Did you ever wake up from a sound sleep holding on to a painful shoulder? How about trouble putting that dish away on the top shelf of your cupboard? Unable to grab your briefcase in the backseat of your car? You’re not alone. Shoulder pain is often brushed aside as just another sign of aging, but it doesn’t have to be. There is a reason behind that pain, and many options to improve your quality of life.
Pain in the shoulder can be coming from several different places. The most common cause is an inflammatory process called bursitis. The bursa is normal tissue that is found throughout the body. In the shoulder, the bursa overlies the rotator cuff and allows it to glide freely between bony surfaces. When it becomes inflamed, it can lead to pain, limited range of motion, and even weakness.
Initial treatment is aimed at controlling the inflammation and restoring function. Taking NSAID’s (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) such as ibuprofen and naprosyn can be helpful. Activity modification is also important. You should avoid, or at least limit, those activities that aggravate the pain which may include lifting, pulling, reaching overhead, or repetitive motions of the arm. If your symptoms persist, consideration for an exercise regimen focused on the rotator cuff muscles can help. These can often be performed at home, but formal physical therapy is sometimes required. A cortisone injection is also an option. This is placed in and around the bursal tissue to diminish the inflammation.
Another common cause of pain is a rotator cuff tear. The rotator cuff is a group of four muscles that control overhead range of motion as well as rotation of the arm. This can tear from a traumatic injury but more often is simply a degenerative process that occurs with aging. Not all rotator cuff tears are symptomatic, but those that are can respond to the same exercise program and cortisone injections used to treat bursitis. If the pain does not respond to conservative management, or function of the arm is severely compromised, surgery is performed to repair the tendon.
Other factors that can affect your shoulder include the biceps tendon, arthritis of the joint, or even neck pain. Just remember that having shoulder pain is not something that you have to put up with. Once the proper diagnosis is made, a conservative approach can often improve your pain and function.