felt around the shoulder joint. The shoulder is a complex joint that allows for actions such as throwing a ball, reaching for an item, or giving a high five. Because it is used frequently, the shoulder is more vulnerable to injuries and damage, which can result in pain.
It is common for discomfort in the shoulder to extend to other areas of the body, like the neck. The anatomy of the shoulder connects the arm to the torso, enabling pain to spread from the shoulder to other nearby regions of the body.
What Are The Causes of Shoulder Pain?
The problem in the shoulder is confined to the shoulder alone or sometimes lasts only for a short time. Occasionally, the problematic shoulder may be a part of a broader, chronic condition like osteoarthritis or polymyalgia rheumatica. It is fairly common for individuals with rheumatoid arthritis to experience some pain and swelling in the shoulders. Osteoarthritis of the shoulder is increasing in incidence with increasing age, and trivial trauma in past, which may have been left ignored.
Other reasons for shoulder pain could be:
- Arthritis of the shoulder joint, either the acromioclavicular joint or the glenohumeral joint.
- Muscle and Tendon Injuries, especially those involving rotator cuff muscles
- Tear of the labrum, a part of the ball-and-socket joint of the shoulder
- Bursitis: inflammation of the lubricating layers between muscles or between tendons and bones.
- Referred pain from the neck
Shoulder Pain Conditions and Their Specific Treatments
Your healthcare practitioner will inform you of the most suitable treatment for your shoulder pain once a diagnosis is made. Below are the specific treatments for various shoulder pain conditions.
Rotator Cuff Injuries
The rotator cuff consists of a set of muscles and tendons that support the shoulder joint. Injuries can vary from inflammation (tendinitis) to either partial or full tears.
Condition-Specific Treatment:
- Mild/Moderate Tendinitis: Rest, ice treatment, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDS), and physical therapy.
- Rotator Cuff Tear: For partial tears, physical therapy and platelet-rich plasma injections might be beneficial. Complete tears may necessitate arthroscopic or open surgical repair.
Platelet Rich Plasma is a natural way of healing soft tissue tears and injuries by using the regenerative power of platelet cells in blood to repair the tear and improve movement.
Frozen Shoulder (Adhesive Capsulitis)
This is not a pathology in itself but an end result of various shoulder problems like arthritis, muscle tears, bursitis or trauma and involves stiffness and pain that gradually worsens due to inflammation and thickening of the shoulder capsule.
Condition-Specific Treatment:
- Early Stage (Freezing): Pain management with NSAIDS, corticosteroid injections, and gentle stretching exercises.
- Middle Stage (Frozen): Focus on range-of-motion (ROM) exercises, heat therapy, and physical therapy.
- Late Stage (Thawing): Continued physical therapy; in resistant cases, manipulation under epidural anaesthesia or arthroscopic capsular release.
Related Posts: Frozen Shoulder: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment Options
Shoulder Impingement Syndrome
This occurs when the rotator cuff tendons are compressed during arm movements, often due to poor posture, overuse, or anatomical factors.
Condition-Specific Treatment:
- Conservative: Activity modification, anti-inflammatory medications, posture correction, and rotator cuff strengthening.
- Refractory Cases: Subacromial decompression surgery to relieve tendon impingement.
Bursitis
Inflammation of the bursa (a fluid-filled sac that cushions the shoulder) can cause localised pain and swelling, often due to repetitive motion or trauma.
Condition-Specific Treatment:
- Mild Bursitis: Rest, cold compress, and NSAIDS.
- Moderate to Severe: Ultrasound guided injections of local anesthetic and little quantity of corticoids helps to reduce the inflammation and pain associated with bursitis. This is supplemented with range of motion exercises.
- Chronic Bursitis: Surgical drainage or bursectomy in rare, persistent cases.
Shoulder Arthritis
This degenerative joint disease leads to cartilage wear and tear and is common in older adults or after previous shoulder trauma. Commonly affected joints arethe Acromioclavicular joint(most common, top of shoulder) or the Glenohumeral joint(ball and socket joint).
Condition-Specific Treatment:
- Early Stages: Physical therapy, NSAIDS, activity modification, and corticosteroid injections.
Platelet Rich Plasma helps to repair and regenerate the cartilage of these joints, especially in the glenohumeral joint. This therapy gives very good results in young individuals.
- Advanced Arthritis: Joint replacement surgery (total or reverse shoulder arthroplasty) for significant pain and mobility issues.
Dislocated Shoulder
A dislocation occurs when the upper arm bone pops out of the shoulder socket, often due to sports injuries or falls.
Condition-Specific Treatment:
- Acute Dislocation: Prompt reduction (realignment by a medical professional), sling immobilisation, and gradual rehabilitation.
- Recurrent Dislocations: Arthroscopic stabilisation surgery, especially in younger athletes or patients with labral tears.
Labral Tears
The labrum is a ring of cartilage that stabilises the shoulder joint. Tears can be caused by overuse, trauma, or degeneration.
Condition-Specific Treatment:
- Minor Tears: Rest, NSAIDS, and physical therapy.
Platelet Rich Plasma, injected into the shoulder joint, in selected cases, has been shown to heal the tears associated with the glenoid labrum. - Major or Persistent Tears: Arthroscopic surgery to repair the labrum and stabilise the joint.
Suprascapular Nerve Block
The Suprascapular Nerve supplies almost 70% of the sensations from the shoulder. In old individuals, who cannot undergo extensive interventions, and where pain relief is the only target, this is an excellent intervention to be taken. Once pain relief is achieved, the patient can perform exercises to improve shoulder mobility.
When To Visit A Doctor?
Early and minor problems related to the shoulder can be treated at home with rest, ice application and over-the-counter painkillers.. If, after self-treating for two weeks, you find that the pain does not improve or increase in severity and intensity, you should visit a healthcare professional for proper evaluation and management. Furthermore, you should see your doctor immediately if you.
- Experience intense pain in both shoulders,
- Have discomfort in your arms, or
- Difficulty in sleeping on the affected side
- difficulty in combing/ shampooing hair
- pain while fastening the seat belt
- pain while lifting things from overhead shelves in the kitchen
- pain while changing clothes
- Feel feverish or unwell.
Treatments at Pain Medics
Pain Medics offer several minimally invasive treatments to treat pain. We are known to treat several pains with our customised treatments. At Pain Medics Clinic, we focus on treating the root cause of the pain. Here is our minimally invasive treatment:
- Acromioclavicular joint injections
- Rotator Cuff PRP/injections
- Shoulder Bursa Injections
- Glenohumeral Joint Injections/PRP
- Shoulder capsule hydrositension for frozen shoulder
- Suorascapular nerve block
- Shoulder denervation/ Radiofrequency ablation for pain relief
