Do you suffer from shoulder pain? Do you know what type of shoulder pain you’re experiencing? Shoulder pain comes in many different varieties, which means that the solution to dealing with it can vary significantly depending on what kind of pain you’re having. Read on to learn more about the five most common types of shoulder pain and how to treat them!
What is shoulder pain?
The shoulder joint is one of the most complex joints in the body. It has three distinct bones that work together to produce a range of motion that can be quite painful when injured. Oftentimes, we will have pain in the shoulder blade, shoulder blade, or even both areas for many reasons. From an inflamed joint to a pinched nerve, there are many different causes of your pain. Read on for more info on what may be going on with your shoulders and how you can relieve some discomfort!
1) Frozen shoulder pain
Many people think of a frozen shoulder as a common sports injury, but it can happen to anyone at any time. Frozen shoulder is actually a temporary condition caused by inflammation of the joint capsule around the shoulder blade that restricts movement. When this happens, your rotator cuff tendons will become tense or strained which could lead to swelling around the rotator cuff, decreased range of motion, and pain in the joint itself. This will eventually cause problems with other areas of your body due to decreased mobility.
2) Rotator cuff tendinitis
Rotator cuff tendinitis is a type of shoulder pain caused by inflammation. People with this condition experience either shooting (radiating) shoulder pain or sharp shoulder pain, which becomes more severe when performing overhead tasks like reaching for something or lifting heavy objects. If you feel burning, posterior shoulder pain, or aching shoulder pain you should contact your doctor as it could be something more serious.
3) Bursitis
Bursitis is an inflammation of the bursa—tiny fluid-filled sacs that act as a cushion between the bones, tendons, muscles, and skin. This inflammation can cause pain in one or both shoulders. Some people describe it as a burning pain that worsens with the use or after lying on it at night. The most common symptom is posterior shoulder pain; however, other symptoms include shooting (radiating) shoulder pain and sharp shoulder pain.
4) Impingement syndrome
You might have impingement syndrome if your shoulder pain is worsened by lifting your arm above shoulder height or if you feel an ache in the front of your shoulder. In this case, it can be helpful to keep a journal of when the pain is bothering you most as this may indicate what position or activity has contributed to the injury. Once you know what triggers the pain, modify how you do that particular activity. For example, try not to raise your arm higher than your shoulder height on that side while performing activities like brushing your teeth or putting away dishes (or using help from another person).
5) Fractures or dislocations
Warm or burning shoulder pain – Warm or burning shoulder pain is typically due to inflammation of the rotator cuff muscles that attach to the upper arm bone (the humerus). This can be caused by overexertion, injury, or other chronic conditions. These are among the most common causes of this type of pain.
Aching shoulder pain – Aching shoulder pain occurs when there’s a temporary soft tissue injury of some kind within the rotator cuff muscle group.
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Conclusion
If you’ve been dealing with pain in your shoulder for any length of time, the doctor may prescribe an anti-inflammatory medication or recommend a course of physical therapy. If neither approach works, surgery might be necessary. The surgeon will remove bone spurs or a piece of bone from the shoulder joint that’s rubbing against one another when you move your arm. It can take anywhere from three months to two years for recovery after this type of surgery.