Shoulder pain – causes, treatment and prevention

Shoulder pain describes mild to severe pain in the shoulder area. It can involve all possible types of pain: The symptoms can be throbbing, stabbing, burning or even pulling and they are not always limited to just one side of the body.

Often shoulder pain cannot be clearly defined, it radiates and could also be the result of a stiff neck or general, non-specific back pain. It can also be a temporary, one-off shoulder pain, but it can also be a well-known problem that sufferers suffer from repeatedly and which therefore signals the need for treatment.

causes

Mild shoulder pain is often due to overloading of the muscles in the shoulder area. For example, people who have had to carry heavy loads or sit for a long time without being able to stretch and move in between quickly contract tension that can also affect the shoulders.Those affected cannot always clearly determine whether this is purely shoulder pain or radiating pain caused by tension in the neck or back .

Occasionally, shoulder pain also indicates a pinched nerve, which may be in that area or deeper in the spine. The symptoms often radiate and then affect the shoulders. Rarely, shoulder pain can also be psychosomatic.

When to the doctor?

People with very severe shoulder pain, persistent shoulder pain, and/or recurring shoulder pain should see a doctor. A doctor’s visit is recommended if the shoulder pain occurs after a fall on the shoulder or arm and after an accident.

If the movement of the shoulder and arm is significantly restricted, a doctor’s visit is advisable. If shoulder pain radiates to other areas of the body, such as the arm or neck, and/or is accompanied by symptoms such as numbness and tingling, a doctor should be consulted. A doctor should be alerted as soon as possible if severe, wavy pain develops in the right shoulder and upper right abdomen and is accompanied by vomiting and nausea. There is a suspicion of biliary colic.

Immediate medical consultation is necessary when people feel severe pain in the right shoulder and upper right abdomen and suffer from chills and fever. This could be a gallbladder infection.

Immediate medical attention is advised if shoulder pain occurs suddenly on the left side and is accompanied by pain behind the breastbone, shortness of breath , chest tightness, dizziness, nausea, and/or fear of death. This could be a heart attack or angina pectoris. If shoulder pain in connection with chest pain and shortness of breath suddenly occurs, a doctor must be consulted immediately. A pulmonary embolism is suspected.

diagnosis and course

Shoulder pain can have a variety of causes. The diagnosis of shoulder pain is correspondingly complex. After asking the patient how and when the shoulder pain manifests itself, the general practitioner will suggest various examinations to find the cause of the shoulder pain.

As a rule, an orthopedic examination forms the beginning of the diagnosis of shoulder pain. A stiff shoulder, for example, can be the cause of a sore shoulder area. A dislocated shoulder joint is also conceivable.

Even the family doctor will carry out an ECG if there is a suspicion of a heart attack, which can announce or express itself as shoulder pain. A blood test, in which the heart enzymes are determined, has the same benefit. A heart catheter examination can also be used to diagnose shoulder pain.

An ultrasound examination , for example, can clarify whether organic causes are the reason for the occurrence of shoulder pain. Inflammation of the gallbladder, for example, can be a reason for shoulder pain, as can foreign bodies in the shoulder joint.

An X-ray examination can provide information as to whether pathological changes in the shoulder bone can be the cause of the shoulder pain. An MRT examination can be used to determine wear and tear on the shoulder joint, which is the reason for the shoulder pain that occurs in the affected person. Computed tomography ( CT ), on the other hand, is used to clarify whether tumors in the shoulder area are causing the shoulder pain.

Left untreated, shoulder pain can worsen and become chronic. In addition, serious and irreversible signs of wear can occur. The sooner you have your shoulder pain treated, the better the chances of recovery.

complications

Shoulder pain can have many different causes, so the possible complications are just as diverse. In the most common cases, a strain or muscle injury is responsible for the pain that occurs. If there is only a muscle strain, a visit to the doctor is not absolutely necessary. Despite this, complications such as persistent pain and a significantly reduced range of motion can occur. If there is no significant improvement after two to three days, a visit to the doctor is absolutely necessary. If the shoulder continues to be subjected to stress, a strain can also develop into a muscle tear.

An independent recovery is not possible with a muscle tear. Under certain circumstances, inflammation can even form, which in some cases even results in an abscess . At that point at the latest, a doctor must definitely be consulted. If the viruses and bacteria in it get into the bloodstream, there is even a risk of blood poisoning. To avoid these complications, medical or drug treatment should be resorted to immediately. Particularly severe pain in the shoulders indicates a fracture. Of course, in such a case, a doctor’s visit is inevitable. Otherwise, damaged bones cannot grow together correctly or incorrectly. There is a risk of permanent consequential damage, which can, however, be prevented with appropriate treatment.

treatment and therapy

Treatment for shoulder pain depends on the exact cause. Tension would be treated with massage , treatment by a physical therapist or chiropractor, heat, and if necessary, painkillers to bridge the worst of the shoulder pain.The exact treatment depends on the severity of the pain. In the long term, it makes sense to identify problems in posture or during work and to eliminate them – the patient therefore needs detailed advice and the opportunity to behave gently for the shoulders during work.

Other causes such as pinched nerves or sources of pain that do not come directly from the shoulders must be treated in a problem-related manner.

Pinched nerves or spinal injuries in particular are not always easy to treat – sometimes a very individual therapy has to be worked out that really helps the affected person in the long term and also ensures that he no longer gets shoulder pain.

prevention

Since shoulder pain is usually related to tension, it is obvious that you should take it easy on your shoulders or at least use and hold them in an ergonomically correct way. When working while sitting, it is advisable to stretch and move your shoulders at regular intervals or to have colleagues give you a short massage to relieve slight tension.

If the shoulder pain keeps coming back in a mild form, you can also get a massage from a physiotherapist at low prices – the massages are only short, but very effective. It is also important to ensure a healthy posture for the entire back and cervical spine.