Shoulder Pain Causes, Injuries, + Treatment

The shoulders are an integral part of our upper body’s range of motion and ability to do certain everyday activities such as throwing, climbing, reaching, and more. With that being said, though, our shoulders are more susceptible to injury because of frequent use.

What are the Causes of Shoulder Pain?

Shoulder pain can be a result of a variety of factors such as problems inside the shoulder area or simply inflammation. It can also be caused by other parts of the body besides the shoulder including neck pain or nerve impingement in the neck area. 

Shoulder pain is determined by the age of the patient, so if you're a young person, under 30 or 35, that typically is labral pathology. Labral Pathology is the study of an injury that happens in the cartilage of the shoulder. Other causes include shoulder dislocations and AC joint problems that can cause pain in your younger years. 

As our patients get older they transition to primarily rotator cuff problems and osteoarthritis the rotator cuff are four tendons that surround the shoulder. It's common to have tears in those tendons, and that can lead to pain with shoulder motion, difficulty lifting your arm, and shoulder weakness.

What are Common Shoulder Injuries?

Injuries include but are not limited to the following: 

  • Arthritis

Shoulder arthritis, in simple terms, is a swelling of the shoulder joints and surrounding areas that lead to severe pain, discomfort, and firmness.

  • Dislocations

When a dislocated shoulder injury occurs, this is when the bone protrudes from the socket that holds the shoulder blade in place.

  • Fractures

Shoulder fractures are broken bones that can result in pain and discomfort in the shoulder. 

  • Tendinitis

Tendinitis in the shoulder region is essentially swelling or inflammation in the rotator cuff and bicep tendon.

  • Sprains or strains

A sprain in the shoulder is when the shoulder ligaments tear, and a shoulder strain is when the muscles tear. 

What are Good Treatments for Shoulder Injury?

The treatment for shoulder injuries can vary based on the severity of the pain levels or the injury itself. For shoulder injuries, treatments can be anything from proper stretching to surgery. It’s all based on the patient’s needs and what’s required at the time of their visit. 

Treatments include, but are not limited to the following:

Physical therapy is a great option that we recommend for our patients before considering surgery as physical therapy specialists will provide effective exercises and stretch to increase stability and mobility in the shoulder area.

  • Medications

Anti-inflammatory medications and steroid injections may be given for pain relief in the shoulder area depending on the extremity of the injury. 

  • Surgery 

A surgical procedure may be necessary if the treatments listed above are ineffective in the long term. This could include a shoulder replacement or any other shoulder surgery. 

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Because our shoulders are in constant use every day, they are more prone to injuries. Luckily, our Orthopedic Shoulder Specialists are familiar with these common tears, fractures, and other injuries that could occur and know exactly how to treat them.