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.