Shoulder Pain
The shoulder is a collection of joints, muscles, and tendons located where the arms meet up with the torso. The shoulder plays a role anytime you move your arms more than a few inches. It allows for a wide range of motions, from cradling a newborn to climbing a mountain.
But all this use makes the shoulder susceptible to injury and wear. Shoulder pain is a very common ailment, and if the underlying issue is severe enough or left untreated, the pain could become chronic. Apart from the discomfort of the pain itself, chronic should pain can result in weakness and reduced mobility, making many everyday tasks difficult.
What causes shoulder pain?
There are many causes of shoulder pain. They range from injuries to inflammation to unrelated medical conditions, and may include:
- Dislocation – The shoulder is the part of the body most prone to dislocation. If the shoulder pops out of its socket, you may feel pain, weakness, swelling, and numbness.
- Tears – Trauma or consistent motion can cause tears in the cartilage around the shoulder joints as well as the muscles and tendons than keep your arm in the shoulder socket (rotator cuff). Tears can result in pain, disfiguration, and, reduced mobility
- Bursitis – Caused by swelling and/or aggravation of the bursa (a watery cushion in your joints). Usually set off by injury or overuse, bursitis will usually result in pain.
- Arthritis – Conditions such as osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis cause the breakdown of cartilage protecting the joints. When this occurs, the bones start to run together, causing pain and stiffness.
- Referred pain – This is usually the culprit if you experience shoulder pain without a cause and could be the sign of a problem with one or more of your internal organs.
How is shoulder pain treated?
Many instances of shoulder pain can be relieved with basic at-home care, including rest, heat or ice, and over-the-counter pain medications. You should still consult with a doctor before starting an at-home treatment regimen.
If these remedies fail, additional options are available to manage symptoms. Twin Cities Pain Clinic offers a wide range of treatments to relieve shoulder pain, including:
- Physical therapy
- Medication management
- Medical cannabis certification
- Joint injections
- Corticosteroid injections
- Bursa injections
- SPRINT® peripheral nerve stimulation
- Peripheral nerve stimulation
- Dorsal root ganglion stimulation
Schedule an appointment with Twin Cities Pain Clinic to learn how we can help relieve your shoulder pain.
RELIEVE YOUR PAIN, RENEW YOUR LIFE!
