The shoulder is the most agile joint of the body, able to move the arms forward, backward, in a circular motion and also laterally away from the body.

It is no surprise that shoulder pain can significantly affect your quality of life, causing tremendous pain and discomfort.

Unknown to many people, the shoulder actually consists of two separate joints, which means that there are a number of places where pain can originate.

Often, the source of this annoyance is the pedal. four tendons that allow the degree of movement you are used to.

Damage to these important tendons will inevitably affect many aspects of your life.

Want to know more about shoulder pain? Then go in and read this guide to the end.

Causes of Shoulder Pain

Rotator Cuff Tendonitis

The most common cause of shoulder pain is inflammation of the rotator cuff tendons, which can seemingly occur for no apparent reason. While tendonitis can be acute and short-lived, it can also persist for a long time if no action is taken to address the problem.

Swivel Pedal Impact

This happens when the rotating cuff is accidentally located between a rock and a hard point, or in this case at the withers and the head of the shoulder joint. This impact can lead to transient inflammation and pain and in some cases surgery may be needed to correct it.

Repetitive Movement Disorder

Many joints are subjected to repetitive movements, in the case of the shoulder consider the constant movement of the arms in a certain direction. The result of this repetitive movement can be wear and tear of the cartilage surrounding the joint, depletion of synovial fluid (the fluid that lubricates the joints) or inflammation due to wear.

Heart Attacks

When most people think of heart attacks they imagine an intense compressive pain in the chest area, when in fact it can be as subtle as the pain radiating along the neck and shoulder. Of course, the appearance of other symptoms can help diagnose a heart attack, so be sure to contact your doctor in such a case.

Damage

Without a doubt, shoulder injuries are the most preventable cause of shoulder pain, but injuries as they are, no one wants to hope to develop a pain. Athletes are at significantly higher risk of damaging their shoulder joints from load-bearing movements, such as lifting clean and pressure Olympics.

Bodybuilders are also responsible for a large percentage of all shoulder injuries, due to the fact that the pectoral muscles (chest) share a common point of insertion with the shoulder joint and can contribute to pain without the knowledge of the practitioner.

Arthritis

While arthritis was associated with the elderly, rheumatoid arthritis does not show such differences and can occur in children and adolescents, also known as juvenile arthritis.

Bone Spurs

Although bone spurs occur mainly in the legs, they can affect any joint. Spurs are abnormal projections of bone growth that affect normal anatomical movement and will inevitably impair normal range of motion.

The movement can become painful and manifest as inflammatory joints.

Symptoms of shoulder pain

Generalized weakness throughout the arms

Being attached to the arms, often the pain coming from the shoulder joint will radiate along this limb and also affects the overall strength and bearing capacity. It is not uncommon to feel pain when carrying extremely light shopping bags or to feel as if your hands are tired and can carry absolutely nothing.

Tingling of the upper arm

If shoulder pain occurs as a result of a stinging nerve (usually in combination with rotational cuff bumps), you may often occasionally feel tingling or numbness in the upper arm area. If you have ever had your hand in sleep, this is the best way to describe how you feel.

Motility

Being the most mobile joint in the body, anything less than 360 ° movement is abnormal. You may not be able to raise your arms sideways parallel to the ground or you may not be able to rotate your arms in a circular motion.

The reason for this lack of mobility? Pain. Human beings are programmed to try to avoid pain, as it gives an indication that something is wrong and should not be pressed.

Swelling

If you can notice visible swelling of the shoulder joint, you will probably already have huge pain. Regardless, the inflammation that is particularly visible is an indication that something is happening inside the joint, something that can be confirmed by a detailed history, usually as a result of a recent injury.

Treatment of Shoulder Pain

Treatment methods for managing shoulder pain vary depending on the factors that contribute to its development. Common therapeutic approaches include:

Immobilization / Rest

Often, acute shoulder pain can be corrected as it does not aggravate the inflammatory processes in the shoulder. The best way to achieve this is to immobilize the shoulder joint and actively spend more time resting.

Due to the fact that shoulder pain usually worsens during movement, it makes sense to avoid doing it in an attempt to see if the pain subsides.

Application of Ice

Applying ice to injuries is a basic first aid, but a practice that is very effective. Freezing the area for about 15 minutes every hour slows down the inflammatory processes and then the kick begins to heal.

Professional athletes usually immerse themselves in ice baths after a workout or big game to begin the recovery process and minimize pain.

Over-the-counter Analgesics

These include the popular acetaminophen, ibuprofen and naproxen, which help relieve pain and swelling. However, the use of these drugs should be minimized, as they damage the normal inflammatory pathway that also initiates healing.

Prescription Drugs

Surgery

It is not often indicated, but if anatomical defects have developed (such as spurs or dislocations after injury), surgery is usually the only way to correct them. Surgery is not a decision you should make lightly, so be sure to talk to your specialist to weigh the pros and cons of the procedure.

Shoulder pain – Summary

The first step to effectively treating shoulder pain is to try to determine the origin. This allows for greater adjustment of treatment options and an overall better prognosis.

If, however, your shoulder pain is not treatable, lifestyle changes along with medications that your doctor may prescribe can help minimize the onset of symptoms and offset the discomfort you may feel while moving.

Above all, do not strain your shoulders too much. Make sure you complete adequate rest with the intensity of intake of this valuable joint.

Sources:

https://www.medicinenet.com/shoulder_and_neck_pain_health/article.htm
https://www.healthline.com/symptom/shoulder-pain
https://www.mayoclinic.org/symptoms/shoulder-pain/basics/causes/sym-20050696