What’s causing my shoulder pain?

Shoulders are a joint that offers a wide range of movement and are used often for lifting, driving, writing and in every major sport. Pain in this area is a common problem that can affect you at any age, usually after overexertion or experiencing an injury. Being the most mobile joint in your body; bones, muscles, tendons and ligaments work together to allow the shoulder to move in many different directions and positions during activities. That’s one reason experiencing shoulder pain can be so debilitating and painful. Our experts at Cairnhill Physiotherapy offer a guide to shoulder pain below.

Various causes of shoulder pain

Injuries to the shoulder are most often caused by repetitive movements whilst playing sport or at work. Heavy lifting or awkward movements can contribute. Soft tissue around the shoulders degenerates with age, so older people are more likely to experience shoulder pain and some diseases can also cause pain that extends to the shoulder.

Torn rotator cuff: If you find it painful to raise your arm(s) or are simply unable to, you may have damaged or torn your rotator cuff. This causes swelling making the joint unable to operate functionally. The range of motion comes from the rotator cuff which is made up of four tendons.

Pinched nerve: This can cause a few different types of discomfort. A pinched nerve can cause a sharp pain in the shoulder, numbness or loss of sensation in the area or a pins and needles type tingling. Your shoulder will feel weak, as though it isn’t functioning at full capacity.

Dislocation: The most obvious sign of shoulder dislocation is a visibly deformed shoulder joint. In less serious cases, intense pain and an inability to move the joint will be enough to alert you there is a dislocation.

Bursitis: A painful condition that affects small, fluid-filled sacs called bursae. Bursitis occurs when the sacs meant to cushion the bones, tendons and muscles of your shoulder joint become inflamed. Symptoms include aches and stiffness, red or swollen joints, and pain when the area is pressed on or activated with movement.

Diagnosing shoulder pain

Shoulder pain can be difficult to self-diagnose. Pain in the area can mean a number of different things. The best way to get an accurate diagnosis is to book an appointment with one of the expert physiotherapists at Cairnhill Physio. They will aim to find out the cause of your pain with an examination. The physio will feel for swelling and assess your range of motion and joint stability in the process. Things to consider are:

Where does it hurt?
When does it hurt?
Is the pain in one shoulder or both?
When did the pain begin?
Does the pain move to other areas of your body?

We will then put together a treatment plan based on the cause and severity of the shoulder pain. Physiotherapy will help repair and strengthen the joint over time, as well as advise you on how not to aggravate the injury and make it worse.

If you experience any shoulder pain, you can see an expert physiotherapist to help get you back to full fitness.

Shoulder pain is a common problem that can affect you at any age. Discomfort from shoulder injury normally settles down as your body heals, usually within a few days or weeks.

The shoulder is the most mobile joint in your body. It is made up of bones that are held in place by muscles, tendons and ligaments. They are all designed to work together to allow the shoulder to move in many different directions and positions required during daily life, sports and work. When something goes wrong with your shoulder, it hampers your ability to move freely and can cause a great deal of pain and discomfort.

Shoulders offer a wide and versatile range of movement. Experiencing shoulder pain can be debilitating and prevent you from moving freely, causing pain and discomfort. The shoulder is a spherical joint made up of three main bones: the humerus (the long bone of the arm), the clavicle (collarbone), and the scapula (also known as the shoulder blade). There are two main joints: the acromioclavicular joint, located between the highest part of the shoulder blade and the collarbone and the glenohumeral joint, made up of the top ball-shaped part of the humerus bone and the outer edge of the scapula. This joint is also known as the shoulder joint. Our experts at Cairnhill Physiotherapy offer a guide to shoulder pain below.

What causes shoulder pain?

The range of motion in the shoulder comes from the rotator cuff, made up of four tendons. Tendons are tissues that connect muscles to bones. Any damage or swelling to your rotator cuff can make it painful or difficult to raise your arms above your head. Commonly, shoulder injuries are caused while doing manual work, playing sports or repeating movements. Some diseases can also cause pain that extends to the shoulder. These include diseases of the cervical spine (neck), as well as diseases of the liver, heart, or gallbladder. Soft tissue around the shoulders degenerates with age, so older people are more likely to experience shoulder pain.

Arthritis
torn cartilage or rotator cuff
swollen bursa sacs or tendons
pinched nerve in the neck or shoulder
dislocated shoulder
spinal cord injury
heart attack

How is the cause of shoulder pain diagnosed?

Your physiotherapist will aim to find out the cause of your shoulder pain by putting you through an examination. They will feel for swelling and assess your range of motion and joint stability. Things to consider are:

Is the pain in one shoulder or both?
Did this pain begin suddenly? If so, what were you doing?
Does the pain move to other areas of your body?
Can you pinpoint the area of pain?
When does it hurt?

When should I seek medical help?

If you cannot move your shoulder, experience persistent bruising/tenderness/pain or develop a fever, see a physio. If your shoulder pain comes on suddenly and is not related to an injury, call 111 immediately. This could be a sign of a heart attack.

What are the treatment options for shoulder pain?

Treatment will depend on the cause and severity of shoulder pain. Some treatment options include physiotherapy or surgery. It may be helpful to let the shoulder rest for a few days before returning to normal activities and to avoid any movement that may cause pain. Compressing the area with an elastic bandage and icing can reduce swelling.