What’s Causing My Shoulder Pain?
A shoulder pain is one of the most common pains in a human body as among all the joints in the body, the shoulder has the widest range of motion. A group of four muscles and their tendons make up the rotator cuff, which gives the shoulder its broad mobility. While this ball-and-socket joint makes movement easy, it also lacks stability. Thus, there are often issues that result in rotator cuff injury, such as swelling, damage or bone changes, with shoulder pain being a likely result.
Here are a number of potential causes of shoulder pain.
Common Causes of Shoulder Pain
Dislocation: The top of the arm may pop out of the socket if the shoulder is pulled back too hard or rotates too far, leading to shoulder pain, weakness, and potential swelling, numbness and bruising in the shoulder.
Separation
Where the collarbone and shoulder blade meet is known as the acromioclavicular (AC) joint. The ligaments holding this joint together can be torn apart by a hard blow, resulting in shoulder pain. A bump on top of the shoulder may appear if the collarbone is pushed out of place.
Fracture
The most common fractures and bone breaks occur in the collarbone and upper arm bone, causing intense pain and possible bruising around the shoulder. The shoulder may sag if the collarbone is broken, and the arm may not be able to lift. Scapula (shoulder bone) breaks are less frequent.
Cartilage Tear
Cartilage lines the rim of the shoulder joint, and this can be injured through repetitive motion, or anytime the shoulder absorbs a lot of force. It may induce shoulder pain when you reach overhead and the shoulder may seem weak, or like it is catching or locking.
Rotator Cuff Tear
Injury, overuse or degenerative changes may result in the splitting or tearing of the rotator cuff tendons. This may be partial or completely separate the tendon from bone. If you have a rotator cuff injury, you may experience more shoulder pain at night or when you attempt to lift things.
Frozen Shoulder
Also known as adhesive capsulitis, this refers to stiffness and pain in the shoulder joint that begins slowly and gets worse. Joint movement is limited due to the build-up of abnormal tissue bands, often the result of having to keep a shoulder still for long periods of time, such as in an arm break. Symptoms may improve over the course of a few years.
Impingement
The tendons of the rotator cuff may get pinched under the bones of the shoulder when the arm is lifted away from the body. In this type of rotator cuff injury, swelling and shoulder pain may occur, possibly leading to tendinitis or bursitis in the shoulder.
Bursitis
Bursae are small, fluid-filled sacs located in joints around the body, including the shoulder. These may become swollen, irritated or inflamed through repetitive motion, causing bursitis in the shoulder. Shoulder pain in this instance will be most noticeable when the shoulder moves.
Other Causes of Shoulder Pain
Arthritis: Pain in the shoulder may arise from osteoarthritis – wear and tear on the joints – or rheumatoid arthritis – an inflammatory joint condition. This type of shoulder pain may develop slowly from middle age onwards and worsen with time.
Tendinitis
Most tendinitis is a result of inflammation in the tendon. Tendinitis of the shoulder may be acute, as a result of repetitive motion such as in sport, or chronic, as a result of degenerative diseases or age-related wear and tear.
Bone Spurs
Also known as osteophytes, small, smooth pieces of bone may rub against the rotator cuff, affecting movement. These may lead to tendinitis or a rotator cuff injury such as a tear.
Brachial Plexus Injury
The network of nerves that sends signals from the spinal cord to the shoulder, arm and hand is known as the brachial plexus. Injury occurs when these nerves are stretched, compressed, or – more seriously – torn away from the spinal cord, inducing shoulder pain. Minor brachial plexus injuries are common in contact sports, known as stingers or burners.
Referred Pain
An issue elsewhere in the body, such as the neck, may cause referred or radiating pain in the shoulder. Neck issues in this instance will likely be coupled with a tingling sensation in the hand or arm. In rarer instances, pain may be referred from organs such as the gallbladder or liver.
Heart Attack
Shoulder pain along with labored breathing or a tight chest may be a symptom of a heart attack and requires emergency medical attention. Many shoulder injuries may simply improve with rest and medicine. In some instances, however, surgery may be required. Regardless of the course of action or severity, most treatment plans will include exercises to help strengthen and stretch the joint, and improve the range of motion.
Shoulder joint pains – Causes, diagnosis, and treatments
Shoulder joint pain is an uncomfortable condition that could affect people of all ages and backgrounds. It might hinder your everyday life, and in severe cases, it might even reduce your range of motion.
Understanding the causes of shoulder pain can help you discover treatment options and relieve your symptoms. So, in this article, we will learn about conditions that might cause shoulder joint pain and look at possible treatment methods.
Understanding the shoulder joints and their functions
Our shoulders connect three bones: the humerus (upper arm bone), the scapula (shoulder blade), and the clavicle (collarbone). Contrary to popular belief, there are not one but two joints in the shoulder area, the glenohumeral and the acromioclavicular joints.
These two joints together improve the range of motion in the upper body and make it possible to move our arms.
When the joints are damaged or affected by some disease, they might become inflamed, painful, swollen, and stiff. This is not only a painful experience but might also reduce our mobility.
Shoulder joint pain causes
When treating pain in the shoulder joints, it's crucial to identify the underlying cause, as each condition might call for its own treatment method. While some issues will heal simply with rest, others might become chronic diseases that require constant medication.
Below, we will look at some conditions commonly associated with shoulder joint pains.
Rotator cuff injury
The rotator cuff consists of muscles and tendons around the shoulder joints, supporting the joints and bones and helping to keep them firmly in place.
When the rotator cuff suffers an injury, either as a result of trauma or overuse, it might cause pain in the joint area. Depending on the severity of the damage, rotator cuff injury might heal on its own, need medical treatment, or in some cases, even surgery might be required.
Frozen shoulder
Frozen shoulder, also known as adhesive capsulitis, is a medical condition when the connective tissues around the shoulder joint become tight and stiff.
The condition develops over a period of time, getting worse slowly. Severe cases of frozen shoulders might render the shoulders immobile completely. Physical therapy can speed up the otherwise long healing process, and in some cases, surgery might be necessary.
Arthritis
Arthritis is an umbrella term for diseases that cause joint pain and inflammation.
Some forms of arthritis might affect the shoulder joints. Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are the most common forms of the disease. Both of them are incurable chronic conditions and require ongoing treatment to alleviate the symptoms.
Shoulder impingement syndrome
Shoulder impingement syndrome is a common source of shoulder pain with a telltale name. The condition occurs when the tissues of the rotator cuff get caught by, rub against, or impinge on the shoulder blade. This irritates the tissues and leads to shoulder pain.
Causes of shoulder impingement might include the swelling of tissues, bone deformities, or bone spurs.
Bursitis
Bursitis is the inflammation of the bursae, the small, fluid-filled cushioning on the joint. It might affect any of our joints, including the shoulders. Symptoms include reduced mobility and shoulder pain that gets worse with movement.
Bursitis might heal with rest alone, but NSAIDs, painkillers, and ice packs can make the healing process more comfortable.
Shoulder tendonitis
Tendons are thick tissues that attach the bones and muscles together. Tendonitis is the inflammation of these tissues. It might occur in any of the joints but shoulder joints are especially prone to tendonitis because of repetitive movements and possible overuse.
When dealing with tendonitis, it might be advisable to change movement patterns to avoid joint stress and let the tendons rest.
Poor posture
Poor posture is a common problem among our population and may lead to uncomfortable medical issues. Shoulder pain is one of these.
When you're hunching, the bones and joints in your shoulder are not in their natural position.
This might cause uneven distribution of force and the rubbing or pinching of tissues on bones.
Improving your posture might reduce stress on the joints and alleviate shoulder or back pains.
Diagnosing shoulder joint pains
When diagnosing shoulder joint pains, doctors might use a combination of physical examination and imaging tests, such as X-ray or MRI scans. They might observe the areas around the joint for tenderness and swelling, and assess the range of motion and stability of the joint.
In some cases, doctors might also apply a targeted numbing injection to pinpoint the precise source of the pain.
Shoulder pain treatment options
Once doctors diagnose the source of your shoulder pain, they will determine the best course of treatment. Below, we'll look at possible treatment options for shoulder joint pain.
Painkillers
Many conditions that cause shoulder pain will heal over time with rest. But the pain can still make our life harder, even in those cases.
Traditional drugs like NSAIDs can relieve pain, reduce inflammation, and make the healing process more comfortable. But they may also have some side effects.
Shoulder pain could also come from an irreversible chronic disease, or sometimes the healing process could take years. Proper pain management is especially important in these cases.
Physical therapy
Physical therapy is a common solution for people with shoulder pains.
A physical therapist can teach stretching and mobilizing exercises that can alleviate pain, increase range of motion, and could even hasten recovery.
When dealing with joint pain, it's crucial to find the right balance between resting the joint and staying active. Low-impact exercises and gentle stretches can help you achieve that.
Improving your posture, using ergonomic equipment, and avoiding repetitive movements could not only help you relieve your existing shoulder pains but might also lower the risks of future issues.
Alternative remedies
In addition to traditional medical treatments, alternative and natural remedies can offer additional pain relief.
Heat and cold therapy are both proven ways to alleviate pain. They can help ease shoulder pain, reduce joint stiffness, and relax the muscles.
Natural or herbal-based remedies - like capsaicin and menthol - might also be used for pain relief. They might not be as effective as painkillers, but they usually have fewer side effects.
Another option worth considering might be drug-free pain patches, like our Freedom patch. Using innovative vibrotactile technology, it can reduce shoulder pain without side effects, and it doesn't interfere with traditional painkillers.
Neck Pain Symptoms & Causes
The neck is a hardworking part of the body, made up of vertebrae that extend from the upper torso to the skull. Cervical discs absorb shock between these bones. The vertebrae, muscles and ligaments at the top of the spine support the head together, which weighs 11 pounds on average – the weight of a bowling ball.
The neck is also known as the cervical spine, and neck pain – or cervicalgia as it is sometimes called – refers to pain in or around the spine beneath the head.
As a common symptom of multiple injuries and medical conditions, neck pain usually isn’t serious and improves with simple treatment strategies. However, pain that continues for a number of months could indicate an underlying medical condition. In some incidences, early intervention may be required for best results.
Symptoms of Neck Pain
Individuals may experience axial neck pain, referring to pain felt mostly in the neck, or radicular neck pain, where pain shoots to other areas of the body, such as the shoulders or arms. Pain may be acute, resolving in under six weeks, or chronic, where symptoms extend beyond three months.
Symptoms of neck pain may include:
- Neck stiffness that may cause a decreased range of motion
- Sharp pain that is localized to one area
- Pain while moving
- Radiating pain or burning sensations, or numbness, possibly signifying a compressed or pinched nerve
- Neck pain that produces a headache, also referred to as a cervicogenic headache; a combination of neck and head pain may also be symptoms of a migraine headache
Neck Pain Causes
There are a variety of causes for neck pain or stiffness:
Muscle Strain and Tension
This type of pain is typically the result of activities such as:
- Being sedentary for too long
- Having your computer monitor positioned too low or too high
- Quick movement during exercise
- Sleeping in a position that aggravates your neck
Injury
Falls, sporting mishaps and car accidents often force the muscles and ligaments of the neck to move outside a healthy range of motion, causing injury. A sudden jerking of the head, referred to as whiplash, is one of the neck pain causes most common as a result of injury. Fractures in the neck bones – or cervical vertebrae – are very serious as they may cause damage to the spinal cord.
Other Causes
Neck pain causes may also include heart attacks, presenting alongside other symptoms such as sweating, shortness of breath, pain in the arm or jaw, nausea or vomiting. This requires urgent medical attention.
A layer of thin tissue surrounds the brain and spinal cord. Inflammation of this tissue is known as meningitis, a life threatening condition that may result in neck stiffness. Other symptoms such as headache, nausea, vomiting and light sensitivity are likely to be present as well.
Degenerative diseases such as osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, spinal stenosis and spondylosis (known as arthritis of the neck) may all be potential neck pain causes. Other conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis (inflammation of the joints) and fibromyalgia may also result in ongoing neck stiffness or neck pain.
On rare occasions, neck pain or neck stiffness may be the result of infections, abscesses, tumors, cancer of the spine or congenital abnormalities.
Neck Pain Red Flags
In certain incidences, neck pain is serious, where there may be an underlying disease or infection, or the health of the spinal cord or a nerve root may be at risk. Red flags may include pain or tingling that radiates into the arms or legs, issues with balance and coordination, or fevers and chills. These symptoms require immediate treatment by a medical professional, as does severe neck pain as a result of traumatic injury, such as a serious fall or car crash.
Paying close attention to symptoms of your neck pain can help you choose the right course of action. While simple behaviors such as poor posture or uncomfortable sleep positions are more common causes of neck pain, medical attention should be immediately sought out for pain that is severe, that continues beyond a week, or is accompanied by other symptoms.