Shoulders have a wide and varied range of motion. If something goes wrong with your shoulder, it affects your range of movement and can cause severe pain and discomfort.

The shoulder is a ball and socket joint with three prominent bones: the humerus (long arm bone), clavicle (collarbone), and the shoulder blade (also known as scapula). A layer of cartilage amortized these bones. There are two main joints. The acromioclavicular joint is located between the highest part of the scapula and collarbone. The glenohumeral joint consists of the upper ball portion of the humerus and the outer edge of the scapula. 

You can injure your shoulder by doing manual labour, exercising. Some diseases can cause pain that radiates to the shoulder. These include diseases of the cervical spine (neck) and conditions of the liver, heart or gallbladder. You are more likely to have shoulder problems as you get older, especially after you turn 60. This is due to the soft tissue that surrounds the shoulder that tends to degenerate with age.

In most cases, you can treat shoulder pain at home. However, sometimes physical therapy, medication, or surgery is needed. Here’s the article provided by Dr Chandra Sekhar. B Shoulder Surgeon what you need to know about shoulder pain.

Causes of shoulder pain

Tendonitis and rotator cuff bursitis: Rotator cuff tendonitis occurs when the tendons in the rotator cuff (the group of muscles and tendons that surround the shoulder joint) become irritated or damaged. Although specific patterns of activity are often cited as the cause of the problem, age-related degenerative changes in the tendon predispose the tendon to be damaged during normal daily activities. 

Likewise, rotator cuff bursitis occurs when the bursa, or mucous membrane that forms the cushion between the bone and tendon, is swollen or irritated. This process usually happens in response to the degenerative processes that underlie the tendon. The two are usually closely related and can coincide. Although tendonitis can be associated with injury, it is more often due to underlying tendon conditions. Some of the repetitive activities that can worsen rotator cuff tendinitis include tennis, golf, or household chores such as painting or carpentry. If the discomfort is in the upper arm (deltoid area), this is usually a sign that the tendon is weakening over time and causing pain and inflammation. 

Bursitis is also a problem, but it is overdiagnosed to some extent. Bursitis can occur in the same way as tendonitis. Less commonly, this can be a sign of infection or another condition such as rheumatoid arthritis. Usually, rest, ice, and anti-inflammatory drugs can help with this problem.

Rotator Cuff Tear: Overuse of the same tendonitis causes a rotator cuff tear. Finally, chronic inflammation and degeneration can lead to tendon wear. The pain from the rotator cuff tear is more of a painful or throbbing discomfort that can disrupt sleep. Physiotherapy, anti-inflammatory drugs, and steroid injections can help treat rotator cuff tears. Surgery is an option if symptoms are severe.

Arthritis: Patients can experience severe shoulder pain due to arthritis. Shoulder arthritis is usually osteoarthritis known as “wear and tear” which is caused by repeated use and occurs with age. Osteoarthritis is also caused by injuries while working or exercising, the constant movement for years, and inflammation of the synovial membrane due to rheumatoid arthritis.

Many people never get injured in the shoulder area. It is essential to review the patient’s medical history to determine if any injuries have occurred or damages that may go undiagnosed. Otherwise, many people may experience shoulder pain from arthritis without previous injury. But doctors will examine non-surgical options before they think about it.

Fracture or injury:

If you break your shoulder, you will feel some pain while the rest heals. However, it is widespread that you will experience pain for the rest of your life due to the swelling and bruising of your bones and soft tissues, which is a false assumption.Shoulder fractures often include the collarbone, shoulder blade, or humerus. Fractures are caused by falls, injuries during sports, or car accidents.

 If the injury is relatively minor, you may need to wear a sling for several weeks to hold the shoulder steady. Surgery may be required for more severe injuries.

Frozen Shoulder: This condition is one of the most prevalent causes of shoulder pain. Dr Chandra Skehar. B sees many patients with this disease every day. Frozen shoulder, also known as adhesive capsulitis, occurs when the lining of the ball capsule becomes inflamed. The shoulder capsule becomes thicker and firmer, causing discomfort. The cause of frozen shoulders is unknown, which presents as progressive pain with movement and stiffness. 

Treating involves doing exercises to expand your range of motion. Sometimes doctors use pain relievers and corticosteroids. A minority of patients may benefit from surgery to loosen the joint capsule and move it better. It’s not uncommon for a frozen shoulder to reappear on the same shoulder when it first appeared, but people can develop this condition again on the opposite shoulder.

Calcific tendonitis: As in frozen shoulder, there is no identifiable cause of calcific tendonitis, but it can be excruciating. Calcific tendonitis is a condition in which calcium deposits (up to 1 to 2 centimetres in diameter) build-up in muscles or tendons. They can be seen on x-rays and are usually more common in people over 30 years of age but can appear at any age. Calcific  tendonitis can generally get treated with anti-inflammatory drugs or injections. Many cases recover over time with physiotherapy  In rare cases, surgery is required.

Spine Problems: Your shoulder can hurt, but it may not be the result of a shoulder problem. Sometimes it is difficult to determine where the pain is coming from, but issues with the cervical spine and disc can be a major cause of shoulder pain. Dr Chandra Sekhar. B often sees this in people with shoulder pain. In this case, they may have problems with the spine and will be referred to the appropriate specialist.

Conclusion:

Lastly, there are some precautions you can take to limit pain in your daily routine. Of course, you should avoid any activity that causes pain, never force movements that hurt you, keep your elbows close to your body when working hard from your shoulders, and when working at a desk make sure to keep your elbows at a 45-degree angle from your body.

If you experience frequent debilitating pain, and home remedies and treatments aren’t giving you the help you need, it may be time to see a doctor.

The experienced and dedicated shoulder surgeons from Hyderabad Shoulder Clinic  are here to help. If you have problems with your shoulder, talk to the experts like Dr Chandra Sekhar. B today. We want to help you cope with pain while restoring optimal health, strength and mobility. Call us today at  9959588389 to make an appointment With Dr Chandra Sekhar. B