The Main Causes of Shoulder Pain and How to Treat It

If you are suffering from pain in your shoulder, it could be for a number of different reasons. Shoulder pain can be caused by a minor injury, having bad posture, or a range of underlying health conditions. Some conditions which can cause pain in the shoulder include a frozen shoulder, pinched nerve, shoulder instability, rotator cuff disorders, and broken bones to name just a few. We’ve listed some of the most common causes of shoulder pain and how best to deal with them.

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Pinched Nerve

Pinched nerve shoulder pain develops when tissue surrounding the shoulder blade suffers from intense pressure. This pressure is often the result of a compressed or trapped nerve. Although a pinched nerve will not last permanently, it can cause pain and discomfort to the sufferer as it interferes with the transmission of signals from the brain to the nerve. A pinched nerve may cause a sensation of burning or stinging in your shoulder which may move down the arm, and the nerve compression can cause painful muscle spasms. Weakness in the shoulder and arm muscles is also a symptom of a pinched nerve, for example if you are finding it hard to lift your arm above your head or use it to reach for an item.

If a pinched nerve is making it impossible for you to complete simple tasks, it’s essential to seek medical attention. There are a number of simple ways to treat a pinched nerve, with the main one being that the affected area should be rested. You should avoid moving your arm or shoulder as much as possible, and try lying on your back to relieve pressure on the area. Alternating between hot and cold compresses on the area can also relieve pain.

Frozen Shoulder

A frozen shoulder, also known as adhesive capsulitis, is a condition which causes painful and persistent stiffness of the shoulder joint, making it very difficult to carry out normal shoulder movements. A frozen shoulder occurs when there is tightening and swelling of the flexible tissue surrounding the shoulder joint. As a result, there is less room for your upper arm bone, the humorous, in the shoulder joint, making movement of the shoulder both stiff and painful.

Frozen shoulder treatment methods can vary depending on the stage and severity of the condition. In many cases, a frozen shoulder will recover by itself over time, but the recovery time can be slow, lasting around 18-24 months. To help with the pain of a frozen shoulder, you could be prescribed painkiller medication or given corticosteroid injections. For the later stages of a frozen shoulder when the pain levels have started to improve, shoulder exercises and physical therapy are often the most effective methods of treatment.

Rotator Cuff Disorders

The rotator cuff is the group of muscles and tendons which the shoulder joint is surrounded by. The rotator cuff ensures the joint is positioned correctly, allowing it to move in a way which is controlled and comfortable. Although different types of rotator cuff disorders can bring about a range of different symptoms, common symptoms include pain which is greater during activities that involve the arm being above shoulder level, pain when moving the arm away from the body, shoulder pain during the night, and pain on the sides and front of the shoulder.

Treatments for rotator cuff disorders come with a wide range of different options, and patients will be given a treatment based on their level of discomfort and pain. Steroid injections into the shoulder joint are often used in order to reduce pain, and physical therapy is a highly recommended treatment for rotator cuff disorders as there are a range of different shoulder exercises which can be used and work well for reducing pain and discomfort. In advanced cases, there are many different types of surgeries which can be used for rotator cuff disorder, including open tendon repair, bone spur removal, tendon transfer and arthroscopic tendon repair surgeries. In very severe cases, rotator cuff injuries can lead to the need for a shoulder replacement.

These are just some of the different conditions which can cause pain in and around the shoulder area. If you are suffering from shoulder pain, it could be due to a range of different reasons. If you have shoulder pain which is persistent and preventing you from carrying out everyday tasks, it is essential that you seek the advice of a health professional as soon as possible in order to treat your condition and pain.