Shoulder pain - causes, symptoms and treatment of shoulder pain

Pain in the shoulder joint is a condition that can characterize various diseases, both the shoulder girdle and the spine or internal organs. Therefore, shoulder pain should be treated with the utmost care and prevent it from becoming chronic. Pain in the right joint may indicate diseases of the biliary tract or gallbladder, and pain in the left shoulder may indicate a malfunction of the cardiovascular system.

Only an experienced specialist after a full examination can make a correct diagnosis and find the root cause of pain in the right or left shoulder joint. Therefore, if you feel discomfort in the shoulder girdle (joint, muscles, tendons), immediately visit an osteopath.

Shoulder pain and diseases that cause it

Pain in the shoulder joint can occur due to fatigue and microtrauma. This is the least dangerous variant of its manifestation. But often pain indicates serious disorders, the most common of which are the following:

Arthritis. An inflammatory process that causes pain in the right or left shoulder girdle. It can occur as a result of regular microtraumas, previous diseases (including infectious ones), or prolonged hypothermia. Without treatment, it develops into a chronic disease with damage to other joints.
Arthrosis. A disorder caused by changes in cartilage tissue that occur due to age, injury, malfunction of the metabolic and circulatory systems. As the disease progresses, severe pain affects the shoulder joint when raising the arm. There is a limitation of his mobility up to the point of disability.
Neuritis. Damage (pinching) of the nerve processes, resulting in acute pain when raising the arm or simply with the slightest movement. It is the result of inflammatory processes, injuries, tumor diseases of the shoulder girdle.
Tendobursitis. Inflammation of the joint capsule resulting from the deposition of calcium salts. The reason may be improper functioning of the metabolic system, an abundance of highly salted foods in the diet. As a result, pain occurs in the shoulder and elbow joints and spreads further to the fingertips.
Lesion of the shoulder cuff. It is not a disease in itself, but it is often one of the causes of pain in the shoulder joint of the arm. Occurs due to prolonged performance of monotonous work in an uncomfortable position. It appears some time after physical activity. In this case, pain in the shoulder joint can spread to the neck or spine up to the lumbar region.
Capsulitis. A disease caused by muscle spasms, which not only cause pain in the right or left shoulder, but also significantly limit the mobility of the arms. In this case, there is a circulatory disorder, leading to degeneration of cartilaginous tissue, possible pinching of nerve processes and acute pain in the shoulder joint when trying to raise the arm up, move it behind the back or to the side;
Tendinitis. A chronic disease caused by inflammation in the tendons. It usually develops as a result of prolonged physical activity and is an occupational disease of loaders, painters, and plasterers. Pain in the shoulder joint occurs due to the friction of the tendons on the articular surface. Tendinitis can also spread to the inner shoulder, affecting the biceps.
Bursitis. It is characterized by swelling, swelling of the shoulder joint, pain when moving the arm. It is also an occupational disease that often affects athletes, developing as a result of increased physical stress on the periarticular bursa and tendons, and injuries to the shoulder girdle.

Why can’t you ignore shoulder movement restrictions that have arisen?

Despite the fact that in some cases the symptoms of glenohumeral periarthritis may go away on their own after some time, the disease often progresses to a chronic stage, which can transform into a dangerous form of ankylosing periarthritis. In the future, this can lead to complete immobilization of the shoulder (even in the absence of pain). Also, due to prolonged forced inactivity of the muscles of the shoulder girdle, there is a risk of developing muscle atrophy (for example, infraspinatus, supraspinatus, and deltoid muscles).

Referred pain in the hands and the reasons for their occurrence

Diagnosis of diseases of the shoulder girdle is often difficult due to referred pain, that is, when the cause is not diseases of the left or right shoulder joint, but damage to the spine or internal organs, in which pain is radiated to the joint.

Diseases of the spine do not directly affect the shoulder girdle, but they often cause reflected pain in the shoulder joint. For example, with osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, sharp pain is felt, radiating to the arm. Pain usually occurs when turning or tilting the head, and intensifies at night and in the weather.

Referred pain in the right or left part of the shoulder girdle often occurs due to diseases of the internal organs. Cholecystitis, a fairly common disease of the abdominal cavity, causes pain in the area of the right shoulder joint. Also, pain in the right shoulder joint can occur against the background of inflammation of the gallbladder and biliary tract.

Pain in the shoulder joint of the left arm may indicate the presence of serious diseases of the cardiovascular system, such as angina or myocardial infarction. Also, pain in the shoulder joint of the left arm can manifest itself as a symptom of pneumonia, pleurisy, tumors in the chest area.

Reasons to see a doctor

Pain in the shoulder joint is a good reason to see a doctor, because, as stated above, it accompanies many dangerous diseases. The following symptoms require special attention:

Injuries. If pain in the shoulder joints occurs after an unsuccessful movement or heavy physical activity, then there is a high probability of receiving a serious injury, which can leave consequences. Particularly dangerous are fractures, sprains and ruptures of ligaments, dislocations, and loss of a joint from the joint capsule.
Temperature. Inflammatory and infectious reactions can lead to an increase in temperature, both throughout the body and in the shoulder area. Redness, rash, irritation, and swelling are also possible.
Ineffectiveness of painkillers. If classic painkillers do not help eliminate pain in the shoulder joint, it is possible that the disease concerns the internal organs and does not relate to the shoulder area.
Prolonged pain. If sudden pain in the right or left shoulder does not go away for a long time, then you need to consult a specialist for diagnosis and treatment of the hands.

If you have pain in the right or left shoulder, it is recommended to contact an osteopathic specialist as soon as possible, who can diagnose the disorder, relieve pain and cure the root cause of the disease, rather than fight the symptoms.

Which doctor should you contact if you have limited shoulder movement?

If any restrictions in the movement of the shoulder appear, it is better to immediately contact a trusted orthopedic traumatologist in a modern clinic. Only a consultation with a good specialist and an accurate diagnosis (to exclude, for example, cervical osteochondrosis) will help you find the true cause of this disease, which means that you can quickly carry out the highest quality and most effective treatment.

Do you or your loved ones have shoulder movement restrictions that cause you discomfort in your daily life? Qualified medical specialists are always ready to determine the exact cause of your illness and most effectively return your shoulder to the joy of free movement without pain!

Treatment of pain in the shoulder joint using osteopathic methods

Osteopathic treatment of shoulder pain demonstrates high effectiveness for a wide variety of diseases and at various stages of their progression. Having made a diagnosis, the osteopath creates a program according to which treatment will be carried out, taking into account the characteristics of the body and the severity of the disorders. During the process, changes may be made to the program depending on the responsiveness of the patient’s body to manual intervention. Other methods are also used to increase the effectiveness of treatment and speed up the healing process - exercise therapy, physiotherapeutic procedures, etc.

In the acute phase of the disease, when shoulder pain causes serious discomfort to the patient, first aid from a specialist is aimed at relieving the discomfort. For this purpose, the softest fascial techniques are used to reduce and completely eliminate pain in the shoulder girdle, as well as temporary limitation of joint mobility. A specialist may prescribe bed rest or prescribe the wearing of special support splints, bandages, or corsets. This is done if, when raising your arm, you feel a sharp pain in your right or left shoulder.

When the pain goes away, osteopathic treatment continues, moving on to finding the cause of the disease. At the same time, a series of sessions are carried out aimed at restoring the blood supply to the shoulder girdle. When the joint (right or left, it doesn’t matter) begins to receive all the necessary vitamins and minerals, the process of tissue renewal is restored. At the same time, the patient’s diet is usually adjusted to include foods that contain substances and vitamins necessary for recovery.

Depending on where the pain is observed - in the left or right joint, as well as the nature of its manifestation, the specialist chooses the appropriate treatment. It usually takes from one to several months with breaks of 5-10 days between sessions for the body to adapt to the changes.

Sometimes the pain returns. This occurs due to violation of specialist recommendations, repeated injuries and new diseases. And in these cases, an osteopath can help overcome pain in the shoulder joint, although after treatment, prevention is a fairly effective method.

Advantages of manual therapy at the El.En clinic

In our clinic, you can undergo a course of manual therapy in Moscow at any convenient time for pain and limited mobility in the shoulder and hip joints. In "El.En." Experienced doctors work to help you improve your condition and get rid of unpleasant symptoms.

What do we offer

High quality of service - undergo treatment in a modern multifunctional clinic.
The effectiveness of therapy – we help get rid of various joint problems.
Affordable prices for manual therapy in Moscow - information on the cost of services can be clarified with our managers by phone or through the form on the website.

To achieve maximum results, manual therapy is carried out in a course. Make an appointment to receive the necessary information and first aid. Come to us at any convenient time, we are always happy to offer high-quality medical services.

How to avoid shoulder pain. Prevention

Pain in the shoulder joint can either characterize an already begun disease or be its precursor. Therefore, it is important to follow some preventive measures:

Watch your posture. Staying in an uncomfortable position for a long time, carrying bags on one shoulder, uneven distribution of load in the shoulder girdle area - all these are causes of poor posture, leading to pain in the shoulder joint of the arm. Use anatomically comfortable chairs, select the height of your desk, wear a backpack rather than a bag or alternate shoulders while carrying, sleep on a comfortable low pillow.
Avoid strenuous physical activity. Take a break every 15-20 minutes during long, monotonous work with a load on the shoulder girdle. If you play sports, be sure to warm up before exercising.
Do exercises. Perform a series of exercises daily to strengthen the shoulder joint, muscles and tendons of the shoulder girdle. Try to perform the entire set of exercises for both your left and right hands so that the load is the same.
Dress appropriately for the weather. Hypothermia often causes inflammation of the joints and the development of dangerous diseases.
Wear comfortable shoes. Wearing high-heeled shoes leads to impaired gait and increased fatigue, which affects the position of the spine and shoulder girdle.
Watch your figure. Excess weight puts uneven stress on the skeleton, causing one joint to wear out more than the other. The result is constant pain in the left/right joint and the development of concomitant diseases.
Eat right. The body must receive all vitamins and nutrients through food. To do this, adjust your diet in such a way as to minimize the consumption of fatty foods, spicy, salty and sweet foods, as they cause salt deposits. At the same time, include more products that promote the renewal of bone and cartilage tissue - milk, cottage cheese, jellied meat, jelly, jelly, meat and fish broths, etc.

Pain in the shoulder joint is not fatal and, with proper treatment, can be easily relieved by a specialist. But here it is important for the patient to seek help as early as possible, and for the specialist to correctly diagnose the disease. In this case, a quick and effective cure is guaranteed.