What Shoulder Pain Means: Are You at Risk for Further Damage?
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- 06 Oct 2022
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Feeling some aches in your shoulders after working out, sleeping strangely, or even just from everyday wear and tear usually isn’t anything to be concerned about. However, for many people, shoulder pain goes further than this, causing a lot of discomfort and, in some situations, creating more damage to the affected area.
It’s important to address shoulder pain right away—not only to get relief from what you are feeling, but also to protect your shoulders from future harm. But this can be a challenge when you aren’t sure what shoulder pain means. Here, we’ll go over 3 potential explanations behind your discomfort. Continue reading to learn more about what shoulder pain means, when to be concerned, and how to get support.
4 Reasons Behind Shoulder Pain
When it comes to chronic shoulder pain, there are a lot of unknowns. For some people, shoulder pain begins as a result of an injury or after a trauma to the area. For others, the shoulder pain begins suddenly and without any known cause. Unfortunately, long-lasting or chronic shoulder pain affects as many as half of all patients who report muscle and other body aches. This goes to show the prevalence of this issue. But we’re still left wondering: What does shoulder pain mean? Is it an indication of something more serious?
Let’s look at 3 possible causes behind your shoulder pain. Keep in mind that you should always report any unusual, persistent pain to your doctor in order to get the most accurate diagnosis and subsequent treatment plan.
1. Rotator cuff damage
The group of muscles and tendons that connect to the joint of the shoulder is known as the rotator cuff. This rotator cuff is responsible for keeping the shoulder stable and also allowing it to move. However, there are two types of damage that can occur to this group of muscles and lead to pain:
· Rotator cuff tendinitis – Also known as shoulder impingement, rotator cuff tendinitis is a common cause of shoulder pain. Tendinitis refers to the swelling of the tendons in a particular area, usually as the result of wear and tear with repetitive motions (such as pitching a ball) or strain from overuse. Typically, the pain that happens with rotator cuff tendinitis is located in the front of the shoulder and does not extend past the elbow. This can make it painful to lift and lower the arm. Treatment for tendinitis might involve taking anti-inflammatory medications, icing the shoulder, and/or doing physical therapy.
· Rotator cuff tear – Similar to a shoulder impingement, a rotator cuff tear can make it extremely difficult or painful to move the arm. With this, though, the tendons of the rotator cuff tear either partially or all the way through. The tear can also become worse over time. If you are feeling pain with a rotator cuff tear for a prolonged period of time, you might need more drastic interventions. This is where seeing an orthopedic surgeon could be useful. They will be able to assess the extent of the injury and better guide you on your options for treatment, whether that includes more rest or surgery to repair the tear. Read More…
