Why does my shoulder hurt when I move my arm back?

Joint pain can occur at any age and for various reasons.
The situation when the shoulder hurts when you move your arm back also happens often at different ages, and is provoked by various factors: from minor bruises and sprains to serious pathologies. Therefore, you should not ignore this factor and consult a doctor for advice.

However, before going to the hospital, you should determine the possible cause of the pain, and in this regard, find out which doctor to contact.

Why does it hurt when you move your arm back: causes, diagnosis, treatment

Often a person turns to a specialist when he feels acute back pain. The causes may be different, however, under any circumstances, timely diagnosis of the disease and its correct treatment returns a person to a full life without pain or discomfort. The patient should consult a doctor when the first signs of the disease appear. For example, a doctor’s consultation is necessary when your shoulder hurts when you move your arm back.

In what case should you see a doctor immediately?

Most patients come to the clinic in the later stages of the disease, when the pain becomes unbearable. With such an attitude, irreversible consequences can occur. Therefore, if you experience pain in the shoulder joint when moving your arm back, you should consult a doctor for advice.

However, if you are sure of the cause of the pain (bruise, sprain, muscle damage, myalgia), you need to immobilize the joint and apply cold compresses.

If the pain does not go away after a few days, consult a doctor immediately.

Causes of pain

It is impossible to determine the cause of shoulder pain on your own. Only a specialist can identify and diagnose the disease after a series of studies. There are several known causes of pain, each of which is a signal to begin immediate treatment.

Physical exercise. Often acute pain occurs after some stress on the shoulder joint. For example, a person’s sore arm was in a raised position for a long time. Your arm may also hurt after lifting a heavy load. In addition, professional or amateur athletes who perform various exercises haphazardly are susceptible to pain in the shoulder joint. If the shoulder is damaged after physical activity, we can talk about a sprain of the ligaments or muscles of the shoulder.
Bursitis. This disease is characterized by inflammation of the mucous membranes. Pain occurs due to injury, diathesis, or any mechanical damage to the shoulder. The main symptom of this disease is severe pain when moving the injured limb back. In addition, there is minor damage to the skin and severe swelling.
Tendinitis. This disease is a consequence of an infection. With this disease, inflammation of the tendons of the shoulder joint is observed. It is important to diagnose in a timely manner and then begin treatment. Otherwise, tendinitis can lead to loss of mobility of the injured limb, as well as the formation of nodules in the shoulder joint.

Pinched nerve. Often the cause of pain when moving is a pinched nerve ending. Moreover, a feeling of discomfort does not necessarily appear with shoulder joint disease. Sometimes it is not easy to place your hand behind your back due to a herniated disc or arthritis of the spinal column. As a rule, the pain is acute and appears suddenly.
Arthritis and arthrosis. Pain syndrome may appear due to arthritis or arthrosis. Here, the degenerative destruction of cartilage tissue occurs for quite a long time, so a person may not be aware of the cause of the unpleasant sensation that has arisen. With arthritis, even the simplest movements of the hand are difficult, the pain does not go away even if the limb takes a break from stress. In the morning there is stiffness in movements.
Myocardial infarction. Sometimes painful sensations in the left shoulder may indicate a malfunction of the heart muscle. Here it is important to pay attention to other accompanying symptoms. During a heart attack, along with shoulder pain, rapid breathing, a feeling of stiffness on the left side of the chest, and intense sweating are observed. If these signs are detected, you should immediately take a cardiac medication and call an ambulance.

Causes

The most likely causes of pain when moving the arm back are the following:

external damage to the shoulder joint (bruise, fracture, etc.);
the presence of inflammation of the joint or body;
overvoltage;
arthrosis or osteochondrosis of the shoulder joint.

The appearance of these reasons, in turn, is influenced by several factors:

hypothermia;
improper load during work/training;
past infectious diseases;
disturbance of hormonal balance, metabolism;
natural aging of the body, resulting in an imbalance of water and electrolyte balance, leaching of useful substances from the bones;

Expert opinion Filimoshin Oleg Alexandrovich

Neurologist, city clinic of Orenburg. Education: Orenburg State Medical Academy, Orenburg. Pain can also occur due to neurological diseases, sprains, or the development of pathological changes in the shoulder girdle, which we will talk about in more detail.

Osteochondrosis

A common disease that mainly affects the joints of the body and intervertebral discs. If your shoulder hurts when you move your arm back, a diagnosis of “osteochondrosis of the shoulder joint” may be made.

It is characterized by the following symptoms: the patient complains of stiffness in the shoulder; pain radiating to the arm.
Additional symptoms: swelling occurs in any part of the arm (mainly the hand), body temperature decreases, and the affected limb appears blue.
The treatment of osteochondrosis is carried out by a neuropathologist, or a doctor of narrow specialization, a vertebrologist (dealing with the pathology of joint diseases);
Diagnosis is carried out on the basis of x-rays and manual examination by a doctor.
Treatment consists of taking chondroprotectors, anesthetics, and drugs that help retain nutrients in the bones of the body. Be sure to reduce the load on the joint during an exacerbation. During the period of remission, exercise therapy is recommended.

Expert opinion Mitrukhanov Eduard Petrovich Neurologist, city clinic, Moscow. Education: Russian State Medical University, GBOU DPO Russian Medical Academy of Postgraduate Education Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Volgograd State Medical University, Volgograd. Also, shoulder pain when abducting the arm can occur due to osteochondrosis affecting the cervical or thoracic spine.

, the following accompanying symptoms appear : pain and stiffness in the neck, shoulder blade, and thoracic region. The ribs may hurt, there may be frequent headaches, and poor posture (often thoracic scoliosis, kyphosis). With such localization of the disease, physiotherapy is added for more effective treatment: ultraphoresis, wave therapy, radiation therapy.

Arthritis

Inflammation affects the joint cartilage and causes it to lose its ability to function normally.

Symptoms: severe aching pain in the shoulder, which can cover the entire shoulder girdle.
The disease is accompanied by additional indicators: an increase in body temperature, a specific crunch when moving the arm, it becomes difficult to raise the arms, and chronic weakness is characteristic.
Arthritis is treated by an orthopedic surgeon and surgeon. You can also always contact a vertebrologist.
For recovery, it is advisable to take NSAIDs, glucocorticoids, analgesics, external ointments, and chondroprotectors. Massage, laser therapy, electrophoresis are also indicated.

Arthrosis

It is also a degenerative joint disease caused by inflammation of the cartilage. But unlike arthritis, the bone tissue of the joint is also affected, as a result of which the disease penetrates deeper.

Symptoms: pain in the arm and shoulder when pressing and moving; a person cannot bring his hands behind his back.
Treatment is assigned to an orthopedist. Surgery is possible.
Diagnosis is carried out using palpation, radiography and clinical tests.
Therapy is carried out using anti-inflammatory drugs and physiotherapy (ultraphoresis, mud therapy, paraffin baths). After the exacerbation stage, exercise therapy is recommended.

Neuritis

Brachial plexus neuritis is an inflammatory disease of the nerve endings of the shoulder girdle. Affects the area from the armpit to the spine; in the collarbone area.

Symptoms: severe pain in the scapula area, spreading from the shoulder, very limited mobility of the arm.
Additionally, numbness in the fingers may occur.
The diagnosis of neuritis is carried out by a neuropathologist and neurologist.
This disease can be identified by MRI of the shoulder joint, examination by a neurologist, ultrasound diagnostics, and analysis of patient complaints.
For treatment, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and physiotherapy (electrophoresis, cryotherapy, laser therapy) are used.

External shoulder injuries

External injuries to the shoulder include bruises, fractures, and dislocations.

A bruise is an injury to the shoulder joint caused by force on it. Accompanied by the appearance of a hematoma.
Symptoms: severe pain after the blow, stiffness when moving the arm back, swelling, bruising.
For diagnosis and treatment, you should contact a traumatologist.
The diagnosis is made based on a manual examination of the patient and an analysis of the medical history.
Treatment consists of immobilizing the joint, using painkillers and bruise-absorbing ointments.
A fracture is a more serious injury to the shoulder joint, characterized by a violation of the integrity of the joint. Shoulder pain can also cause a fracture of the radius bone of the forearm.
Symptoms: severe pain in the damaged joint, spreading to the limb and shoulder blade (appears some time after the injury) even at rest; the appearance of swelling, cyanosis. With an open fracture, bleeding is observed.
To diagnose a fracture, the patient should consult a traumatologist.
To identify a fracture, an x-ray of the shoulder joint is prescribed.
During treatment, a splint or plaster is applied. Painkillers are prescribed (if necessary). During rehabilitation, it is recommended to perform physical exercises that develop the broken limb.
Dislocation – when an external force is applied to the arm (fall, etc.), the joint capsule ruptures, which leads to joint dislocation
Symptoms: external deformation of the joint, severe pain on palpation, also pain at rest, limited mobility of the limb.
Additional symptoms: with severe dislocation, the head of the joint may move into the armpit.
The treatment is carried out by a traumatologist.
It includes limiting the mobility of the arm and applying a splint. But first, the doctor must realign the joint.

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Sprain

Occurs when a load was placed on the ligaments of the shoulder girdle that exceeds their elasticity. In this case, a microtear of the connective tissue occurs, resulting in pain.

Symptoms: severe pain, limited mobility of the shoulder, swelling, redness in the sprained area.
Additional symptoms: an increase in skin temperature and the appearance of a hematoma may be observed.
For diagnosis, contact a traumatologist.
It consists of a manual examination and analysis of the patient’s complaints.
Treatment: cold compresses, physical therapy. In case of inflammation - NSAIDs, painkillers. During the rehabilitation period, it is recommended to perform exercises to strengthen the ligaments.

Collision Syndrome

This syndrome is formed due to the formation of inflammation and narrowing of the space in the area of the acromial process of the scapula.

Symptoms: inability to move the arm back/forward, lifting up.
Additional symptoms that distinguish the “collision” syndrome from osteochondrosis: pain mainly forms in the area of the scapula, limited movement of the arm by 98%.
Diagnosis is carried out by an orthopedic surgeon and a vertebrologist.
Includes x-rays, MRI and clinical tests.
Treatment consists of passive physical therapy, taking anti-inflammatory drugs, and immobilizing the joint. You may also need surgical intervention - acromioplasty.

Tendinitis

The condition occurs when the tendons surrounding the shoulder joint become inflamed. This happens due to infection entering the body, which causes this inflammation.

Symptoms: pain when moving the hand, redness and swelling of the inflamed area.
Additional signs: with a long course of the disease, nodules may form in the tendons of the shoulder joint, movements are accompanied by a crunching sound.
For diagnosis, an orthopedic doctor prescribes an MRI of the affected area and clinical tests to detect infection and inflammatory processes in the body.
A vertebrologist also treats this disease. Treatment includes taking NSAIDs, bandaging, cryotherapy, and performing physical exercises (after inflammation is relieved).

Biceps tendinitis

Shoulder pain when moving the arm back can be caused not only by inflammation of the tendons of the shoulder, but also by inflammatory processes in the biceps brachii muscle. This is biceps tendinitis.

Treatment and diagnosis of this inflammatory process does not differ from the treatment of tendinitis of other tendons.

However, diagnosis differs in the location of pain and swelling. With biceps tendonitis, pain is felt in the shoulder and radiates to the forearm; the biceps brachii muscle is most susceptible to pain.

For prevention purposes, it is recommended to perform physical exercises to strengthen these tendons, not to overcool, and regularly conduct clinical tests for the presence of infections in the body.

Bursitis

In the mucous membrane of the shoulder joint, there may be an accumulation of fluid, resulting in inflammation. This inflammation characterizes the disease bursitis. Most often found in professional athletes.

Symptoms: swelling and severe pain in the affected area, inability to raise the arm and move it back. In later stages, joint suppuration is observed.
If the disease appears, you should contact a surgeon or vertebrologist.
Diagnosis is made using x-rays of the affected joint and clinical tests.
Treatment consists of taking NSAIDs and physiotherapy (iontophoresis, amplipulse, magnetic therapy). In 80% of cases, surgical intervention is required - bursectomy (incision of the damaged joint capsule).

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Myalgia

It is characterized by the occurrence of pain in the muscles surrounding the shoulder joint. This phenomenon occurs due to muscle overstrain. May develop into a chronic form.

Symptoms: severe pain when moving the arm, as well as at rest (usually follows after intense physical exertion).
If these symptoms persist for a long time, you should consult a traumatologist.
Diagnosis is carried out by palpation and analysis of patient complaints.
Treatment consists of the use of warming ointments and analgesics. Sports massage recommended.

Referred pain

Referred pain indicates that there are some disorders in the body that cause pain, which radiates to a specific place that is not the source of pain.

Causes of appearance: problems with the heart, abdominal cavity, lungs; presence of infection in the body; pathologies of the cervical or thoracic spine.
Symptoms: pain has no precise localization, spreading over a large area of the body; may occur when moving the hand.
Additional signs: disorder of the internal organs of the abdominal cavity or chest; pain and disturbances necessarily appear in other parts of the body.
If such pain occurs, contact a therapist who will prescribe general tests, find out the cause, and give a referral to the right doctor.
Treatment also depends on the cause of the pain.

Periarthrosis

Periarthrosis of the glenohumeral region is a degenerative disease that affects the soft tissues surrounding the shoulder joint. Has a chronic form.

Symptoms: limited mobility of the shoulder joint: inability to move it back, clasp the hands behind the back, etc. Pronounced pain when moving the limb.
If you have such symptoms, you should consult a neurologist or neurologist.
Diagnosis includes a neurological examination and MRI.
Treatment includes drug blockade of pain and physical therapy (acupuncture, massage, manual therapy). During the period of remission, exercise therapy is recommended.

Incorrect posture

One of the most common causes of pain when moving the arm back. In this case, referred pain in the shoulder joint appears due to pinched intervertebral discs and nerves.

Symptoms: curvature of the spine, limited mobility of the upper back, shoulder joint and arm.
Additional symptoms: ischemia and other heart problems may occur; dysfunction of the digestive system.
An orthopedic surgeon is involved in restoring correct posture.
Treatment consists of performing special exercises for correct posture and massage.

Frozen shoulder syndrome

It occurs due to compression of the shoulder joint, which causes scarring, which causes discomfort and pathological development of the shoulder joint.

This disease is manifested by pain in the shoulder both during movement and at rest; limited mobility. There are cases of complete absence of motor function.
A neurologist treats this disease.
Diagnosis is carried out using x-rays, as well as a doctor’s examination.
The active release technique, which consists of performing certain exercises under the supervision of a doctor, and therapeutic massage, will help you get rid of the disease.

Rotator cuff injury

The rotator cuff includes a system of muscles (supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor, and subscapularis).

Injury to these muscles is characterized by the following symptoms: impaired shoulder rotation (pain occurs especially when moving the arm back); weakness appears when moving.
A traumatologist deals with this problem.
Diagnosis is carried out using diagnostic tests; an additional x-ray may be prescribed.
Treatment includes blocking the pain syndrome using glucocorticoids and complete immobilization of the shoulder joint. In cases of severe damage, surgery is necessary to restore the rotational function of this muscle system.

Symptoms and diagnosis

The most important symptom of pain syndrome is an unpleasant, pronounced feeling of discomfort. Depending on the cause of the discomfort, it is important to make a correct diagnosis. This can only be handled by a specialist who will prescribe the patient all the necessary tests and studies.

The doctor collects anamnesis, examines the patient, and recommends some tests. For example, an X-ray examination of the shoulder joint, MRI, CT scan or a general blood test may be performed.

Treatment

Once the cause of pain in the shoulder joint is diagnosed, comprehensive therapy should be started immediately. As a rule, the patient is prescribed medications. The sooner the process of restoring a damaged joint begins, the greater the likelihood of complete relief from the disease. If medical or folk measures are delayed, the limb will no longer be able to function normally.

Traditional methods

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as Diclofenac, Ketanov, Ibuprofen, effectively combat pain in the shoulder area. In addition, the patient may be prescribed glucocorticosteroid hormones - Prednisolone or Hydrocortisone.

Folk remedies

If it is difficult to place your injured arm behind your back, folk recipes can save you. They can be used independently at home. However, herbal remedies are recommended to be used only if the cause of the pain is known. Otherwise, a person may not only not be able to cope with unpleasant painful sensations, but also harm himself.

There are many folk recipes that effectively cope with shoulder pain. Here are some of them:

Alcohol tincture. Take one liter of alcohol, add to it three tablespoons of lilac flowers, several pods of hot pepper, one spoon of crushed burdock root. Mix all ingredients and leave to infuse for three days in a cool, dark place. After the specified time, you can rub the infusion over the area of the affected shoulder.
Acetic local compresses. For it, take half a liter of boiled water and add one tablespoon of ordinary table vinegar. Moisten a cloth with this solution and apply it to the affected area.
Ointment. You can prepare the healing remedy yourself at home. To do this, take one hundred grams of unsalted lard and melt it using a metal container. Add three tablespoons of dry St. John's wort and one pod of hot pepper to the cooled mass. Mix all ingredients and leave until completely cool. Then apply the mixture to the affected area.

Causes of painful symptoms

It is important to consider that the more mobile a joint is, the more susceptible it is to various types of damage and injury, which, in turn, causes pain symptoms. In order to understand why your shoulders may hurt, you should undergo a full diagnostic examination, since an adequate assessment of the accompanying symptoms, the nature and intensity of the pain, the patient’s age, the presence of chronic diseases, etc. is necessary.

It should be borne in mind that the same cause can cause different types of pain. In most cases, if there is pain in the shoulder joint, the problem lies in the dysfunction of the spine, as well as the tissues surrounding the joint.

The most common causes of pain with limited mobility of the shoulder joint can be the following pathological conditions:

Periarthritis humeroscapular

The symptoms of glenohumeral periarthritis are indicated by a pathological process in the soft tissues of the shoulder. Its development is caused by increased physical activity and joint injuries.

A characteristic symptom of the initial stage of glenohumeral periarthritis is mild pain with moderate exertion. As symptoms increase, the patient cannot raise his arms high or place his arm behind his back without pain.

Lack of timely treatment leads to constant intense pain in the affected arm, worsening at night. Even a slight effort to raise the arm from the side or rotate it in an extended state causes excruciating pain to the patient. On external examination, slight swelling of the shoulder is noted.

Spinal diseases

Often the cause of unpleasant sensations, including pain symptoms in the shoulder area, is impaired functionality of the cervical spine. In this case, there is constant pain, increasing even with the slightest turn of the head. In addition, paresthesia (decreased sensitivity) in the arm and shoulder may indicate a hernia.

With a hernia in the cervical spine, compression of the nerve endings occurs, which is accompanied by pain in the arm, neck and shoulder blade

In case of diseases of the spine, it is important to take into account that there is no restriction in arm movements, in other words, the patient can move them quite freely.

Arthrosis

With arthrosis, dystrophic changes in articular tissues are noted. As a rule, the risk group includes mature and elderly patients. The main reasons for the development of arthrosis are many years of stress on the shoulder area, a complicated medical history and various types of joint injuries.

The main symptom of arthrosis is constant pain in the shoulders, which at the initial stage of development of the disease is moderate in nature; as the inflammatory process becomes more complicated, the pain gradually intensifies. In this case, there is a limitation in the mobility of the arms, difficulty in lifting them and moving them behind the back. These actions may be accompanied by an unpleasant crunching sound. In severe cases, abduction and raising of the arms becomes impossible.

Arthritis

Arthritis can affect one joint or both, accompanied by excruciating aching pain not only in the shoulder, but also in other joints. As physical activity increases, pain increases. At the peak of arthrosis development, the pain is constant and bothers the patient even at night.

The clinical picture of arthrosis is accompanied, in addition to internal signs, by external ones, manifested by swelling and hyperemia. As symptoms increase, the overall body temperature may rise to low-grade levels (38 degrees).

Changes in the joint tissue of the shoulder with arthrosis and arthritis

Bursitis

The inflammatory process in the synovial bursa of the joint (bursitis) can occur in 2 forms: aseptic and infectious.

Aseptic occurs as a result of increased loads on the shoulder area, which leads to constant traumatization. This form of the disease most often occurs during professional sports and activities associated with strength loads. Aseptic bursitis is characterized by moderate pain in the shoulder area and significant limitation of motor activity, which leads to severe pain when trying to raise the arm. On external examination, the shoulder is hyperemic and edematous.

The infectious form is caused by microbial infection of the synovial bursa and is accompanied by more severe consequences. With the infectious form of bursitis, the patient feels debilitating, constant pain in the shoulder, and even a minimal attempt to change the position of the arm is accompanied by pain. The patient is concerned about weakness, hyperthermia, chills, local redness in the area of inflammation, throbbing pain and swelling.

Bursitis leads to increased production of synovial fluid in the bursa (bursa), causing it to significantly increase in size.

Shoulder injuries

As a rule, any injury is accompanied by pain. When lifting heavy objects, shoulder ligaments can be sprained and torn, which leads to increasing pain. Movements of the hand are sharply limited; it becomes very difficult to remove the hand behind the back or raise it. There is redness and swelling in the shoulder area.

In case of a fall or a strong blow, a bruise of the joint is possible, characterized by moderate aching pain in the shoulder, which increases as the arm moves

Despite the limited movement of the hand with bruises, they are quite possible, although with a limited amplitude. The bruised area is swollen with obvious bruising present on the skin.

If you have pain in the shoulder or arm, as well as limited movement in the joint, you must contact a traumatologist, surgeon and orthopedist, who will conduct a thorough diagnostic examination to determine the cause of this condition and prescribe adequate therapy, in accordance with the symptoms of the disease and the nature of the pain.

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The pain may be:

strong - provoked by shoulder injuries, pinched nerve roots (with vertebral hernias), as well as acute inflammation of muscle tendons;
aching – localization of pain in the left shoulder may indicate serious disturbances in the functioning of the heart (ischemia, angina, heart attack, etc.);
acute – most often indicates damage to the joint when lifting heavy objects;
sharp - is an indicator of the development of an infectious process occurring in the nerve endings of the joint, as well as due to excessive stress;
constant - indicates a serious bruise of the joint, sometimes with damage to the shoulder;
pulsating - occurs when muscles are overstrained and have lost their tone as a result of injury;
dull – most often occurs with tendonitis;
burning – characteristic of inflammatory diseases of the spinal column, for example, osteochondrosis;
long-term - may indicate serious damage to the bones of the joint due to an impact or dislocation.

In addition to the above cases, shoulder pain and the inability to raise the arm are observed when a person is in an incorrect position during sleep (arm under the head or body). In this case, compression of the nerve occurs and, as a result, all of the above symptoms occur.

Prevention

To prevent shoulder pain, it is important to be careful when exercising. You should also perform some exercises daily to ensure smooth functioning of the shoulder joint.

It is important to prevent the onset of the inflammatory process. To do this, you need to monitor your body temperature and avoid hypothermia. It is also necessary to monitor your posture and the condition of the spinal column. Diseases of the spine indirectly affect the occurrence of shoulder pain.

When diagnosing a disease, you should immediately seek help from a doctor. After all, a disease that is in the initial stages of development is easier to treat. If you pay attention to pain in a timely manner, you can start the disease. Then complete relief from the disease will be impossible.

To avoid overstraining the shoulder joint, it is important to properly organize your sleeping and working space. Remember that staying in an uncomfortable position for a long time leads to various deformations, which also affects the functioning of the shoulder joint.

Treatment tactics

Treatment activities are divided into several stages:

First aid

In the case when the shoulder suddenly hurts, the patient should take a gentle position in which the pain is minimized as much as possible, fixing the arm in this position. After this, it is recommended to take analgesics (Analgin, Baralgin, etc.) and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). The most common drugs in this group include Diclogen, Diclofenac, Voltaren, Ortofen, Ibuprofen, etc. For arthritis, myositis, arthrosis and arthritis, an individual treatment regimen is prescribed.

To reduce pain symptoms when providing first aid, you can use a scarf bandage

Before the attending physician arrives, it is necessary to use all means (external and oral) to relieve pain symptoms, however, it is important to take into account the patient’s allergy history.

Important! In case of acute development of symptoms, warming compresses and ointments should not be used, as their effect can intensify painful attacks.

Drug therapy

The goal of drug therapy is to relieve pain and stop the spread of the inflammatory process to the muscular-ligamentous system.

The therapeutic regimen includes:

analgesia of pain symptoms with intramuscular and intravenous injections of Baralgin, Papaverine, etc.;
stopping the development of the inflammatory process with injections and tablets of Nimesil, Movalis, etc.;
prescribing antihistamines (Tavegil, Loratadine, Erius, Zyrtec, etc.) in order to relieve an allergic reaction, including of unknown etiology;
if necessary, novocaine blockade, immunotherapy and muscle relaxants are recommended;
To restore damaged cartilage tissue, Chondrolone and Chondroxide are prescribed;
To improve the general condition of the body, enhance nerve conduction and nourish tissues, it is recommended to take vitamin preparations (E, B, D, A).

Novocaine blockade requires high professionalism

Drug therapy must necessarily be based on tests and results of diagnostic examination (ultrasound, MRI, arthroscopy, etc.).

Exercise therapy

The main task of physical therapy is to provide the correct comprehensive approach to alleviate the condition of a sick person.

There are specially designed complexes that cope with all the tasks. One of them includes a number of basic exercises that can eliminate pain and discomfort in the shoulder:

while sitting on a chair, with your hands on your waist, you need to slowly rotate your shoulders back and forth. For greater efficiency, you can perform this exercise first with your left shoulder and then with your right shoulder for at least 10 minutes;
starting position - sitting on a chair, clasping your hands. The patient is recommended to stretch his arm down in this position (for 10-15 seconds) until slight pain appears, and then return to the starting position. This exercise is performed very slowly, without sudden movements, so as not to further injure the joint;
the affected arm is placed on the opposite shoulder, palm up, after which the healthy arm is grasped around the elbow and raised until the arm is aligned as much as possible. The exercise is performed smoothly, at an average pace, and it is important to ensure that the elbow does not leave the chest, but glides very smoothly along it. When raising your arm to the maximum, you should hold it in the upper position for 10-15 seconds while simultaneously straining your affected arm. Then the hand returns to its original position, the load decreases and the muscles relax;
in a sitting position, the injured arm is moved to the side, after which the elbow bends at a right angle and in this position you need to tilt the shoulder towards the chest and return to its original position. After slight pain appears, you should relax your muscles (at least 10-15 seconds), rest and repeat the exercise. It is extremely important that all muscle groups relax, otherwise the symptoms of the disease may worsen.

Exercise therapy complex for shoulder development

Exercise therapy, together with massage and physiotherapy, which includes laser therapy, UHF, electrophoresis, mud therapy, paraffin baths and other recovery methods, can strengthen and stabilize ligaments, muscles, blood supply and metabolic processes in the body, which accelerates the restoration of joint mobility.

Pain when raising your arm: causes, methods of diagnosis and treatment

Pain when raising your arm is an excruciating, unpleasant sensation that occurs in the shoulder joint, forearm or upper arm. They appear due to injuries, against the background of excessive physical exertion, prolonged immobilization of the shoulder joint, and monotonous work. Pathological pain when raising the arm is associated with degenerative and inflammatory joint diseases. Soreness occurs simultaneously with other symptoms of the disease. More often it is swelling, swelling, and stiffness of movement in the damaged area.

The content of the article

Causes of pain when raising your arm

The most common reasons for pain when raising the arm include traumatic damage to the anatomical structures of the shoulder joint: tendons, joint capsule, labrum, ligaments, bones, arm muscles. Occurs when there is a blow to the shoulder, a fall, a sharp abduction of the arm, as a result of a domestic or work injury, dislocation, muscle strain, fracture, or physical overload.

Diseases of the musculoskeletal system play a certain role in the appearance of pain when raising the right and/or left arm, such as:

osteochondrosis of the cervical and thoracic spine;
intervertebral hernia;
tendonitis - inflammation of the tendons of the shoulder joint;
arthritis and arthrosis of various origins;
chronic tenosynovitis;
glenohumeral periarthritis;
inflammation of the muscles of the neck and shoulder girdle (cervical myositis);
shoulder bursitis;
rachiocampsis;
connective tissue pathologies such as scleroderma, systemic lupus erythematosus;
congenital malformations of the shoulder joint.

Types of pain when raising your arm

Depending on the underlying disease and the characteristics of its development, pain when raising the arm occurs acutely or is asymptomatic. In the early period, unpleasant sensations are associated with grasping and holding an object, abduction and adduction, outward and inward movements, flexion and extension, and circular rotations of the hand. The pain differs in intensity, time of occurrence, duration, and the sensations experienced (acute pain, cutting, stabbing, shooting).

Soreness often appears and intensifies after physical exertion, hypothermia, and goes away at rest. In the later stages, it occurs with minor movements without the active participation of the shoulder joint, sometimes even in a state of rest, and radiates to the neck, elbows, wrists, metacarpus, and fingers of the upper extremities. Because of the pain, hand movements are constrained and difficult, the muscles are weakened, it is difficult to perform usual actions, and night sleep is disturbed. Diseases that occur with the deposition of calcium salts are characterized by a crunching sound when moving. In case of injuries and bruises, swelling, swelling, excessive mobility of the shoulder, and hematomas in the area of injury are observed.

Diagnostic methods

If pain when raising your arm occurs as a result of the traumatic effect of formations of the shoulder joint, consultation with a traumatologist is necessary. For painful sensations of unknown origin, patients turn to a therapist or orthopedist. To make a preliminary diagnosis, the doctor conducts an external examination, assesses the patient’s general condition and complaints, and collects information about the presence of chronic or previously suffered diseases and injuries.

To clarify the diagnosis and exclude other diseases, hardware methods for studying the shoulder joint are performed: radiography, magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography, ultrasound of the cervical spine. To determine infectious, inflammatory, and oncological processes, data from laboratory tests of blood, urine, and biological secretions are used. If there is a suspicion of connections between diseases of other organs and systems that cause pain when raising the left or right arm, a consultation with an appropriate specialist is prescribed: a neurologist, endocrinologist, cardiologist, neurosurgeon, vertebrologist.

In the network of CMRI clinics, diagnosis of the causes of pain when moving the arm is based on research methods such as:

Diagnostics

It is extremely important to diagnose pathological signs at the initial stage of their development, which can be done using the following research methods:

Radiography

Using an x-ray, the degree of damage to the cartilage tissue, damage and bruises of the joint is determined.

Unlike ultrasound, an x-ray is printed onto a special film rather than displayed on a screen.

Magnetic resonance imaging

MRI allows you to see a detailed picture of the lesion in the shoulder area with simultaneous assessment of changes in the periarticular and nearby tissues.

CT scan

CT determines the nature of the inflammatory process (dystrophic or degenerative) with the subsequent prescription of the correct therapy.

Ultrasound

Using an ultrasound examination, it becomes possible to evaluate pathological changes in the shoulder area, confirming all the doctor’s assumptions.

In addition, if necessary, a number of laboratory tests (general and biochemical analysis of blood, urine, feces, etc.) may be prescribed.

In some cases, an x-ray does not confirm the presence of an inflammatory process, but the patient complains of severe pain in the arm with the inability to lift it, which may indicate pathological changes in the area of the cervical vertebrae.

The most dangerous are vascular disorders that are accompanied by degenerative processes in the vessels, caused by metabolic disorders. In this case, the hand of the affected hand swells, acquires a bluish or grayish tint, and possible reduction in its size and muscle weakness. This condition requires immediate action.