Perhaps you don’t think of your shoulder so much until you experience pain suddenly. Shoulder pain may easily make a simple act, such as drying your hair, grabbing something overhead, reaching behind your back so as to fasten a bra, and brushing, look like monumental tasks.
As you grow older, you will be more likely to get shoulder pain from different conditions. The pain may come abruptly or gradually, ranging from excruciating to mild.
Causes
The common cause of this problem happens when rotator cuff tendons are trapped under the bony area in your shoulder. This way, the tendons will become damaged or inflamed. It can also be called rotator cuff bursitis or tendinitis and can be caused by the following:
- Shoulder separation
- Shoulder dislocation
- Frozen shoulder
- Broken shoulder bone
- Bone spurs
- Arthritis
- Poor shoulder mechanisms and postures
- Nerve injury
When to Visit a Doctor
You may treat shoulder pain without visiting your doctor if you have had sudden/continuous pain or a serious injury.
But if you still feel pain after several weeks or months of self-treatment, it will be best to visit a shoulder surgeon, a physiotherapist, or your doctor for treatment.
See a doctor if you feel unwell/feverish, get severe pain in both of your shoulders, and have pain in the thighs.
How to Diagnose Shoulder Pain
Doctors start with physical examinations to check for structural issues as well as a rule out anything, which may involve your neck or spine.
Afterward, your doctor will tell you your range of motion in order to see how flexible and strong your shoulders are. This may encompass moving your arm in different ways, such as behind you, across your body, or above your head, and rotating it 180 or 90 degrees.
Your doctor might also recommend one or two imaging tests so as to get accurate results. These imaging tests may include a CT scan, MRI scan, arthroscopy, EMG (Electromyography), and x-rays.
Different Kinds of Shoulder Problems Causing Pain
Common shoulder issues may include discoloration. Shoulder joints mostly get dislocated in the body, usually caused by force, which separates the joint’s ball. Other shoulder problems include the following:
- Impingement syndrome
- Bursitis
- Rotator cuff tear
- Tendinitis
- Separation
Treatment
The treatment for shoulder pain solely depends on the cause of the issues. And although one treatment might be helpful for one issue, it can’t be helpful and may even be harmful to other people.
This is why it is important to seek medical advice from an expert before you embark on any treatment program. Not every treatment you go for is suitable for all the conditions. Though some can help to relieve your shoulder pain, including rest, heat & ice pack application, medications, physical therapy, and surgery, just to mention a few.
In a Nutshell!
Shoulders have a versatile and wide range of motion. If something goes wrong with the shoulders, it can hamper your capability to move freely and may as well cause discomfort and pain. So if you start experiencing shoulder pain, it will be best to talk to your doctor to devise a good treatment plan.
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