Shoulder Pain: Causes, Treatment & Help

Shoulder pain is one of the most common pain conditions in Germany, along with joint pain and back pain. Due to the many sitting of most modern professions, the back and shoulder muscles slacken, which subsequently leads to stress on the joint and bone apparatus. This then results in an increased risk of injury and wear and tear, which can then mostly lead to the stabbing pain in the area of the schultur.

What is shoulder pain?

Over time, shoulder pain has become a kind of common disease; more and more people suffer from severe pain in the shoulder. Over time, shoulder pain has become a kind of widespread disease; more and more people suffer from severe pain in the shoulder and a resulting limitation of movement. Shoulder pain mainly affects muscles, tendons and joint capsules and makes everyday movements a pain. Shoulder pain can appear in very different degrees. There is mild tension, permanent tension and even chronic pain due to misalignment or poor posture. If there is a prolonged twinge in the shoulder that can radiate into the arm, take heed. This shoulder pain can quickly become chronic and should be treated as soon as possible.

Causes

There are numerous causes of shoulder pain. For one, shoulder pain can result from not getting enough exercise while sitting or from too much weight bearing on one side. Because the chest muscle, which attaches to the shoulder joint, is stronger than the equivalent back muscle, the arm is permanently pulled slightly forward. This causes a hunched back, which is exacerbated by sitting activities and little compensatory exercise, causing severe shoulder pain. Shoulder pain can also occur during sports. Modern trend sports and too little warming up before sports can cause problems with the shoulders. Even very simple, everyday movements cause shoulder pain to occur. Simply driving a car for long periods of time on a regular basis, moving the computer mouse or monotonous lifting movements trigger tension that needs to be counteracted. Other causes of shoulder pain are osteoarthritis (wear and tear of the joint), bone fractures, dislocations, inflammations or the so-called impingement syndrome (due to irritation of tendons and bursa thicken and the head of the shoulder joint bumps against the acromion).

Diseases with this symptom

  • Tendon rupture
  • Acromioclavicular joint rupture
  • Shoulder osteoarthritis
  • Impingement syndrome
  • Fibromyalgia
  • Neuroborreliosis
  • Supraspinatus tendon syndrome
  • Bursitis
  • Muscle hardening
  • Luxation
  • Polymyalgia rheumatica
  • Shoulder-Arm Syndrome
  • Collarbone fracture
  • Shoulder joint inflammation
  • Arthritis
  • Rotator cuff rupture
  • Shoulder stiffness
  • Herniated disc

Complications

Shoulder pain can become chronic. Because the shoulder is then permanently overloaded, premature, irreparable joint wear can occur. The wear and tear can also spread to adjacent areas of the body, such as the upper arm bones. As a result, arm mobility can greatly decrease. Shoulder pain in many cases spreads to the chest area, neck and arms. Tension and cramps may occur. If an exacerbated bursitis is the trigger for the shoulder pain, further infections and chronic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis may develop. Shoulder pain can be accompanied by stiffened muscles and joints. In addition, a condition called “frozen shoulder” can occur. In this case, the joint capsule becomes stuck and the shoulder stiffens. In severe cases, the stiffening leads to paralysis. In addition, neighboring regions of the body may hurt. Overall, shoulder pain affects the well-being of the affected person. His mood is often reduced, irritability may occur. Sleep can also be impaired by shoulder pain. The affected person’s mobility may also be impaired, and sporting activities can no longer be performed or can only be performed to a reduced extent. Since normal rotational movements may be severely restricted, there may be problems in everyday life, for example when driving a car.

When should you go to the doctor?

Shoulder pain can have many causes and often goes away on its own. A doctor should be consulted if the pain persists for several weeks and still increases in intensity and duration in the course. If the complaints result in restrictions in everyday life, a doctor should also be consulted. The same applies if the pain occurs in episodes and cannot be attributed to any particular cause. In the case of tension in the shoulder and neck area, a physiotherapist can be consulted. If pain occurs in the shoulder after a fall, this should be medically clarified in order to rule out bone fractures and other serious injuries or to treat them if necessary. If the shoulder pain is accompanied by dizziness, shortness of breath or chest pain, an emergency physician should be alerted. It may be a heart attack or pulmonary embolism that needs immediate treatment. Accompanying symptoms such as pain in the upper abdomen and nausea indicate biliary colic or inflammation of the gallbladder. In the case of chronic shoulder pain, a physician should also be consulted for further clarification of the causes.

Treatment and therapy

The treatment options are as varied as the causes of shoulder pain. In the case of inflammatory pain, the inflammation must first be treated with medication or injections, and only then can further therapy for shoulder pain be applied. Advanced therapies for shoulder pain include physical therapies such as physiotherapy or massage. Massage loosens muscles and returns joints and cartilage to their original position from which they have shifted. Physiotherapy mostly builds on massage to provide regular exercise, build and strengthen muscles, and improve posture. Acute and severe shoulder pain is also treated with cold therapy, which curbs inflammation and decreases pain sensation by reducing blood flow. In contrast, heat therapy is used for mild shoulder pain that has been present for some time. This relaxes the tense muscles, relieves the pain and improves the elasticity of the tissue. In the case of deeper-lying pain or after accidents, surgery is unavoidable in some cases. After surgery for shoulder pain, physical therapies also rebuild or strengthen the muscles.

Outlook and prognosis

Shoulder pain does not necessarily need to be treated by a doctor. They often occur as a result of overuse of the shoulder and also disappear when the shoulder and muscles have had a chance to rest. This can take several days and does not lead to further complications. However, if the shoulder pain occurs frequently or leads to very severe pain, a doctor must be consulted. This is damage to the joint or some other condition that occurs outside the shoulder. As a rule, treatment takes place in the form of physiotherapy and leads to success in most cases. However, it is important that the treatment starts early and thus excludes possible consequential damage. In a few cases, surgical intervention is necessary, and rarely is shoulder pain treated with medication. Permanent use of painkillers should be avoided, as they damage the stomach. If joints are irreversibly damaged, they can be replaced. If the shoulder pain occurs after an accident, it is essential to see a doctor. They can also be caused by problems with the heart and should be analyzed without fail.

Prevention

Especially important to avoid shoulder pain permanently is the prevention of the very same. To keep the shoulders pain-free, a lot of exercise should be ensured. Especially swimming, water gymnastics and stretching exercises prevent shoulder pain. The shoulder muscles should also be strengthened with the help of a therapy band, because strong shoulders know no pain. It is also advisable, after consultation with the doctor, to perform light weight training exercises, because strong muscles support the entire skeleton and have a relieving effect.The workplace, which is also a major source of shoulder pain, should be set up in a back-friendly manner (correct table and chair height as well as screen tilt) and a short break should be taken every working hour during which small stretching exercises are performed. The sitting position should also be changed more frequently. Regular massages also prevent shoulder problems. Massages after exercise in particular have a relaxing and positive effect on body and mind. So shoulder pain will soon have no chance.

What you can do yourself

In the case of prolonged shoulder pain, a doctor should be consulted. Accompanying this, the discomfort can often be relieved yourself. Quick help is provided by cooling and rest. Ice packs have an anti-inflammatory and numbing effect and should be applied several times a day for 20 minutes each time. For acute pain, bed rest and avoidance of strenuous movements, especially stretching and overhead movements, are recommended. Physiotherapy is essential in the treatment of shoulder pain and can be done either at home or under the supervision of a physician. Stretching and strengthening exercises in particular, such as pendulum or incline, relieve tension and reduce pain. In addition, shoulder pain can be treated with the help of analgesic gels and ointments. Chronic discomfort or pain resulting from joint irritation is best treated with heat or cold. A break from training of a few days gives the shoulder important time to recover. If the symptoms persist, however, it is advisable to see a doctor. Among other things, the doctor can prescribe joint injections or massages that can be used independently or with the help of a physician. Accompanying conventional therapy, regular physiotherapy is prescribed, which can be supplemented with light exercise and gentle massages, depending on the cause.