Overview
Shoulder pain can result from injury, disease, or degeneration and may affect the shoulder joint or its surrounding muscles, tendons, and ligaments.
The shoulder joint is the most mobile joint in the body, but this high mobility level may come at a cost. The rotator cuff, which controls your ROM in the shoulder, can easily be injured, thus hampering your ability to lift your arm and carry things. Activities associated with overuse such as sports, work, or repetitive movements can trigger shoulder pain, becoming severe enough to see a shoulder pain specialist. If you are living with shoulder pain, contact our team to make an appointment today.
Shoulder Pain Treatment Options
- Rest
- Rest can prevent further injury in your shoulder and allow your body to heal on its own.
- Hot or cold therapy
- Heat relaxes your muscles while ice reduces inflammation.
- Physical or occupational therapy and exercise
- Physical or occupational therapy helps improve your shoulder strength and flexibility.
- Sling or shoulder immobilizer
- Medication
- Over-the-counter pain medication, such as ibuprofen and naproxen, can help reduce pain and inflammation. Injections can help relieve severe pain that hasn’t improved using other medication.
- Surgery
- In some severe circumstances, such as labrum or rotator cuff tears, you may need surgery to resolve your shoulder pain. The majority of shoulder pain can be resolved without surgery.
Shoulder Pain Symptoms
- Pain in the shoulder
- Limited or complete loss of mobility in shoulder joint
- Inability to raise your arm past shoulder level or discomfort when doing so
- Tightness in the muscles surrounding your shoulder
- Bruising or swelling around the shoulder joint
Shoulder Pain Diagnostic Tests
Your doctor will inquire about your medical history and your history of symptoms. They’ll conduct a physical examination to look for abnormalities such as deformities, swelling, or weakness and examine your range of motion. Your doctor may order some imaging tests to determine the source of your pain:
- Arthroscopy
- Arthrogram
- CT Scan or MRI
- X-Ray
Shoulder Pain Types
- Sprain: Injury to a ligament
- Strain: Injury to a tendon
- Tears: Injuries to the soft tissues of the tendons, muscles, or labrum
Shoulder Pain Causes
- Bursitis
- Fracture
- Frozen Shoulder
- Heart attack
- Rheumatoid or osteoarthritis
- Shoulder dislocation
- Labral tear
- Rotator Cuff Tendinitis
- Impingement Syndrome
- Torn cartilage or rotator cuff
More Shoulder Pain Facts
Shoulder injuries are the third most common musculoskeletal complaint physiotherapists hear, and it is more common in women than men.
About half of all new shoulder pain episodes resolve themselves in about twelve weeks with adequate rest. Torn rotator cuffs are the most common reasons people visit a shoulder pain specialist.
Schedule Your Shoulder Pain Consultation at the Pain Experts of Arizona Today
Don’t let shoulder pain slow you down! The Pain Experts of Arizona can help you diagnose and treat the root causes of your shoulder pain. We treat patients with shoulder pain in Gilbert, Chandler, Mesa, Queen Creek, and the entire Phoenix area. Schedule your consultation today.
