Diagnosis
To diagnose shoulder and arm pain, the patient must first be asked questions. A thorough anamnesis (discussion of the symptoms) should be taken to find out where exactly the pain occurs, whether it radiates to another region (e.g. the neck or arm) and the period of time during which it occurs. Accompanying symptoms such as numbness or tingling should also be described in the conversation.
Subsequently, the mobility of the shoulder joint and arm can be checked during a physical examination. In addition to mobility, the condition of the skin must also be taken into account. Here the skin should be examined for overheating, redness, swelling or bleeding.
The neurological examination checks the condition of the nerve tracts. If an inflammation is suspected, the shoulder joint is often punctured to exclude bacteria in the joint. Finally, imaging procedures such as X-rays, MRI, ultrasound or CT can be used to gain insight into the shoulder and arm and to rule out fractures or other injuries.
Treatment of pain in the shoulder
Pain in shoulder and arm should be treated according to its cause. In addition to pain therapy, it is therefore absolutely necessary to find the cause of the pain. If a dislocated shoulder joint is the cause of the pain, it can be repositioned.
In the case of a non-rheumatoid inflammation of the shoulder, drug therapy is used to combat the bacteria or to allow the inflammation to subside. Massages and physiotherapy can be used to relieve the tension and malpositions that cause the pain. Physiotherapy is often prescribed to strengthen the muscles and improve posture.If the reason for the pain is, for example, a broken bone, surgical intervention is usually necessary.
Various measures can be used to reduce the pain in the shoulder or arm. On the one hand, drug-based pain therapy can lead to rapid pain relief. The treatment with cold therapy can reduce severe pain.
In this case, the shoulder is cooled and thus the perception of pain is reduced. If there is only slight pain, heat therapy is preferred. This relaxes the muscles and promotes blood circulation and thus healing.
