For what reasons does the shoulder of the right or left arm hurt: what to do, how to treat. My left shoulder and forearm hurt: what to treat? Why does my left shoulder hurt?

It can significantly complicate even simple everyday movements. But there is no need to despair! There are many reasons why your left or right shoulder hurts, but for every reason there is a treatment method.

Causes

There is a wide range of ailments that cause suffering to the shoulder joint:

• Adhesive capsulitis. The second name of the disease is very eloquent and sounds like “frozen shoulder”. The joint capsule of the shoulder of the right or left shoulder becomes inflamed, changing in size. The pain can spread from the shoulder to the hand, and the movement of the arm is so limited that the limb appears to be “frozen.” Even just raising your hand is very painful.
• Arthritis. The inflammatory process in the joint can occur due to many factors - a failure of the immune system or metabolism, a viral infection, etc.
• Arthrosis. Pathology of intra-articular cartilage is often caused by age and metabolic disorders. When you try to lift something heavy with a hand affected by arthrosis, the limb reacts with sharp pain.
• Bursitis. When the joint capsule becomes inflamed, pain occurs in the shoulder joint when raising the arm.

• Diabetes. This disease, widespread throughout the world, has long ceased to be a death sentence, but continues to increase the likelihood of developing frozen shoulder.
• Myalgia. Muscle hypertonicity leads to pain. Stress, infection, overload - all this can provoke myalgia.
• Shoulder instability. Due to injury or frequent monotonous movements, the stability of the joint head is lost. In this case, the limb may go numb up to the forearm and even the hand.
• Humeroscapular periarthritis. One of the common factors explaining why shoulder pain. Triggers degenerative processes in soft tissues. When you raise your arm, the pain intensifies so much that it radiates to the back of your head.
• Tendinitis. With this disease, the tendons suffer from inflammation. Tendonitis is characterized by increased pain at night.
• Injuries.

The causes of pain in the shoulder joint of the right or left arm can be varied, and each must be dealt with. To do this you will have to see a doctor.

Diagnostics

The first person the patient will meet will be the therapist. This doctor will collect information about the patient, ask in detail about the events that could lead to the disease, and palpate the disturbing joint.

It may be possible to limit yourself to a visit only to a therapist, but there is a possibility that the doctor will send the patient for consultation with other specialists.

A neurologist will help clarify if there was no injury, but the shoulder makes its owner feel discomfort.

If the left shoulder suffers from pain, and the pain spreads to the area of ​​the scapula, then it is necessary to urgently visit a cardiologist. It is likely that it is not the joint that requires treatment, but the cardiovascular system.

A rheumatologist will make an accurate diagnosis if the patient is faced with arthritis, bursitis and other rheumatological diseases.

After an injury, it is logical to go to a traumatologist.

You should not rely on something that will “go away on its own,” but on the help of a professional.

• Blood and urine tests. Do you suspect an inflammatory process? Deviations of indicators from the norm can be confirmed or refuted by guesses.
• CT scan. A painless study that gives an idea of ​​the nature of the disease.
• Magnetic resonance imaging. A true favorite in the diagnostic field. “Draws” a picture of the disease clearly and in detail.
• X-ray examination. It will “highlight” the presence of damage and associated tissue damage.

The integrated use of different diagnostic methods will help to find out what disease the shoulder joint has suffered from. When the enemy has revealed himself, it is time to go on the offensive.

Shoulder Pain Treatment

The diagnosis is known, which means treatment can begin. Treatment is traditionally divided into conservative therapy and surgical method. What will be treated when choosing the first type of treatment? What medicine offers:

• Drugs anti-inflammatory and analgesic purposes.
• Limitation of physical activity shoulder joint using a special bandage. Despite certain inconveniences, you can also find advantages: a correctly selected bandage looks stylish and impressive.
• Physiotherapeutic procedures— electrophoresis, phonophoresis and magnetic therapy. Magnetic therapy deserves special mention. This method is applicable during the acute stage of the disease, when the limb cannot even rise up without suffering for the patient.
• Exercise therapy. For many years, physical therapy has remained an effective way of rehabilitation after injuries and illnesses. The main thing is the hard work and discipline of the recovering person.
• Massage and self-massage. No extreme: all movements should be soft and smooth.
• Mud and mineral treatment, if the patient’s budget is designed for such events.

There are difficult cases when conservative therapy fails. Then the surgeons take matters into their own hands. After the operation there is a rehabilitation period.

At the first sign of pain in the shoulder joint, you should schedule a visit to the doctor. There is no need to wait until the unfortunate shoulder begins to hurt so much that when you raise your arm it becomes dark before your eyes. If you turn to professionals in time and start treatment, you will be able to avoid tragic consequences. The main condition is compliance with the doctor’s recommendations.

Nobody likes going to hospitals and doctors, so many people ask the question: “What can you do at home?” Only what the doctor allowed! Ideally, home treatment should be a continuation of professional therapy. At home, you can do physical therapy in strict accordance with the instructions of the methodologist and take medications in the prescribed dosage.

If you are interested in traditional medicine, then before using this or that remedy, ask what your doctor thinks about it.

People's secrets

In the absence of contraindications and a doctor’s prohibition, you can use accessible and inexpensive means:

• White cabbage leaf(in summer also a burdock leaf) is rolled out using a rolling pin and applied to the sore joint in the form of a compress.
• Swamp cinquefoil can be used both as a raw material for making ointment and as a base for a drink.
• Lingonberry leaf tea effective for diabetes (and diabetes provokes adhesive capsulitis). In addition, lingonberry tea has disinfectant properties. But be careful! This folk remedy has very serious contraindications - gastritis and ulcers, allergies and individual intolerance.

Today we offer an article on the topic: “Aching pain in the right shoulder: what to do, causes of pain in the shoulder joint.” We tried to describe everything clearly and in detail. If you have any questions, ask at the end of the article.

Shoulder pain- a nuisance that is well known not only to older people, but also to many young people. Patients who have pain in the right shoulder joint are especially affected. After all, with intense pain, the right hand cannot function normally, and this leads to a lot of everyday inconvenience.

But in principle, it does not matter whether the pain occurs in the right or left shoulder joint. Anyway this one symptom is a manifestation of a serious illness that requires treatment.

Factors contributing to shoulder pain These factors include:

• sedentary lifestyle;
• poor posture;
• constantly increased loads on the shoulder joint (due to profession or other circumstances);
• previous injuries to the shoulder joint, untreated or not completely cured.

Causes The following diseases and conditions can cause pain in the shoulder joint:

• joint injury;
• osteochondrosis of the cervical spine;
• arthritis;
• arthrosis;
• tendinitis;
• capsulitis;
• bursitis (inflammation of the joint capsule)
• brachial nerve neuritis;
• calcification of the ligaments of the shoulder joint;
• tumors;
• hereditary and genetic pathologies (myasthenia gravis, joint hypermobility syndrome, etc.);
• infectious diseases (tuberculosis, chlamydia, candidiasis, streptococcal infection, etc.).

Characteristics of pain in the shoulder joint in various diseases Injuries of the shoulder joint The most common injuries of the shoulder joint include injuries such as bruise, shoulder dislocation, shoulder tendon rupture, and muscle rupture. Such injuries can occur due to an accidental fall, as well as sudden movements and excessive stress on the joint (among athletes, for example).

Elderly people with osteoporosis may experience an intra-articular fracture of the humerus when they fall or hit their shoulder.

Injuries to the shoulder joint are accompanied by acute, sharp pain in the damaged area. The pain intensifies with hand movements; in some cases, the arm cannot actively move at all due to pain. With bruises - the mildest type of injury - the pain is less intense; motor function of the hand may remain unimpaired.

Osteochondrosis

Severe pain in the right or left shoulder joint, as well as in the entire arm, occurs with osteochondrosis of the cervical spine

spine

The pain caused by osteochondrosis intensifies with movements of the head and neck. It may be accompanied by paresthesia - a tingling sensation or

numbness

in the hand, with a feeling of “crawling goosebumps.”

Cervical osteochondrosis may be accompanied by a complication such as glenohumeral periarthritis (periarthrosis). The main symptom of this complication is pain in the shoulder joint, which occurs seemingly for no reason. The pain appears first at night and is not particularly intense, but then the strength of the painful sensations gradually increases.

Over several weeks or months, the disease develops. The pain in the shoulder joint sharply intensifies when moving the arm, namely when trying to raise the arm up, move it to the side or put it behind the back. With rest, the pain subsides. Therefore, the patient unconsciously tries to take a position in which he does not experience it: he presses the shoulder of the sore arm to the chest.

If glenohumeral periarthritis is not treated, the affected shoulder joint becomes stiff and the patient is unable to raise the arm above the horizontal level.

More about osteochondrosis

Arthritis Arthritis (inflammation of the joint) can have different origins: infectious, traumatic, allergic, etc. With rheumatoid arthritis, both shoulder joints can be affected simultaneously. But, regardless of the cause, the main symptom of arthritis of the shoulder joint is acute, even unbearable pain. The joint becomes deformed due to swelling and becomes painful at the slightest touch. The patient's body temperature rises.

More about arthritis

Arthrosis Arthrosis (a joint disease associated with degenerative changes in cartilage) occurs mainly in older people. Arthrosis of the shoulder joint is characterized by acute pain with any movement in it. Pain is especially intensified during physical activity associated with lifting heavy objects.

Over time, the shoulder joint affected by arthrosis becomes inactive: the patient cannot raise his arm up or wrap his arm around his back. When palpating the collarbone and lower edge of the scapula, pain in these areas is noted.

Tendinitis

Inflammation of the tendon - tendonitis - often causes pain in the shoulder joint. The tendon of the shoulder joint can become inflamed due to excessive stress on the shoulder - in people involved in professional

or hard physical labor.

Pain in the shoulder joint due to tendinitis can be either acute or aching, dull. However, sharp, sudden pain is more typical. The intensity of pain increases at night. Mobility of the arm in the shoulder decreases.

Capsulitis

Shoulder capsulitis (inflammation of the joint capsule) is a fairly rare but extremely painful disease. Constant, aching pain affects the shoulder joint itself, as well as the shoulder and neck area. Doctors characterize the patient’s sensations with this disease as “frozen shoulder”: the muscles of the affected shoulder become so constrained in their movements.

Pain in the shoulder joint with capsulitis does not allow the patient to raise his arm up, or move it to the side, or put it behind his back.

Brachial neuritisNeuritis

The brachial nerve may give the false impression that the shoulder joint is hurting, although the joint may be in excellent condition with this disease. Damage to the nerve causes sharp, sudden pain in the shoulder joint, which intensifies with arm movements.

Calcification of ligaments

Metabolic disorders may occur in people over 30 years of age

When calcifications (foci of calcification) appear in the tendon tissue. The formation of such lesions in the ligaments of the shoulder joint leads to intense, constant pain in the shoulder. Painful sensations in the shoulder joint intensify when trying to move the arm (lifting or moving to the side).

Acute pain Acute pain in the shoulder joint is typical for the following diseases:

• arthritis (including rheumatoid);
• arthrosis;
• tendinitis (inflammation of the tendon);
• neuritis of the brachial nerve.

Acute pain also occurs with injuries to the shoulder joint.

Strong pain Severe, unremitting pain in the shoulder joint develops with:

• arthritis;
• cervical osteochondrosis;
• capsulitis;
• bursitis.

Aching pain Aching pain in the shoulder joint is possible with tendonitis (with this disease the pain can also be acute).

Aching pain in the shoulder, neck, shoulder joint, combined with muscle stiffness, is a sign of capsulitis (inflammation of the joint membrane).

Aching pain in the shoulder joint associated with changes in weather occurs with glenohumeral periarthritis and with untreated, chronic injuries of the joint.

Treatment of shoulder pain

Elimination of pain in the shoulder joint is symptomatic treatment, part of complex therapy for shoulder joint disease. After all, if the pain is eliminated, but the cause of the disease is not eliminated, then after a while

joint pain will arise again.

Therefore, after examining the patient and establishing a diagnosis, the doctor prescribes a comprehensive treatment, which includes eliminating the cause of the disease, interrupting the mechanism of its development and restorative measures.

But the patient’s suffering must be alleviated! Therefore, symptomatic, analgesic therapy is of great importance for diseases and injuries of the shoulder joint, and should be carried out first. To relieve pain in the shoulder joint, both traditional and traditional medicine are used.

Traditional medicine

Traditional

medicine

To eliminate pain in the shoulder joint, she uses physical and medicinal methods of pain relief.

Physical methods include cooling (applying compresses with ice or cold water to the sore spot). This method of pain relief is appropriate as first aid for joint injury.

Drug pain relief is carried out using the following drugs:1. Anti-inflammatory nonsteroidal drugs:

• Diclofenac;
• Ibuprofen;
• Indomethacin;
• Nise;
• Ketanov.

2. Steroid hormones:

• Prednisolone;
• Dexamethasone;
• Hydrocortisone.

Narcotic drugs:

• Promedol;
• Omnopon;
• Fentanyl.

In most cases, drugs from the first of these groups are successfully used to relieve pain in the shoulder joint. They are administered to the patient in various ways: in the form of tablets, injections (intramuscular, intravenous, and even intra-articular), ointments and gels.

Drugs of the last two groups are rarely used, in severe cases when it is impossible to relieve pain with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

Traditional medicine

• Rubbing the sore joint at night with an alcohol tincture prepared as follows: leave 3 tablespoons of lilac flowers, 1 tablespoon of burdock root and 3 pods of hot pepper in one liter of alcohol for three days.
• Rubbing a sore joint with ointment with cinquefoil: up to 100 gr. melted lard, add 3 teaspoons of dried chopped cinquefoil herb, the same amount of St. John's wort herb, and 1 tablespoon of chopped red hot pepper. To stir thoroughly. Apply to the shoulder joint daily (in the evening).
• Vinegar compresses for a sore joint: dilute a tablespoon of 9% vinegar in 0.5 liters of water. Moisten a piece of linen cloth with this solution, squeeze it lightly and apply it to the shoulder joint. Wrap the top with a woolen scarf or handkerchief. Leave the compress overnight. In the morning, wash the sore area with warm water.
• Applying a canvas with propolis to the sore joint (beekeepers place a clean canvas rag in the hive in the fall with the bees. In the spring, the canvas removed from the hive is covered with a layer of propolis).
• Brew a mixture of one tablespoon of cinquefoil herb with two tablespoons of horsetail herb with one liter of boiling water. Drink during the day instead of tea. Continue treatment for 1 month.

Traditional recipes in combination with traditional treatment help to quickly eliminate pain in the shoulder joint and contribute to the final cure of the disease.

More about traditional medicine

ATTENTION! The information posted on our website is for reference or popular information and is provided to a wide range of readers for discussion. Prescription of medications should be carried out only by a qualified specialist, based on the medical history and diagnostic results.

Pain in the shoulder joint is typical for different age categories of people. Often this symptom manifests itself in old age, but it can also occur in young people who lead an inactive lifestyle. Depending on the etiological factors, pain may have a different nature and severity of impact.

The shoulder joint hurts primarily because there are disturbances in its structure. To eliminate the discomfort and unpleasant sensation in the patient, the doctor needs to identify the causes of joint damage and influence the source of the symptom.

Etiology

Pain in the shoulder joint of the right or left arm has various causes. Often an unpleasant symptom manifests itself under the influence of such etiological factors:

• sedentary lifestyle;
• poor posture;
• joint injuries;
• age – more than 50 years;
• infectious diseases.

The causes of pain in the shoulder joint also lie in some pathologies:

• joint damage;
• cervical osteochondrosis;
• arthritis;
• arthrosis;
• tendinitis;
• bursitis;
• brachial nerve neuritis;
• neoplasms;
• calcification of ligaments.

Other pathologies of internal organs, which are characterized by the same symptom, can also provoke inflammatory effects in the shoulder joint. These include liver damage, myocardial infarction, pneumonia, angina, rheumatism, neuropathy, allergies, and cervical radiculitis.

If the patient has pain in the shoulder joints and noticeable redness of the skin, then perhaps an inflammatory process has begun in the shoulder. The following factors can provoke this action in the hand:

• hemorrhage due to trauma or hemophilia;
• reactive arthritis;
• post-streptococcal damage;
• metabolic disorders;
• autoimmune diseases.

Symptoms

Damage to the shoulder joint can occur for various reasons, so when diagnosing the disease, doctors must identify the clinical picture. When a bruise occurs, the patient experiences acute pain and a small hematoma. For this reason, there may be a temporary limitation in the movement of the arm with severe pain.

Pain and crunching in the shoulder joint occurs when a dislocation or fracture occurs due to a fall on the arm or a strong blow to it. Frequent, intense pain limits any movement of the entire arm. When you feel the damaged arm during a dislocation, a deformation of the joint area is revealed, and when a fracture occurs, a crunching sound is heard.

Minor fractures and dislocations can also occur in older patients from age-related bone loss and weakening of ligaments.

Shoulder dislocation

Depending on the pathology, joint pain can manifest itself in different symptoms. Doctors have identified clinical manifestations for all sorts of causes of this unpleasant symptom:

• with tendonitis - a sharp and nagging pain of an increasing nature, progressing at night. The inflammatory process in the tendon occurs when there is excessive stress on the shoulder and interferes with the free movement of the arm;
• with bursitis - the symptom persists for several days, or even weeks. The damaged area constantly aches, swells, and the shoulder joint hurts when raising the arm or moving the arm to the side;
• with capsulitis - aching pain appears, spreading to the arm and neck;
• with arthritis - increased body temperature on the inflamed part of the joint, swelling forms, it is painful and difficult for the patient to move the arm, the pain syndrome is periodic;
• with arthrosis - a crunch and pain appears in the shoulder joint when moving. At an advanced stage of hand injury, the syndrome becomes a permanent manifestation. When palpating the inflamed area, the pain radiates to the scapula and collarbone. The joint begins to deform;
• with cervical osteochondrosis – the pain becomes more intense when moving the head or neck;
• humeroscapular periarthritis - burning and pulling pain in the neck and arm when raising the arm or placing it behind the back, and the pain becomes more intense at night. Since this type of disease is a complication of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, the limbs are affected. They may go numb and the muscles atrophy;
• with osteoporosis – the functionality of the shoulder joint weakens, the arm is inactive and weak. Pain increases with physical activity;
• with neuritis of the brachial nerve - pain in the right or left shoulder joint, and it manifests itself more intensely; discomfort appears.

For the clinical picture, it is also important to determine the location of pain. The type of disease that develops also depends on the location of the source of inflammation. The patient's pain can be diagnosed in the following places:

• when raising the arm forward or moving it to the side;
• when rotating the hand around an axis;
• front of the hand;
• when raising your arm vertically;
• when lifting a heavy load;
• with light movements - trying to comb, style hair, etc.;
• when turning the head or moving the neck;
• pain in the shoulder and neck at the same time;
• pain attacks from elbow to shoulder;
• the pain is localized in the shoulder and radiates to the back;
• located in the shoulder and collarbone.

Diagnostics

When identifying such a syndrome, in which the indicators become more intense, the patient should definitely seek the advice of a specialist. With such a problem, you can contact a traumatologist. When making a diagnosis, it is very important for the doctor to determine why the pain syndrome developed. Depending on the location and degree of pain, a physician can detect one or another pathology.

Pain in the shoulder joint of the left hand can occur not only when a tendon is sprained, inflammation of the periarticular bursa or salt deposits, but also indicate serious illnesses, for which the patient needs urgent medical attention.

Pain in the shoulder joint of the right hand is provoked by the same pathologies, as well as injuries, congenital anatomical anomalies, liver disease, radiculopathy, pneumonia, myositis. Increasing pain in the joint of the right hand manifests itself from glenohumeral periarthrosis and periarthritis. The following manifestations of pain and signs will indicate damage to the shoulder joint, and not muscle tissue:

• the pain is constant;
• worsens with movement and at rest;
• diffuse syndrome;
• movements are limited;
• increase in joint volume.

Depending on the clinical picture expressed by the patient, the doctor should refer the patient for a more accurate diagnosis of the condition of the joint. To establish an accurate diagnosis, the patient must be examined by a specialist. If you have pain in the shoulder joint, you can consult a neurologist, orthopedic traumatologist, cardiologist, rheumatologist, oncologist, or allergist. After their examination, the patient needs to do the following examinations:

Shoulder arthroscopy

• radiography;
• arthroscopy;
• tomography;
• rheumatic tests;
• biopsy – if oncological pathologies are suspected.

Treatment

In order for severe pain in the shoulder joint to subside, the patient needs to undergo a comprehensive examination. After diagnosing the inflamed area and establishing the exact disease, the patient is prescribed therapy. To eliminate all factors in the development of the disease, the patient is prescribed treatment consisting of 4 components:

• etiotropic – treatment of the cause of inflammation;
• pathogenetic – to stop the development of the disease;
• symptomatic – to reduce the manifestation of symptoms;
• restorative – to quickly restore the functionality of the joint and improve the general condition of the patient.

When eliminating pain in the shoulder joints, the causes and treatment are interrelated. Therefore, to reduce the chances of developing complications and a quick recovery, the patient is prescribed full-fledged therapy from the four components listed above.

If the pain was caused by a hand injury, then the patient urgently needs to apply a cold compress to the inflamed area. Then the hemorrhage will stop a little, the swelling will decrease, and the discomfort will subside. Doctors eliminate pain in the joint of the right or left hand with traditional treatment:

• applying a cold compress;
• hand fixation;
• elimination of pain syndrome with drugs;
• external agents - ointments.

If the right or left shoulder joint begins to hurt from overexertion, then the patient will only need external influence using special means. Ointments and gels have an analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect. Ointments consist of quickly absorbed components that do not leave a greasy film, do not close pores and act on deep tissues.

When using external agents when a joint hurts, it is worth remembering that it is not advisable to apply them to damaged areas of the skin and mucous membranes. Also, doctors do not advise applying the cream under tight bandages or combining it with various warming objects. If itching, burning or any other allergic reaction occurs, the ointment should be washed off immediately.

To take medications orally, doctors prescribe tablets to patients. They must be taken according to a strict prescription. The doctor prescribes medications to the patient, taking into account the condition at the time of damage to the joint, the presence of other pathologies and possible allergies. The following drugs have an anti-inflammatory effect:

• Diclofenac;
• Ibuprofen;
• Indomethacin;
• Meloxicam;
• Xefocam;
• Nimesulide.

For arthritis, arthrosis or bursitis, pain in the shoulder joint when you raise your arm can be eliminated with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and chondroprotectors. If the disease has developed to a complicated stage and the drugs used do not give the desired effect, then the doctor prescribes the patient a minimal use of hormones and drugs with narcotic analgesics. These drugs are taken to reduce the risk of developing malignant tumors.

Shoulder arthroplasty

If the shoulder joint begins to deform, then traditional treatment will be ineffective. In this case, doctors resort to radical methods of therapy - surgical assistance. The patient undergoes joint replacement.

When periarthritis is detected, the patient is prescribed analgesics and anti-inflammatory drugs that eliminate pain in the left shoulder joint. In case the disease is severely inflammatory, the patient needs to use glucocorticosteroid ointments and injections.

In addition to drug therapy, other methods can be used to eliminate the syndrome. Doctors advise patients:

• protective mode - immobilize the joint so that there are no unwanted movements and progression of pain;
• light physical activity - yoga or gymnastics. At the same time, the muscles relax and the pain in the shoulder joint when raising the arm gradually decreases;
• physiotherapeutic measures - electrophoresis, magnetotherapy, shock wave procedures, laser therapy, phonophoresis, UHF. However, before you begin such treatment on your own, you need to consult a doctor and find out whether the above-mentioned procedures and physical activity can be used for this disease;
• alternative means.

Pain in the shoulder joint can also be eliminated with traditional treatment. This method refers to alternative methods of therapy. You can use such remedies after consulting a doctor. Traditional medicine suggests eliminating pain using the following methods:

• rub the inflamed area with alcohol tincture at night;
• vinegar compresses;
• apply ointment on lard;
• apply cabbage leaf at night;
• drink tea from white willow bark.

Complications

If the treatment process is not started in time, the shoulder joint may hurt for quite a long time, and pain will occur when raising the arm, any movements and physical activity. If the patient initially had ordinary pain from an injury, then serious illnesses may soon develop:

• arthritis;
• arthrosis;
• bursitis;
• joint dysplasia;
• osteomyelitis;
• osteoporosis;
• polyarthritis.

If the pain syndrome is not eliminated in a timely manner, severe pathological processes may begin in the human body, leading to disruption of the musculoskeletal system. If treatment is incorrect or delayed, the patient may lose motor function and become disabled.

Prevention

So that a person does not wonder why the shoulder joint hurts and how to treat this pathology, it is worth devoting time to preventive measures. Doctors advise leading an active lifestyle, taking breaks during sports and promptly eliminating shoulder joint injuries.

How does shoulder pain manifest?

Symptoms of shoulder pain, or rather the intensity and frequency, the nature of the pain will help to establish the approximate specifics of the disease.

Pain in the shoulder joint can indicate a number of diseases. This can occur when:

• Tendinitis is an inflammatory process of the periarticular tendons. The pain is sharp, intensifies during movement and during palpation;
• Bursitis - inflammation of the joint capsule. The pain is chronic, of medium intensity, but intensifies when the arm is moved to the side;
• Periarthritis – severe inflammation of the shoulder joint. The pain radiates to the arm, neck, intensifies with movement, is burning, aching in nature, intensifies at night. The sensitivity of the shoulder is impaired and atrophy of the adjacent muscles develops;
• Osteoarthritis and arthritis – sharp, sometimes aching pain, limited movement, stiffness;
• Myocardial infarction and angina pectoris, pneumonia, liver pathology, chest tumors, cervical radiculitis. With such diseases, the pain is regular and varies in intensity, and is reflected in the shoulder;
• When calcium salts are deposited. Crystalline compounds penetrate into the joint capsule and cause pain similar to an exacerbation of gout. Salt deposits can calcify the ligaments and tendon bridges under the scapula and collarbone. The pain occurs suddenly, more often in people from 30 to 50 years old, it is painful to move the shoulder away from the body;
• For injuries. In such cases, very strong and sharp pain occurs, for example, when falling, the articular head comes out of the articular capsule and ruptures the ligaments.

Aching pain in the shoulder

Aching pain in the shoulder is familiar to many - unpleasant painful sensations make normal life activities difficult and cause a lot of discomfort.

Shoulder pain can indicate many diseases. Only after contacting a neurologist or traumatologist can a final diagnosis be made and the cause determined. Very often, the cause of pain can be: arthrosis of the shoulder joint, osteochondrosis of the cervical and thoracic spine, inflammation of the nerve roots innervating the arm, trauma, physical overload of the muscles. It is not uncommon for aching shoulder pain to be caused by somatic diseases. This could be myocardial infarction or esophagitis.

If pain occurs, it is better to immediately contact a neurologist or osteopath. These specialists can easily distinguish nervous pathology from articular pathology and prescribe effective treatment.

Also, aching pain in the shoulder can occur with pathology of the jaw and chewing muscles. These muscle groups are innervated by the same muscle groups in the temporomandibular joint. Violation of the load on this group causes a reflex change in muscle tone, as a result of which the tone of the muscles of the shoulder girdle also changes. After all, the nerve pathways innervating both muscle groups are located very close to each other. Only a doctor can determine the true cause.

Severe shoulder pain

Severe shoulder pain indicates many pathologies, the true cause of which cannot always be determined independently. Severe pain syndrome can be observed with the following pathologies:

1. Shoulder injury – fracture, sprain, dislocation. The reason may be carelessness when carrying or lifting heavy objects, an uncomfortable position during sleep, or as a result of an impact. The pain is usually sharp and worsens with movement of the affected arm.
2. Severe pain in the shoulder can be observed due to inflammatory processes in the joint capsule - bursitis, or inflammation of the tendons - tendonitis. Also, pain in the shoulder is accompanied by problems with the spine - pinched nerve. With arthritis or intervertebral hernia, pain can also radiate to the shoulder, neck and face.
3. If there are no injuries, and when moving, the pain in the shoulder intensifies, but at the same time a severe cough appears, acute pain in the chest when inhaling and pain in the abdomen, then this indicates a pathology of the liver, lungs, and gall bladder. Pain in the shoulder on the left indicates damage to the lung or spleen.

If severe pain in the shoulder is accompanied by limited mobility of the joint, there is a high temperature, swelling, redness, the joint is deformed, there are injuries, bleeding and pain cannot be tolerated, then you should immediately consult a doctor or call an ambulance.

Sharp pain in the shoulder

Sharp pain in the shoulder is an alarming sign and can be observed with neuralgic amyotropia (idiopathic brachial plexopathy). This condition does not have a clear pathogenesis; it is sometimes observed after the administration of vaccines, and is rarely inherited. It is expressed as an acute, unilateral lesion of the brachial nerves, in which short branches are affected.

Develops at the age of 20-40 years. The pain appears suddenly in the shoulder and shoulder girdle area. After a short period of time, the pain subsides, but weakness begins to develop and the muscles atrophy - serratus anterior, deltoid, supraspinatus, infraspinatus, rhomboid, sternocleidomastoid, biceps, triceps, brachioradialis, extensor carpi. Sometimes several muscles are affected. The diagnosis is confirmed by the clinical course of the pathology. A similar picture of pain is observed with cholelithiasis, diseases of the shoulder joint, intervertebral hernia in the cervical spine, etc.

Sharp, severe pain in the shoulder may cause you to consult a doctor if it causes injury, is accompanied by a rash, swelling, high temperature, lasts for a long time and does not subside after taking a painkiller.

Acute shoulder pain

Acute pain in the shoulder occurs due to improper distribution of loads, fatigue after high physical exertion. This leads to inflammation of the joint and swelling, which leads to partial or complete dysfunction.

Also a likely cause of acute pain is an intervertebral hernia of the cervical and thoracic spine. When the ligaments rupture, a spherical tumor forms at the site of injury. Also, the cause of acute pain can be inflammation of the shoulder joint - bursitis or inflammation of the ligaments - tendinitis.

If an attack of acute pain in the shoulder begins when you try to raise your arm, then the cause may be salt deposition, which complicates the work of the ligaments and leads to arthrosis, and this disease requires long-term treatment.

In addition to these diseases, shoulder pain is observed with osteochondrosis, angina pectoris, tumors of adjacent areas, liver diseases and myocardial infarction.

Acute pain in the shoulder, accompanied by fever, long-term pain that does not subside after taking painkillers, are reasons for immediate contact with a neurologist or osteopath. These specialists will be able to identify the nature of the pathology and prescribe effective specialized treatment.

Nagging pain in the shoulder

Nagging pain in the shoulder very often occurs as a complication of osteochondrosis - glenohumeral periarthritis (periarthrosis).

Painful sensations occur without any particular reason, at rest. More often, the pain makes itself felt at night; the pain has an unexpressed intensity, but depends on the degree of neglect of the disease. The disease develops over several weeks or months. The pain intensifies, the intensity increases when moving the affected arm, when placing the arm behind the head, abducting it, lifting it up. If you limit the movements of the affected hand or fix it motionless, then the attacks of pain subside and appear much less frequently.

If the nagging pain in the shoulder that accompanies this pathology does not make the patient want to see a doctor and not receive proper treatment and care, over time there is a high probability of developing shoulder joint stiffness. In this case, a person simply will not be able to raise his arm above a horizontal position, and this causes discomfort not only in everyday life, but also makes the patient incapacitated. The period of recovery and treatment in advanced cases can take from several months to a year; physical therapy and massage are indicated as preventative measures.

Constant shoulder pain

Persistent shoulder pain has a number of common causes:

1. Inflammation of the tendon bursa around the joint. This pathology is called tendinitis and worsens after excessive physical exertion, as a result of which the friction of the tendons on the bone causes pain in the shoulder.
2. If the pain is constant and accompanied by a shoulder injury, this may indicate a rupture, sprain or fracture.
3. If pain constantly manifests itself when working with the arm - lifting, abducting, placing it behind the head, then this is the first sign of arthrosis of the shoulder joint.
4. Shoulder pain can be observed with tumor pathology. Rarely in hereditary diseases characterized by anatomical abnormalities or developmental defects. Also, a similar condition can be observed as a result of an old injury to the shoulder joint that has not responded to correct treatment.
5. Often the cause of constant pain in the shoulder can be diseases of the internal organs extending to the shoulder - diseases of the liver, gall bladder, lungs, heart (myocardial infarction).
6. The main cause of constant shoulder pain is glenohumeral periarthrosis. At first, the pain increases gradually, then it is persistent and worsens at night. During this period, the movements of the affected arm are limited - every attempt to change position is accompanied by a burning pain that spreads to the entire arm. The disease may go away without treatment, or it can lead to muscle wasting and limited movement in the shoulder joint.

Dull pain in shoulder

Dull pain in the shoulder can be caused by a number of pathologies and diseases. If the pain is not pronounced and intensifies only after loading the affected shoulder (after normal movements, work), then this indicates tendonitis - inflammation of the tendons that envelop the head of the shoulder joint. This occurs because during exercise the tendons continuously rub against the bone.

The cause may also be somatic diseases - pathologies of the liver, spleen, lungs, pinched intervertebral hernia in the thoracic or cervical region.

It is very important to pay attention to what other symptoms are accompanied by dull pain in the shoulder - fever, rash, shortness of breath, abdominal pain, heart pain. Often with myocardial infarction, pain radiates to the left shoulder. The nature of the pain in the shoulder is constant, aching.

Also, dull pain in the shoulder can be a consequence of developing neurogenic pathology, sensitivity disorder, or insufficient trophism of muscle tissue. Often pain in periarthrosis makes itself felt at night, the nature of the pain is dull, unexpressed, but depends on the degree of neglect of the disease. The disease develops over several weeks or months. Over time, the pain intensifies, the intensity increases when moving the affected arm, when placing the arm behind the head, abducting it, lifting it up.

Stitching pain in shoulder

Stitching pain in the shoulder signals a developing pathology, so this condition requires medical consultation and further correct treatment and specialists.

There may be several causes of pain. Most often, pain syndrome occurs when:

• Low physical activity.
• Untreated injuries and sprains.
• Incorrect posture.
• Large load on the shoulder joint.

Stitching pain in the shoulder in people aged about 50 years indicates processes of deformation of the shoulder joint - arthrosis. The cartilaginous layer of the joint loses its elasticity, becomes rough, and pain appears when moving.

Also, the cause may be not only diseases of the skeletal and muscular system, but also inflammation of an infectious nature - chlamydia, streptococcal infection, tuberculosis, candidiasis, etc.

Those whose profession involves prolonged stress on the shoulder (when standing with raised arms, bench press) experience frequent pain in the shoulder joint. In some cases, arthritis and bursitis may develop.

In each of these cases, do not forget that the appearance of pain in the shoulder joint is preceded by a cause. Treatment should begin only after diagnosis, and avoiding self-medication will help prevent serious complications.

Burning pain in the shoulder

Burning pain in the shoulder is one of the symptoms of cervicobrachial syndrome. The pain occurs for no reason and can radiate to the arm; the pain intensifies at night. The pain may increase when raising the arm or placing it behind the head, but with a certain fixation of the affected arm, it gradually weakens.

The trophism of the muscles adjacent to the joint is gradually disrupted, and the joint becomes stiff. Sensory disturbances may also be observed - along with piercing burning pain, the sensitivity of the skin is impaired. The skin is bluish, moist, and there may be swelling at the joint of the hand. Palpation of paravertebral points in the cervical region is painful.

If the main cause of the pathology is the appearance of an additional rib, then the burning pain in the shoulder can change in character - the pain can be dull, shooting, burning, and increase in the evening. Paresthesia and hyperesthesia of the upper limb are observed. When you tilt your head to the painful side and raise your elbow, the pain eases. Arm strength noticeably decreases, and the process of muscle atrophy progresses due to autonomic disorder. At this stage, you should immediately consult a doctor to restore the motor and nervous activity of the hand.

Shooting pain in shoulder

Shooting pain in the shoulder most often indicates disorders in the field of neurology. They can occur due to compression of the brachial nerve. This pathology can be represented by radiculalgia, neuralgia, dysesthesia and/or myalgia. Each of these disorders has its own symptoms.

With radiculalgia of the shoulder joint, there are acute attacks of pain, which can become shooting, muscle weakness appears, and sensitivity is impaired.

With neuralgia, the pain becomes aching and prolonged. Painful sensations increase with movement and cease at rest. With dysesthesia, the pain is stabbing or burning, superficial in nature, and the pain increases with movement of the affected arm. With myalgia, the pain is constant, deep, and increases with pressure on the affected muscle or when it is stretched. In each of these cases, the sensitivity of the skin is impaired.

Neurological disorders, if treated incorrectly or at an advanced stage, lead to atrophy of the shoulder muscles and loss of human capacity. If the described pain symptoms appear, you should consult a doctor without hesitation.

Shoulder and neck pain

Pain in the shoulders and neck can occur with the following diseases:

1. Arthritis.
2. Humeroscapular periarthritis.
3. Cervical osteochondrosis.
4. Arthrosis of the shoulder joint.
5. Myalgia.
6. Plexit.

Arthritis of the shoulder joint is the main cause of pain in the shoulder and neck. With this pathology, the joint becomes inflamed, and can have two forms. In primary arthritis, the joint is primarily affected, in secondary arthritis - as a result of injury or fracture, lupus, rheumatism, scleroderma. The pain is sharp, the joint is swollen, the skin is red, there is a crunching and clicking sound when moving.

Humeral periarthritis is an inflammation of the ligaments in the joint capsule. Develops after injuries, removal of the mammary gland, after myocardial infarction. Movements in the joint become constrained, pain intensifies with movement, at night. If the disease is started at an early stage, it becomes chronic. As a result, muscular dystrophy develops, and the articular joint grows together.

Cervical osteochondrosis is a type of arthrosis that affects the cervical vertebrae. Among the causes are injuries, scoliosis, sedentary work, and metabolic disorders. In addition to pain in the shoulder and neck, dizziness and headaches are observed. The pain is burning, throbbing, and intensifies when moving the head.

Arthrosis of the shoulder joint is degenerative changes in the cartilage of the shoulder joint and bones. The course is practically asymptomatic, with unexpressed pain. Leads to irreversible joint deformation and disability.

Myalgia - occurs as a result of prolonged muscle spasm, after injuries, high physical exertion, with improper distribution of the load on the shoulders, after influenza, ARVI, leptospirosis. The pain is bothersome when pressing or moving.

Brachial nerve plexitis is a pathology that develops when the brachial nerve is compressed, damaged or ruptured. It is accompanied by pain in the neck and shoulder, decreased sensitivity of the skin on the outside of the shoulder, and paresis of some muscle groups.

In what cases does pain radiate to the shoulder?

The pain radiates to the shoulder most often with concomitant heart pathologies. This could be an angina attack or a myocardial infarction. In this case, you should pay attention to all the symptoms and the intensity of their manifestation.

The causes of pain radiating to the shoulder may result from:

• Impingement syndrome (narrowing syndrome).
• Tendon rupture - rotator cuff tear.
• Calcification of the forearm.
• Inflammatory process of the shoulder joint.
• Neurogenic pathology, manifested in the form of paresis, muscle wasting, sensitivity disorders. It is observed in cervical radiculopathy, cervicobrachial plexopathies, neuropathies, complex regional pain syndromes, neuralgic amyotrophies, myelopathies.
• Protrusion or herniation of intervertebral discs in the cervical and thoracic regions.
• The pain may radiate to the shoulder if any adjacent muscle is affected. Myofascial syndrome is characterized by the interweaving of a tendon into the joint capsule.
• Arthrosis, arthritis of the shoulder.

When does the pain radiate to the left shoulder?

The pain radiates to the left shoulder mainly in heart diseases - angina attacks, myocardial infarction. With angina, pressing pain behind the sternum is observed, radiating to the shoulder joint, under the left shoulder blade, neck, and lower jaw. During myocardial infarction, the pain in the chest, behind the sternum, in the pericardial sac is severe and sharp, and after a heart attack the pain often radiates to the left arm or shoulder due to vasospasm.

Also, the cause of pain radiating to the left shoulder can be a ligament rupture or sprain, or injury to the muscles of the upper limb. The cause of pain may also be a violation of innervation, manifested by muscle wasting and impaired tactile sensitivity. This condition is observed in cervical radiculopathy, cervicobrachial plexopathy, neuropathy, and myelopathy.

You should always pay attention to the accompanying symptoms, because any pain has a reason. Therefore, if the pain radiates to the left shoulder, this may be a symptom of pathological changes in the liver, spleen, and lungs. Even if the pain does not cause much discomfort, you should immediately consult a doctor to establish a diagnosis, exclude possible complications (peritonitis, pneumothorax, etc.) and prescribe treatment.

When does the pain radiate to the right shoulder?

Pain radiates to the right shoulder in some pathologies of internal organs, for example, destructive changes in the liver, spleen, pneumonia, radiculitis of the cervical spine, tumor diseases of organs in the chest area.

With glenohumeral periarthrosis, pain can not only be concentrated in the area of ​​the shoulder joint, but also around it, as if radiating to the shoulder. In addition, the pain can radiate not only to the shoulder, but also to the forearm and hand and be permanent. If you do not seek medical help in time, the motor activity of the arm in the shoulder joint may be impaired.

The cause of pain radiating to the shoulder may be inflammation or damage to individual tendons or ligaments.

If pain occurs when moving the arm to the side and moving forward, this is a sign of damage to the supraspinal tendon.

If pain occurs when externally rotating the arm pressed to the body at the elbow, this means that the infraspinal tendon is damaged.

If pain occurs when rotating the forearm inward, this indicates damage or injury to the long biceps.

Also, there may be other causes of pain radiating to the right shoulder - fracture of the bones of the forearm, damage to the nerve fibers or their compression due to tumors, dislocations, injuries.

Shoulder and arm pain

The causes of pain in the right shoulder and arm may be different, but in any case, this is a reason to consult a specialist to prevent the development of more severe complications.

If the shoulder hurts in the upper part, but there is still numbness in the entire arm, then this indicates an intervertebral hernia. Due to the fact that the nerve roots are compressed and painful sensations appear.

One of the likely causes of severe pain in the shoulder and arm may be inflammation of the tendons of the shoulder joint. The reason for this is the intense, excessive load on the shoulder girdle. When the biceps tendons become inflamed, chronic pain in the shoulder joint develops, increasing with pressure and physical activity.

If swelling of the shoulder joint is added to the pain, this is bursitis. Not only the shoulder can hurt, but also the neck and shoulder girdle. The cause of pain in the right arm and shoulder girdle, especially pronounced when raising the arm, may be salt deposition.

A common cause of shoulder and arm pain is glenohumeral periarthrosis. The disease gradually progresses, the pain is more pronounced at night. With paresis and muscle wasting, the pain is neurogenic in nature.

An osteopathic doctor will help establish the correct diagnosis and effective treatment of pain in the shoulder and arm. The doctor will identify and eliminate the cause, be it muscle tension, pinched nerve endings that cause joint diseases.

Shoulder joint pain

Shoulder joint pain is one of the most common complaints. Often pain precedes further limitation of arm movements in the shoulder and muscular dystrophy of the arm.

Often such changes in hand function occur with age. The reason for this is the regular high load on the arm, or more precisely on the tendon-ligamentous and tendon-bursa apparatus of the shoulder. As a result, degenerative and dystrophic changes in the articulation of the shoulder take place.

Also, the reason may lie in a shoulder injury - a dislocation or fracture, a severe bruise. All this leads to injury to the joint and tendon-muscular capsule. In addition, pain can occur some time after the injury and is especially common after physical activity. A similar disorder affects weightlifters or those people whose working conditions include regular high physical activity - chronic microtrauma of the shoulder.

Pain in the shoulder joints is also observed with glenohumeral periarthritis and osteochondrosis of the cervical spine. With glenohumeral periarthritis, both joints are affected, but in one of the joints the changes are more pronounced and severe.

In any case, painful sensations in the shoulder are a reason to consult a doctor, if only to prevent the development of complications leading to dysfunction of the shoulder girdle.

Pain from elbow to shoulder

Pain from the elbow to the shoulder raises many questions. It is important to clarify what is the reason for their occurrence, and which specialist to turn to for help.

If pain occurs when raising the arm up or the arm does not rise completely, if it is painful to perform circular rotations, if it is painful to lie on the affected shoulder and the aching pain does not allow you to sleep at night, then the most likely cause is glenohumeral periarthritis. The pathology manifests itself as inflammation of the tissues around the shoulder joint, articular ligaments, and tendons. Pain Spreads from the shoulder to the elbow, the muscles swell and put pressure on the nerves, which causes severe pain, and in addition, disturbances in the innervation - the arm goes numb, strength weakens.

The causes of periarthritis can be different - these are osteochondrosis of the spinal column, shoulder injuries, and high load. Plus, if there is a hidden source of infection in the body - a chronic disease (tonsillitis, bronchitis, nephritis), then the existing infectious elements cause acute inflammation. If there are at least two of these reasons, then the likelihood of developing glenohumeral periarthritis is very high. If you do not consult a doctor in time, then over time the articular surface becomes immobile and this leads to partial loss of ability to work.

Shoulder pain at night

Pain in the shoulders at night is the first sign of glenohumeral periarthritis. Not only muscle tissue suffers, but also the ligaments of the upper shoulder girdle. A piercing pain occurs not only in the shoulder, but also in the entire arm, and intensifies with movement. The pain intensifies at night, especially if you try to lie on the sore shoulder. Gradually, pain forces you to limit the movements of the affected arm, which leads to muscle atrophy and joint immobility. Headaches, aching neck pain, depression, and sleep disturbances may occur.

Another likely cause of shoulder pain at night is bursitis. This is an inflammation of the joint capsule that has a chronic form. Persistent swelling appears around the joint, making it impossible to sleep on the affected side. The pain is sharp, piercing when the arm is abducted and placed behind the back of the head. The causes of bursitis are varied, often due to high load on the joint, trauma, or infection that has penetrated into the joint capsule.

Persistent pain in the shoulders at night indicates that the disease is becoming chronic. With proper treatment, bursitis can be cured in 1-2 weeks. The basic rule is to exclude the traumatic factor, and the rest of the treatment is selected individually after confirming the diagnosis at a doctor’s appointment.

Shoulder pain when moving

Pain in the shoulder when moving is the first signal that the joint has begun to deteriorate. The reasons can be different - these include difficult working conditions, excessive physical exertion, inflammation, and injury. Violation of the normal function of the joint for these reasons is expressed by pain.

With capsulitis - inflammation of the periarticular bursa, difficulty in movement in the joint is observed. It is difficult to raise your arm up, move it back and behind your head, the muscle mass of the shoulder girdle decreases, but all these changes increase gradually.

When there are changes in the rotator cuff and loads on it (painting the ceiling, holding a load overhead for a long time). A sharp, crippling pain appears the next morning, it is impossible to raise your arm above your head, the muscles are tense.

With tendobursitis, the joint capsule becomes inflamed as a result of the formation of calcifications on the tendons. The pain in the shoulder is sharp, intensifies with movement, and can spread to the neck, shoulder girdle, and arm.

Shoulder pain when moving is one of those symptoms for which you should immediately consult a doctor in order to establish the true cause of the inflammation or degenerative change, which will exclude the development of severe complications.

Shoulder and back pain

Pain in the shoulders and back is the first signal that the body is not working smoothly. Pain is the reaction of nerve cells in the human body to damage or injury. Pain can occur in several cases:

1. Muscle damage.
2. Lifestyle, performing the same type of work with a constant load, uncomfortable working posture (when driving a car, working at a computer).
3. Muscle compression.
4. Muscle tension due to emotional shock or stressful situation.
5. Muscle hypothermia.
6. Atypical physical activity.
7. Injuries, sprains.

In each indicated case, upon palpation of the muscle, increased tone and soreness are felt. Due to pain, the muscle contracts and therefore normal blood circulation and metabolism in the affected area are hampered. Because of this, the pain only intensifies, and trophic disorders increase. In addition, constant tension leads to muscle spasms. You can try to massage the affected muscle yourself to relieve spasm and restore blood flow, and then seek qualified help from a doctor, because pain in the shoulders and back indicates a dysfunction of the musculoskeletal system.

Shoulder pain when inhaling

In cases where shoulder pain occurs when inhaling, it is better to immediately consult a doctor to determine the true cause of the disease. After all, pain can make itself felt not only with shoulder injuries and diseases of the musculoskeletal system of the upper shoulder girdle. The pain does not allow you to lead your usual lifestyle, it constrains you.

The most common pathologies that cause shoulder pain when inhaling:

• Osteochondrosis. When the nerve roots are compressed, pain occurs that prevents full movement and intensifies with movement and inhalation.
• Intercostal neuralgia. It can be both permanent and periodic. The pain is girdling, burning, stifling, and can radiate to the arm, shoulder, or neck. Intensifies with breathing, palpation, sudden movements. It can be caused by hypothermia, osteochondrosis, physical activity, and incorrect working position.
• Myocardial infarction. The first sign is a stabbing pain in the chest, on inhalation and exhalation, spreading to the entire chest, back, neck, and arms. Pain can provoke loss of consciousness, and if the pain does not go away after taking validol, you should immediately call an ambulance.
• Stomach ulcer. The pain intensifies after eating, spreading under the shoulder blade, into the thoracic region and behind the sternum. The first signs are heartburn, drooling, belching, nausea and vomiting.
• Psychological problems. Pain occurs suddenly, in different parts of the body, accompanied by a feeling of anxiety and heaviness. Sometimes there are panic attacks and lack of air as a result of a hysterical spasm of the larynx.
• Hepatic colic. It is observed in cholecystitis – cholelithiasis. It provokes an exacerbation of spasm of the gallbladder, the cause of which is poor diet, stress, infection, nervous exhaustion. The pain is sharp, spreading to the right arm, hypochondrium, shoulder, under the shoulder blade. The patient is worried, changes position, the attack is accompanied by vomiting bile and fever.

Shoulder pain with arm numbness

Shoulder pain along with arm numbness is the first sign of the onset of an inflammatory process in the joint or a consequence of a serious injury. The cause may be glenohumeral periarthritis, bursitis, shoulder dislocation, intervertebral hernia or chest tumors. The first thing that should alert you and indicates glenohumeral periarthritis is pain radiating into the arm, accompanied by complete or partial numbness. The pain is severe, more frequent at night, palpation of the ligaments near the shoulder and shoulder blade is especially painful. As a result, the joint becomes inactive and ossified, it is difficult to raise the arm or hold the weight on the outstretched arm. A tingling sensation appears on the skin of the hand, sensitivity decreases, which indicates a vegetative-vascular disorder.

With dislocations, severe pain and loss of sensitivity are also observed, but this is preceded by an injury to the shoulder girdle, resulting in a dislocation or fracture. Sometimes nerves are damaged during fractures, which leads to numbness in the limb. For the same reason, you should never adjust dislocations yourself.

To prevent shoulder pain and arm numbness from bothering you, you first need to identify the root cause and properly eliminate it, and for this you need to consult an osteopathic doctor. Only after a diagnosis has been established can treatment begin, and self-medication can lead to irreversible consequences that are harmful to the entire body.

Pain in the collarbone and shoulder

The clavicle is a hollow paired bone, one side attached to the sternum and the other to the process of the scapula. Pain in the collarbone and shoulder can cause a lot of trouble, and if the cause of the pain is not an injury, then you should pay attention to the joints. There are a number of reasons why collarbone and shoulder pain occurs.

Fracture. When a clavicle is fractured, the bone moves towards the shoulder, accompanied by rupture of ligaments and muscle fibers, and severe pain radiating to the shoulder. The forearm on the affected side is visually shortened, but with a closed fracture the picture is not so pronounced, but the person experiences pain when moving, lifting and abducting, or rotating the arm.

Cervical root clamp. In this case, the pain will radiate to the collarbone, neck, and shoulder. This can be easily determined by the sensations: swollen tongue and numb area behind the ear, hiccups, colic in the heart, difficulty swallowing. If these signs are detected, you should immediately seek help from a neurologist.

Displacement of joints. Occurs as a result of an injury, changes are easy to determine by palpating the joints - there is pronounced swelling and pain in this area.

Brachial plexus neuralgia and intercostal neuralgia. These diseases can cause referred pain to the collarbone and shoulder joint.

Humeroscapular periarthritis. The inflammatory process in the joint cavity causes pain not only in the shoulder itself, but also pain radiating to the collarbone, scapula, neck, and the pain is especially pronounced at night.

There are quite a few significant causes of pain in the collarbone and shoulder, but to identify their cause, you need to consult a doctor.

Shoulder pain after exercise

Shoulder pain after exercise can be bothersome after unusual stress on the arms and shoulders. When there is a strong load on the shoulder girdle, the articular surfaces of the bones of the shoulder rub – this is the main cause of pain.

Another probable cause that does not directly depend on stress, but appears after it, is other diseases in the body. These include problems with liver function, lungs, stomach, and perhaps even tumor diseases of the chest.

To prevent shoulder pain after training from reminding you of itself, you should follow simple rules. This will not give a 100% guarantee, but the likelihood of pain can be reduced significantly.

1. Warm up before training. You need to warm up all muscle groups, the warm-up should be comprehensive. This includes running, rotating movements with arms, legs, and squats.
2. Use of warming ointments. It should not be confused with cooling ointments, which are best used after an injury when you need to reduce the manifestation of pain. Warming ointments contain components that improve blood circulation in the area of ​​application. As an option - an ointment based on bee venom.
3. And the simplest thing is to monitor the technicality of the strength complexes performed.

Shoulder pain during pregnancy

Throughout pregnancy, a woman may experience pain of a different nature. Often, pain is not dangerous and is quite natural during physiological changes in the body. But joint pain is one of those changes that are not quite typical and that bring some discomfort.

Often shoulder pain during pregnancy indicates a lack of calcium. To establish this, it is enough to simply do a biochemical blood test. This will provide information about the chemical composition of the blood. Thus, the doctor selects the necessary vitamin supplements and prepares a diet. These are not only fermented milk products, but also fish of various varieties, egg yolk, and liver.

Also, joint pain during pregnancy can occur due to the effect of the hormone relaxin on the ligaments. Relaxin makes the ligaments more elastic, so that during childbirth the hip joints, moving apart, make the birth canal wider and do not interfere with the passage of the fetus. Accordingly, relaxin acts on all large joints of the skeleton.

Also, shoulder pain during pregnancy can be due to an inflammatory process or a previous illness (cold, any other infection). At the first signs, you should immediately consult a doctor and under no circumstances self-medicate.

Arm pain in the shoulder joint is a very unpleasant symptom that significantly complicates a person’s life. Therefore, if discomfort occurs, treatment should begin immediately. For it to be as effective as possible, it is necessary to understand how the shoulder joint works and what are the possible causes of its damage. Also from the materials in this article you will learn about the main methods for diagnosing this pathology.

Anatomy of the shoulder joint

The shoulder joint has a unique structure. The bone of the forearm and the glenoid cavity located on the shoulder blade are connected through the so-called bursa and auxiliary ligament. A small cartilaginous outgrowth runs along the edge of the cavity. It is called the labrum. The rotator cuff is a system of small ligaments and muscles. It allows you to continuously hold the joint in one position, preventing dislocations and providing a range of varied movements. That is why the strength of the shoulder joint depends directly on the muscles and ligaments surrounding it.

This special anatomical structure allows the upper limbs to easily perform a huge range of movements and at the same time be a convenient tool for work. When pain occurs in the arm in the shoulder joint, the number of manipulations is immediately limited, which affects the person’s quality of life.

The nature of the discomfort directly depends on the cause that influenced its appearance. The pain can be short-term or paroxysmal in nature, be acute or aching. Due to the variety of causes of pathology, you should not try to diagnose yourself and prescribe treatment on your own. If discomfort occurs, it is recommended to consult a doctor immediately.

Factors contributing to shoulder pain

Experts name a number of risk factors that cause pain.

1. Incorrect posture (stooping and scoliosis deform the collarbones and affect the entire shoulder region).
2. Excessive physical activity (athletes, loaders, assembly line workers most often suffer from this pathology).
3. An inactive lifestyle can lead to congestion in the shoulder, which is always accompanied by pain.
4. An unbalanced diet leads to nutritional deficiencies and contributes to the deposition of salts on the joints.

Often the causes of pain in the shoulder joint are the result of serious illnesses. These include osteochondrosis, arthritis and arthrosis, bursitis and others. Let us consider each variant of the disease, the causes of its occurrence and characteristic symptoms in more detail.

Injuries and damage

Since the shoulder joint is the most complex and at the same time fragile joint in the human body, this means that it is more susceptible to injury than others. Injuries can be of a domestic nature (falling on your hand), professional (sudden movements, heavy lifting) or sports.

The left hand is injured several times less often, because most people on our planet are right-handed. The most common type of mechanical injury is bruise. Patients usually do not pay much attention to this pathology, hoping that it will go away on its own. However, this is a serious mistake; bruises are not always harmless. Patients develop a tissue hematoma, which resolves on its own after a few weeks, and along with it the pain in the shoulder joint of the right arm disappears. Sometimes, when a bruise occurs, damage to the joint capsule can occur. In this case, you cannot count on a quick recovery. In order to avoid complications, it is necessary to promptly consult a doctor and undergo appropriate treatment.

Another fairly common type of injury is dislocations and subluxations. In the latter case, the head of the humerus literally slips out of the glenoid cavity, after which it snaps into place on its own. When a dislocation occurs, the bone comes completely out of the joint cavity. Often this pathology is accompanied by ruptures of the capsule and ligaments. The patient experiences pain in the shoulder joint of his right arm, and he cannot move the limb forward or backward. It is strictly forbidden to adjust dislocations yourself. Before this, it is necessary to check the joint for fractures, and this can only be done through x-rays or MRI.

Pathologies of internal organs

Pain in the shoulder joint of the left arm is usually mistaken for a manifestation of osteochondrosis. However, such discomfort often signals serious pathologies of internal organs. These include angina pectoris and myocardial infarction.

In the first case, the pain radiates to the shoulder and arm. With angina pectoris, patients complain of shortness of breath after exercise and constant pressure in the chest. Sometimes pain in the shoulder joint of the left arm is the only symptom indicating a disease.

With myocardial infarction, the classic clinical picture usually looks like this: difficulty breathing, burning in the chest. In some cases, pathology is indicated only by discomfort in the shoulder girdle and neck. As a rule, it is the left shoulder joint that worries.

Osteochondrosis

Pain in the arm in the shoulder joint can occur due to osteochondrosis affecting the cervical spine. In order to understand exactly where the source of discomfort is, you need to make a circular movement with your shoulder. When referred pain occurs, it immediately makes itself felt. Otherwise, discomfort occurs when turning or tilting the neck, radiating along the entire length of the arm.

This disorder develops when bone growths touch and even injure nerves. Depending on the location of the pain syndrome, the doctor can tell which vertebrae are affected. To assess the complete clinical picture, patients are prescribed radiography, MRI and ultrasound. Based on the test results, treatment tactics are developed.

Arthritis

Arthritis develops against a background of inflammation and is associated with changes of a degenerative nature or with rheumatoid processes. With this disease, patients complain of severe pain in the shoulder joint when raising their arm. The discomfort gets worse over time.

Arthritis is clearly visible on x-ray. Therapy involves taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and a course of exercise therapy. Lack of timely treatment can lead to disability.

Arthrosis

Arthrosis is accompanied by dystrophy and degeneration of cartilage tissues with their subsequent ossification. As the disease progresses, they become thinner, which causes intense friction between the bones and each other. With arthrosis, pain in the arm in the shoulder joint is accompanied by a characteristic crunch. The thing is that cartilage tissue is transformed into bone tissue over time, resulting in the formation of many processes - osteophytes. Motor activity decreases. Arthrosis may not manifest itself for a very long time. As a result, the mobility of the joint decreases, the shoulder quickly tires even after a slight load, and pain accompanies the patient throughout the whole day.

Bursitis

Bursitis (inflammation of the joint capsule) occurs due to wear and tear of the joint due to systematic pressure or overload of the shoulder. With this disease, the patient feels pain after any touch to the shoulder, stiffness in the joint, and discomfort when moving. As the disease develops, swelling, numbness and muscle tone appear in the affected area. Exercise therapy and acupuncture are used for treatment.

Tendinitis

Inflammatory processes in the tendon develop due to arthritis, gout or muscle strain. Aching pain in the shoulder joint of the right or left arm, a local increase in temperature, swelling - these symptoms are accompanied by tendinitis. When moving the limb, you can hear a faint crunching sound.

Ultrasonography and MRI are usually used to diagnose the disease. Tendonitis cannot be detected using x-rays. Treatment is based on the exclusion of physical activity and immobilization of the shoulder joint. Physiotherapy and painkillers are used to relieve pain. For purulent tendinitis, surgical intervention is indicated.

Capsulitis

This is a fairly rare but painful pathology, accompanied by inflammation of the joint capsule. The muscles become stiff, as if frozen, which affects the range of rotational movements. Discomfort affects the entire shoulder joint. The pain when raising the arm is very severe, so patients with this diagnosis cannot work or perform usual activities.

The reasons for the development of capsulitis are not fully understood. It is assumed that diabetes mellitus and pathologies of the circulatory system play a certain role in the occurrence of the disease. Capsulitis also develops in people with a history of cancer or who have undergone surgery on the shoulder joint. The disease is diagnosed using arthrography. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are used for treatment. Additionally, a course of exercise therapy is prescribed. Surgical intervention is required in exceptional cases.

Diagnostic methods

Many patients come to see a doctor complaining of pain in the shoulder joint of their right arm. The causes of the disorder can only be found out after a complete examination. It is very important not to miss the beginning of the pathological process. When the first symptoms appear, you should consult a specialist. Palpation and physical examination are the initial stage of diagnosis. Then the doctor, based on the obtained clinical picture, refers the patient for further examination to confirm or refute the initial diagnosis. It usually includes the following procedures.

1. Radiography. Allows you to determine the severity of changes in cartilage tissue, the presence of bruises and bone damage.
2. MRI. This diagnostic method is aimed at the most informative examination of the shoulder girdle. It can be used to identify arthritis, osteoarthritis and other ailments.
3. CT. This study is a painless scan of the joint to identify dystrophic, inflammatory and degenerative processes.
4. Laboratory testing of blood and urine.

After a comprehensive diagnosis, the doctor can prescribe individual treatment for pain in the shoulder joint of the arm. To prescribe a course of therapy, it is important to take into account the age of a particular patient, the presence of concomitant diseases of a chronic nature, as well as the characteristics of the body.

Conservative treatment

In mild cases, when pain is caused by hypothermia or excessive stress, specific therapy is not required. To speed up recovery, you can apply a warm ointment or compress to the affected area.

If injured, you must apply ice to the shoulder, immobilize the arm and contact a traumatologist. After an X-ray examination, the doctor prescribes appropriate treatment.

The first sign of bursitis, arthritis and arthrosis is pain in the shoulder joint of the right arm. Treatment should initially be aimed at combating the underlying pathology, after which the discomfort goes away on its own. As a rule, complex drug therapy is prescribed, the main goal of which is to eliminate the mechanisms of development of the disease. For this, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (Nise, Ketorol, Diclofenac) are used. These drugs are highly effective and rarely cause side effects.

We should talk separately about ointments and gels. These remedies are very effective for joint pathologies, as they are applied directly to the affected area. The active ingredients penetrate deep into the inflamed structures, which allows you to quickly eliminate the pathological process and relieve muscle tone.

After drug therapy, a course of rehabilitation is recommended to restore the motor functions of the ligaments. For this purpose, the patient is prescribed massage, physical therapy, and reflexology. Surgical intervention is indicated in particularly serious cases when the pathological process affects the entire shoulder joint.

Pain when raising your arm: treatment with folk remedies

Folk remedies should not be written off. The combination of alternative medicine recipes with conservative treatment can speed up joint recovery and prevent the development of complications.

1. If you are bothered by pain in the shoulder joint when moving your arm back, you can do a special rubbing. To prepare it, you need to mix 3 tablespoons of lilac flowers, burdock root and 3 red peppers. The ingredients should be poured with a liter of alcohol and left for three days. The resulting medicine can be rubbed into the affected area several times a day until complete healing.
2. An ointment prepared with lard helps relieve pain. It is necessary to melt 100 g of pork fat, add a pinch of red pepper, 3 teaspoons of St. John's wort and cinquefoil. It is recommended to rub the ointment into the affected joint before going to bed.
3. A vinegar compress perfectly relieves pain in the shoulder joint of the left arm. Treatment initially involves the preparation of a special solution. To do this, add a spoonful of 9% vinegar to 0.5 liters of water. Moisten a piece of linen cloth with the resulting solution and apply it to the sore shoulder. It is better to leave the compress overnight.

The listed recipes help reduce the manifestation of pain in the shoulder joint, as well as prevent the development of complications.

Prevention measures

It is easier to prevent any disease than to treat it later. This rule applies to all pathologies affecting the shoulder joint. Pain when raising your arm, which often accompanies arthritis and capsulitis, can be prevented if you follow simple rules.

First of all, doctors advise to exercise regularly. It is not at all necessary to engage in sports professionally; morning exercises are enough. Yoga and swimming are great for strengthening your joints.

In addition, you need to monitor your diet. It should be balanced, rich in vitamins and microelements. Timely treatment of infectious diseases is the key to good health. If you wear warm clothes in bad weather, you can avoid hypothermia.

If you have aching pain in the shoulder joint of your left or right arm, you need to find out the cause of the pathology. To solve this problem, you cannot do without the help of a qualified specialist. Only after a comprehensive examination will the doctor be able to make a final diagnosis and guarantee adequate therapy. It is not recommended to self-medicate, as this will only aggravate the pathological process. Be healthy!

Today we offer an article on the topic: “Pain in the left shoulder: why the shoulder hurts, what to do and how to treat the arm.” We tried to describe everything clearly and in detail. If you have any questions, ask at the end of the article.

The human body is unique. Each organ, joint and even cell performs specific functions. If something fails, pain occurs. With these symptoms, the body signals an illness. By causing discomfort, it protects the injured area of ​​the body from excessive damage. That is why these signs cannot be ignored. They should be treated very carefully. What pathologies can indicate pain in the shoulder joint of the left arm? Let's figure it out.

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Causes of pathology

The shoulder is a fairly complex joint in the human body. It is endowed with maximum functionality. The presence of one or another pathology in it not only disrupts the functioning of the joint, but also leads to swelling, inflammation and destruction of the joint capsule, and sometimes violates the integrity of the tendons. The shoulder joint can work for a long time even in this case. But the time comes, and it fails. A person experiences severe pain in the shoulder joint.

The reasons for this pathology may lie in developing ailments:

1. Tendinitis. Or inflammation of the articular tendons. The reason for this pathology lies in intense stress. During heavy physical activity, the tendons interact very closely with the surface of the joint. As a result, the person experiences irritation and pain.
2. Biceps tendonitis. The pathology manifests itself in the flexor muscle, which is localized in the upper region of the shoulder. With this disease, the patient experiences constant pain. When you feel the damaged area or any movement, the sensations intensify. If the ligaments of the shoulder joint are completely torn, a spherical swelling is visually noticeable.
3. Bursitis. This disease often accompanies tendinitis. Pathology also occurs after prolonged overexertion. But bursitis leads to swelling of the joint.
4. Salt deposits. As a result of this pathology, the ligaments of the joint become rigid. Often, salt deposits are localized under the scapula and collarbone. It is observed in people over 30 years of age. Painful discomfort appears suddenly. In its manifestation, it is quite strong. Any position of the hand does not lead to its reduction. It becomes difficult for a person to move a limb even 30 centimeters away from the body.
5. Violation of joint formation at the genetic level.
6. Joint injury. Young people, especially athletes, sometimes experience a dislocation that causes pain in the shoulder joint. The causes of pathology in elderly people are usually associated with degenerative processes.
7. Neoplasms.
8. Oversprain of the shoulder ligaments. The phenomenon often occurs in bodybuilders. With pathology, the joint becomes unstable. Most exercises cause difficulties for the athlete. Sometimes even a tear of the cartilaginous ring is diagnosed.
9. Humeroscapular periarthrosis. Pain in the shoulder joint of the left or right arm is the main symptom of the disease. Over time, the discomfort increases. And it leads to the patient not being able to sleep at night. The nature of the pain is quite diverse - from a dull manifestation to a strong burning sensation.
10. Tendon rupture.
11. Hernia, protrusion of discs of the cervical spine.
12. Neurogenic pathology. A phenomenon in which the sensitivity of the upper limbs and neck is impaired.
13. Arthritis, arthrosis.
14. Ailments of internal organs (heart, liver, lungs and others).

Serious pathologies of internal organs

Very often, pain in the shoulder joint of the left arm is perceived as a manifestation of osteochondrosis. However, sometimes such discomfort signals various pathologies of internal organs:

1. Angina pectoris. When the disease occurs, the pain radiates to the shoulder, neck, and arm. Typical symptoms of the classic picture are squeezing, pressing pain in the sternum, shortness of breath after physical activity. But sometimes the disease progresses differently. The patient feels only pain in the shoulder joint of the left arm and in the neck. In this case, discomfort may not be felt in the hand, and there is no tingling in the heart. Only an ECG will detect ischemia.
2. Myocardial infarction. Classic symptoms, such as difficulty breathing and unbearable burning pain in the sternum, unfortunately, do not always occur. Very often, pathology is signaled by a burning sensation in the shoulders and neck. As a rule, it is the left shoulder joint that worries. The disease is accompanied by patient anxiety, difficulty breathing, and perspiration on the forehead.

Joint fracture

This phenomenon is a fairly common injury. A fracture of the shoulder joint can affect any part:

• head of the bone;
• shoulder body;
• condylar region.

Frequent sources of pathology are: falling on the hand, strong blows or sports injuries. Quite characteristic symptoms indicate a fracture of the shoulder joint:

• painful discomfort in the area of ​​injury;
• bruising, swelling;
• shoulder deformation, sometimes shortening of the arm may be observed;
• possible loss of sensitivity in the hand and fingers;
• limitation of limb mobility;
• When you feel the damaged area, you sometimes hear a crunching sound.

Treatment of pathology

With these symptoms, it is unlikely that anyone will self-medicate. But it is still worth remembering that such pathologies are treated by a doctor. The patient will be prescribed painkillers, anti-inflammatory and calcium-containing medications.

For mild fractures that are not accompanied by displacement, a plaster cast may be prescribed. Sometimes it is enough to apply a splint or bandage to the shoulder joint. The duration of wearing varies depending on the pathology. As a rule, it ranges from one month to one and a half.

In case of serious injuries, the patient may need surgical intervention with fixing screws, special plates, knitting needles, or rods.

After healing of the fracture, the patient is prescribed physical therapy and physiotherapeutic procedures to restore the functioning of the limb.

Crick

The shoulder joint consists of the scapula, collarbone and humerus bone. Its integrity is maintained thanks to the muscles and joint capsule, as well as tendons and ligaments. Sprain of the shoulder joint leads to a whole range of pathological changes.

The patient may experience varying degrees of damage:

1. Shoulder joint rupture. With this pathology, the ligaments are completely torn, all fibers are damaged.
2. Sprain. With this phenomenon, partial damage to the fibers is observed.

The following symptoms may indicate this pathology:

• the occurrence of pain;
• discomfort is felt even in a calm position;
• feeling of weakness in the shoulder;
• joint mobility is limited - it is impossible to lift and move the limb to the side;
• the joint swells and may increase in size;
• presence of bruising and bruising;
• shoulder deformity;
• when moving, you can hear crackling and crunching sounds;
• tingling, numbness in the joint.

Treatment methods

Typically these include:

1. Cold compress. This procedure is acceptable on the first day. However, you should know that exposure to cold should not last more than 20 minutes.
2. Fixation of the joint. It is recommended to limit the load on the joint as much as possible. This will reduce pain and inflammation. In addition, the doctor may recommend a special brace for the shoulder joint or an orthopedic splint. The device ensures fixation of the joint in the desired position. Typically, the bandage is worn for several weeks.
3. Relief from pain. To eliminate discomfort, the doctor will recommend non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, which are used for injuries of the musculoskeletal system. The medications Ibuprofen, Ketorolac, and Naproxen are often prescribed.
4. External means. For severe pain, it is recommended to use ointment. Pain in the shoulder joint is significantly reduced after exposure to drugs that have analgesic properties. The most effective ointments or creams are: Diclofenac, Indomethacin, Ibuprofen, Voltaren. The product must be applied in a thin layer 2-3 times a day to the damaged area.

The question of surgical intervention is raised only if drug treatment is ineffective. Sometimes surgeries are performed on athletes. This intervention allows you to completely restore shoulder mobility and muscle strength.

Pain due to osteochondrosis

This pathology occurs in people who remain in one position for a long time. Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine causes disruption of the functioning of the autonomic nervous system and blood circulation. Often the discomfort is localized in the neck. However, pain is often felt in the muscles of the shoulder joint.

These symptoms are caused by bone growths that appear on the lateral surfaces of the vertebrae. They, injuring the nerve endings, cause pain in the patient.

Treatment of pathology

It is very important to contact a specialist in a timely manner. Since treatment is quite a complex task, an integrated approach is required:

1. Drug treatment. Initially, patients are prescribed anti-inflammatory drugs, such as Indomethacin, Diclofenac, Ibuprofen. If the pain lasts long enough, additional painkillers may be recommended: Pentalgin, Tramadol. Antidepressants can also be prescribed in combination: Fluoxetine, Amitriptyline. In addition, chondroprotectors are prescribed to patients: Teraflex, Chondroxide, Structum.
2. Physical education classes. Gymnastics is a mandatory component of treatment. Exercises help restore damaged discs, significantly improve cervical mobility, and strengthen muscle tissue.
3. Rehabilitation measures. After pain relief, patients are prescribed a variety of procedures: magnetic therapy, massage, laser therapy, mud therapy, electrophoresis, traction, swimming in the pool.

Types of arthritis

Often this pathology provokes pain. In the shoulder area, 3 forms of pathology can be diagnosed:

1. Osteoarthritis. This disease develops as a result of degenerative age-related changes in tissues. Cartilage does not protect the articular surface from friction. This pathology is typical for older people.
2. Rheumatoid arthritis. The disease is systemic. The inflammatory process covers the synovial membrane of the joint. People of any age are susceptible to pathology.
3. Post-traumatic arthritis. The disease develops against the background of injuries - displacement, cracks or rupture of muscles. Refers to types of osteoarthritis.

Shoulder pain is the first and main sign of the development of arthritis. It increases during movement. Changes in weather also affect the patient's well-being. The patient feels a decrease in the amplitude of hand mobility. Sometimes a characteristic clicking sound is heard while driving. In the later stages, the joint hurts with such intensity that the person cannot sleep at night.

Methods of combating pathology

How to treat shoulder joint with arthritis? Initially, doctors use physiotherapeutic procedures, accompanied by medication, and physical exercise. The therapy complex includes:

• warming compresses;
• the use of special additives such as Chondroitin;
• use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
• set of exercises.

If such therapy is ineffective, surgeons resort to surgery. In this case, either a complete replacement of the damaged joint with a prosthesis or a partial replacement is considered.

Development of arthrosis

This is a chronic illness. With arthrosis of the shoulder joint, the patient's condition slowly worsens. Degradation of articular cartilage and nearby tissues occurs. The surface of the joint loses its smoothness. In places it is covered with osteophytes or salt thorns.

The development of arthrosis is slow. The first symptom indicating the development of the disease is pain in the shoulder. Periodically, the discomfort subsides. Physical labor leads to an exacerbation of pathology. The joint swells. The surrounding tissues turn red and become hot. Sometimes a crunching sound is heard while driving.

Treatment methods

1. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. As a rule, a mild remedy such as Paracetamol is initially prescribed. If a favorable effect cannot be achieved, stronger medications are recommended to the patient: Naproxen, Ibuprofen, Diclofenac, Indomethacin, Nimesulide. These medications help relieve pain.
2. Intra-articular block. In case of severe disease, special drugs are injected into the joint cavity. Hormonal medications such as Hydrocortisone, Prednisolone, and Kenalog are often used. They provide a good anti-inflammatory effect.
3. Chondroprotectors. Help restore joint tissue. The most preferred medications are: “Teraflex”, “Arthra”, “Arthro-Active”.

Causes of pain

The shoulder joint is one of the most complex in the entire body. Nature has endowed it with maximum functionality. However, improper use disrupts its functioning, leading to inflammation, swelling, destruction of the joint capsule and even disruption of the integrity of the tendons. Like any other mechanism, the shoulder joint works even if used incorrectly for some time, after which it “breaks” - the person experiences

shoulder pain, joint mobility decreases.

How does pain develop? The source of pain in the upper shoulder may be a neck disease. Such pain covers the entire upper limb to the fingers. The pain worsens when moving the head, often combined with partial loss of sensitivity. In such cases, during diagnosis, hernias of the cervical or thoracic spine are often detected. The properties of the affected discs deteriorate, the spaces between them are shortened, the nerve endings are pinched, and the person feels pain. At the same time, tissue swelling develops at the site where the nerve is compressed, they contract more intensely and hurt even more.

Capsulitis – a fairly uncommon occurrence. With this disease, the patient experiences pain in the shoulder, difficulty moving the arm behind the back, lifting it up. Symptoms increase slowly.

Cuff dysfunction happens after uncharacteristic hand work, for example, finishing work on the ceiling. The patient does not feel pain immediately, but a day later when trying to raise his arm.

Tendobursitis is a disease in which the joint capsule becomes inflamed. In this disease, the muscle tendons become calcified. The pain is acute, hand movements are significantly difficult, the patient complains of sharp pain in the entire limb from the neck to the fingertips.

Diseases that cause shoulder pain:1. Inflammation of the tendons of the joint - tendonitis . The reason for this is excessively intense stress on the joint. During physical work, such as sawing wood, the tendons interact tightly with the surface of the joint, causing pain and irritation.

2. Biceps tendinitis

- This is a flexor muscle located on the upper part of the shoulder. With this disease, the shoulder constantly hurts, and the pain intensifies when palpating the muscle and when moving the limb. If the muscle tendon is completely torn, you may notice a ball-shaped swelling.

3. Bursitis

- This is a frequent companion to tendinitis, which also appears with prolonged overexertion. But when

the joint swells.

4. Salt deposits

This phenomenon occurs when you raise your hand up. When salts are deposited, the ligaments become rigid. Most often, salts are deposited under the collarbone and shoulder blade. Such disorders are called “collision syndrome.” They are found in people over 30 years of age. The pain appears suddenly, it is quite strong and does not go away with any position of the hand. It is difficult to move your hand away from your body even 30 centimeters. But in a number of cases, salt deposition does not manifest itself in any way and is revealed only when

x-ray

5. Genetic disorder of joint formation

6. Joint injury

For example, young people or athletes often experience a recurrent form

shoulder In people of mature and old age

These tissues are usually the result of age-related degenerative processes.

7. Neoplasm

8. Shoulder ligament hyperextension

This phenomenon is typical for bodybuilders. When overstretched, the joint becomes unstable, so the athlete cannot do many exercises. The cartilage ring may also tear.

9. The pain radiates

for diseases of internal organs

liver, heart, pneumonia, radiculitis, neoplasms in the chest).

10. Humeroscapular periarthrosis

Shoulder pain is the main symptom of this disease. Over time, the pain intensifies so much that the patient cannot sleep at night. It can be of a very diverse nature, from dull to burning.

11. Tendon rupture

12. Neurogenic pathology

In which the sensitivity of the neck and upper limbs is impaired.

13. Herniation or protrusion of discs of the cervical spine

14. Arthritis

Arthrosis of the joint.

Based on the direction in which movement is stiff, the doctor can determine which part of the joint is affected:

• If it hurts when you move your arm to the side and forward, then the supraspinal tendon is affected,
• If it hurts when turning the arm along its axis to the outside with the elbow fixed at the side, then the infraspinal tendon is affected,
• If in the same position it hurts when turning the arm to the inside, the subscapularis tendon is affected,
• If it hurts in the biceps area when you move your lower arm inward, it may be a biceps injury.

In the arm and shoulder - a symptom of glenohumeral periarthritis The disease is an inflammation of the capsule and tendons of the shoulder joint. In this case, both the cartilage and the joint itself remain intact. Its main symptoms are pain in the shoulder. Periarthritis and osteochondrosis account for 80% of all diseases that cause shoulder pain. This is a very common disease that affects both sexes equally often. Typically, signs of the disease appear after a shoulder injury or overload with unusual activities. The disease is insidious in that from the moment of its occurrence until the first symptoms of illness appear, it can take from three to seven days.

In some cases, the cause of periarthritis is diseases of the internal organs, for example, the left side may be affected due to myocardial infarction. The primary disease impairs blood circulation in the joint area; the tendon fibers, which lack nourishment, become fragile and crack, swell, and inflammation develops.

The right side is affected in liver diseases.

A fairly common occurrence is periarthritis in women who have had their mammary gland removed, because during the intervention, blood circulation is disrupted not only in the breast, but also in the tissues adjacent to it. In addition, blood vessels or nerves may be damaged during the intervention.

The pain can be either mild and appear only with certain movements, or very acute; in addition, the patient cannot place his arm behind his back or move against resistance. Depending on the severity of the disease, it can be cured in a month or almost impossible to cure if we are talking about a chronic process. In the chronic form of the disease, the shoulder is literally made of stone. But such a disease sometimes goes away on its own after a few years.

In the neck and shoulder Pain in the shoulder and neck is often combined with weakness, discoloration of the skin ( if blood circulation is impaired), swelling and change in shape. The causes of this pain can be either minor or very dangerous. Therefore, it is best to consult a doctor.

• Incorrect posture. This is the most common cause of pain in both the neck and shoulder. If the spine is not in the correct position, and the shoulders are hunched, ligaments and muscles act under conditions of increased stress,
• Rupture of muscles, tendons or ligaments,
• Degenerative processes in the spine lead to disruption of innervation,
• Spondylosis of the neck,
• Malignant or benign neoplasm,
• Stress,
• Uncomfortable sleeping position
• Muscle overload.

In the shoulder muscles - this is myalgiaSigns of myalgia: dull, aching pain in the muscles, sometimes sharp pain, decreased range of motion.

Causes of myalgia: uncharacteristic or very strong physical activity, hypothermia, stretching or tearing of fibers, viral infection.

you should give the muscle a rest for a couple of days, rub in a painkiller and

anti-inflammatory

local remedy (

ointment or cream). If the pain is caused only by overuse of the muscle, but it is intact, you can slowly stretch it, but very carefully.

If the cause of myalgia is a viral disease, the pain will go away immediately after recovery. If pain in the shoulder muscles is the result of a serious injury, you will most likely need the help of a specialist.

If after five days the pain does not go away, you should definitely visit a doctor.

More severe injuries must be ruled out. You may need to undergo treatment

muscle relaxants

There is arthrosis in the shoulder joint Arthrosis of the shoulder joint is a chronic disease. The patient's condition is slowly deteriorating. With arthrosis, degradation of the cartilage of the joint, as well as nearby tissues, occurs. The joint surfaces lose their smoothness and are sometimes covered with osteophytes ( salt spikes). These processes proceed very slowly. But shoulder pain is the first sign of the development of arthrosis. At times the pain eases, but after physical work it worsens, and the range of motion decreases. All tissues of the joint become inflamed, then the joint swells, the tissues surrounding it turn red and become hot.

Not far from the glenohumeral joint is the nerve plexus of the shoulder, which suffers from prolonged inflammation. If osteophytes have already formed on the joint, a crunching sound is sometimes heard when moving, and movements are painful and difficult. Despite the slow progression, the patient’s condition is gradually deteriorating, and the arm’s movements are getting worse. If the disease continues for many years, a persistent deterioration in the range of motion develops ( contracture).

Arthritis in the shoulder joint Three forms of arthritis can develop in the shoulder joint:
1. Osteoarthritis

– this disease develops during degenerative age-related processes in tissues, when articular cartilage ceases to protect the surfaces of the joint from friction against each other. This disease is more typical for people over fifty years of age.

2. Rheumatoid arthritis

– the disease is systemic, inflammation covers the synovial membrane of the joint, can occur in people of any age, and is always symmetrical.

3. Post-traumatic arthritis

– one of the types of osteoarthritis that develops after injury (

dislocation, fracture of a joint or muscle tear).

Shoulder pain is the most obvious and first sign of arthritis; it increases with movement and becomes stronger over time. The condition worsens when the weather changes. In addition, the amplitude of hand movement decreases; the patient cannot comb his hair or remove a book from the top shelves. Sometimes the patient hears a clicking sound when moving his hand.

In later stages of the disease, the joint also hurts at night, making it difficult to sleep.

The disease is diagnosed using x-rays. Treatment can be carried out using both conservative methods (

medicines, therapeutic exercises, warming up), and operational.

In the chest and shoulder - signs of pneumonia or pleurisy The pleura is a membrane of two layers that envelops the lungs and chest cavity from the inside. Its inflammation is not a very rare disease. Symptoms of pleurisy include acute pain in the chest, radiating to the shoulder and neck. The pain intensifies during coughing or deep breathing, since at this time the membranes of the pleura move relative to each other.

The breathing of such patients is rapid and shallow. Representatives of the weaker sex are more likely to suffer from pleurisy. Sometimes the pain even radiates to the abdominal area.

In some cases, pleurisy is combined with pneumonia, in which case the pain in the chest is aching and dull.

For osteochondrosis Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is a very common disease that affects both sexes equally. More often, osteochondrosis develops in people who remain in the same position for a long time and move their heads little ( office workers), as well as making the same head movements.

With osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, the functioning of the autonomic nervous system and blood circulation are disrupted, and pain occurs. Most often the neck hurts, but often the pain radiates to the shoulder. The pain is provoked by bone growths that appear on the lateral surfaces of the cervical vertebrae. These growths injure the nerve endings and cause pain. The more severely the spine is affected, the more intense the pain. Based on which areas of the neck or shoulder hurt, the doctor can determine which vertebrae are affected by the disease.

Thus, pain in the shoulder girdle indicates damage to the third and fourth cervical vertebrae.

The shoulder, girdle and neck hurt if the fourth and fifth cervical vertebrae are affected. The shoulder may become numb on the outside.

If the disease develops between the fifth and sixth vertebrae, the shoulder and forearm hurt, the pain radiates to the 1st and 2nd fingers of the upper limb. The sensitivity of the fingers may be impaired.

The back of the arm hurts if the pathology is located between the sixth and seventh vertebrae.

If a hernia has formed on the discs, the pain is very intense and occurs in attacks. They intensify during movement.

The diagnosis is made by examining and interviewing the patient. To clarify it, an x-ray is performed,

It is impossible to completely recover from osteochondrosis.

Treatment If shoulder pain is caused by a slight sprain or awkward position, the following measures can help relieve it:

1. Sleep on a hard but comfortable surface.

2. Try to move your sore arm less.

3. In the first hours of pain, apply ice to the shoulder; from the second day you can apply warm compresses and rubbing.

4. Massage the sore area using heated oil in a circular motion.

5. Accept

painkiller

product based on

paracetamol

ibuprofen

6. If the neck is affected, a corset will help to immobilize it.

7. The hand should not be completely immobilized, as this can lead to the development of contractures.

8. Do physical therapy. It's best to talk to your doctor about exercise. You should spend no more than 20 minutes on exercise so as not to overwork the sore joint. In addition, they can help

acupuncture

9. To prevent hand movements from causing severe pain, you should choose the most comfortable positions, and the easiest way to do this is in a bathtub filled with water.

Exercises1. Tilt your head towards your right shoulder and hold the position for 15 seconds. Slowly raise your head straight and then tilt it towards your left shoulder.

2. Slowly turn your head to the right and hold the position for 5 seconds. Repeat on the other side.

3. Raise your shoulders, lower them, move them forward, move them back. Lower your head as low as possible, rest your chin on your chest, throw your head back.

4. Circular movements of the shoulders back and forth. Repeat in each direction at least 10 times.

Ointments Depending on the cause of shoulder pain, ointments can be used to improve blood circulation, relieve pain, inflammation, relieve swelling, and accelerate tissue recovery.

Most ointments have either a warming or cooling effect, they relieve inflammation and pain. These remedies are good if shoulder pain is the result of a minor injury.

Warming creams include: red pepper extract, methyl salicylate. These medications should not be applied immediately after a bruise. After all, immediately after an injury, the affected area needs to be cooled.

A few days after the injury, a warming cream can be applied, as well as for pain caused by osteochondrosis, myositis, bursitis, chronic arthritis or arthrosis.

Cooling medications can be applied to the injured shoulder immediately after a sprain or bruise. These drugs often contain essential oils, menthol, alcohol, painkillers, and blood thinners.

For bursitis and

tendovaginitis

anti-inflammatory drugs can be used, including

The composition of ointments used for pain in the shoulder and neck may include the following components:

• Methyl salicylate is an aspirin derivative. Relieves pain and inflammation,
• ketoprofen – relieves inflammation,
• ibuprofen – relieves pain and reduces inflammation,
• indomethacin – relieves inflammation and pain,
• diclofenac – used for rheumatic pain, relieves inflammation and relieves pain,
• bee venom – increases blood circulation, relieves pain, accelerates tissue regeneration,
• snake venom - the effect is similar to bee venom,
• camphor is a local irritating drug that relieves pain,
• menthol is a local irritant, distracts and thereby relieves pain,
• extract from mustard or pepper - improves blood circulation, increases tissue temperature, accelerates metabolic processes in them.

Folk remedies1. Compress with honey: lubricate the sore shoulder with honey and cover with a plastic bag. Leave overnight. Do it for five to ten days in a row.

2. Collect pine cones (

young) and pine needles, pour 200 ml of water at room temperature for ten minutes. Put on fire for 30 minutes, leave in a thermos to brew overnight. Use for taking pain-relieving baths. The duration of the procedure is from 20 minutes. One and a half liters of extract should be made for one bath.

3. Take a few copper coins, hold them over an open fire, then clean them a little with sandpaper. Find the most painful places and stick coins there using an adhesive plaster. Wear until the pain completely disappears.

ATTENTION! The information posted on our website is for reference or popular information and is provided to a wide range of readers for discussion. Prescription of medications should be carried out only by a qualified specialist, based on the medical history and diagnostic results.

Why do my shoulders hurt?

Our shoulder joint is vulnerable. It does not withstand abuse for long and responds with pain and dysfunction. The causes of pain in the shoulder joint are varied - heavy physical work, intense training in the gym, viral diseases. The shoulder may hurt due to a bruise, dislocation or fracture. Constant pain in the left or right shoulder is a reason to consult a doctor. This will prevent the development of the disease and prevent it from becoming chronic.

Shoulder joint pain is at risk for people who:

• slouch, do not watch their posture;
• move little during the day;
• perform heavy physical work;
• play sports professionally.

Types of Shoulder Pain

Shoulders most often begin to hurt due to overload. By strenuously playing sports and lifting weights, we provoke the appearance of pain. It can be a symptom of various diseases. Let's look at what diseases cause what type of shoulder pain.

Acute pain

Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine. The pain radiates to the arm and intensifies when turning the head. They get worse at night and become unbearable. In advanced cases, a person does not raise his hand.

Arthritis- inflammation of the joint. With arthritis, the right or left shoulder hurts a lot.

Arthrosis- a common cause of acute pain in the shoulder joint. More common in older people. It is painful for a person to raise his arm and perform another movement. Arthrosis can be caused by bruises, dislocations, fractures, and sprains.

Brachial neuritis. It is caused by inflammatory processes, tumors, and injuries. A person suddenly feels a sharp pain in the shoulder joint.

Tendobursitis- inflammation of the joint capsule. It is caused by deposits of calcium salts. Tenobursitis is characterized by acute pain throughout the entire arm from the neck to the fingertips. It is difficult for the patient to move his arm.

Rotator cuff lesion. The disease is caused by non-standard hand movements - for example, painting the ceiling. The day after painting work, a person may feel a sharp pain in the shoulder.

Shoulder capsulitis. The disease causes stiffness in the muscles of the shoulder girdle. A person has severe pain in his right or left shoulder, he cannot freely raise his arm up, move it to the side or put it behind his back.

Shoulder injuries- fractures, sprains, dislocations. Injuries must be treated, otherwise they will lead to permanent impairment of shoulder function and become chronic.

Chronic pain

Tendinitis. This is an inflammation of the tendons surrounding the shoulder joint. Tendonitis is usually caused by overuse. During heavy physical work, the tendons rub against the surface of the joint. This causes chronic aching pain.

Biceps tendinitis. This is an inflammation of the tendon of the muscle on the inside of the shoulder. A person constantly has shoulder pain. The pain intensifies when moving the arm and palpating the muscle. When the biceps tendon ruptures, a balloon-shaped swelling appears.

Bursitis. Occurs when there is excessive load on the joint, after injuries to the periarticular bursa or tendons. The person experiences sharp pain, accompanied by swelling. It is impossible to sleep on the affected shoulder.

Pain when moving

Collision Syndrome. The disease causes the deposition of calcium salts. The pain occurs suddenly when raising the arm, it is intense and constant. The syndrome most often affects people aged 30-50 years.

Shoulder ligament hyperextension. This problem is familiar to bodybuilders. Sprains are caused by strenuous exercise. The pain intensifies when moving or palpating the muscle, and bruising appears.

It's a dull pain

Intervertebral hernia of the cervical spine. Causes intermittent aching pain in the shoulder joint and neck. It is accompanied by headaches and dizziness. As the disease progresses, the situation worsens. The pain becomes constant and unbearable.

Humeroscapular periarthritis. The pain can be burning, aching and shooting. It begins gradually, without obvious reasons. Often “wakes me up” at night, and my hands get cold. Movement causes pain in the joints. In advanced cases, the functions of the hand are impaired and the hands become numb.

Myalgia. The disease is caused by physical overload, hypothermia, and viral infections. A person feels aching, sometimes sharp pain in the muscles, and cannot move his arms at full strength.

Referred pain

A person has shoulder pain, but the problem is in another part of the body. Referred pain in the shoulder appears due to heart disease, liver pathology, myocardial infarction, angina pectoris, pneumonia, cervical radiculitis and tumors of the chest organs. During a heart attack, a person’s arm hurts from the shoulder to the elbow. The patient feels heaviness and compression in the chest, dizziness occurs.

Pain in the shoulder joint is typical for different age categories of people. Often this symptom manifests itself in old age, but it can also occur in young people who lead an inactive lifestyle. Depending on the etiological factors, pain may have a different nature and severity of impact.

The shoulder joint hurts primarily because there are disturbances in its structure. To eliminate the discomfort and unpleasant sensation in the patient, the doctor needs to identify the causes of joint damage and influence the source of the symptom.

Etiology

Pain in the shoulder joint of the right or left arm has various causes. Often an unpleasant symptom manifests itself under the influence of such etiological factors:

• sedentary lifestyle;
• poor posture;
• joint injuries;
• age – more than 50 years;
• infectious diseases.

The causes of pain in the shoulder joint also lie in some pathologies:

• joint damage;
• cervical osteochondrosis;
• arthritis;
• arthrosis;
• tendinitis;
• bursitis;
• brachial nerve neuritis;
• neoplasms;
• calcification of ligaments.

Other pathologies of internal organs, which are characterized by the same symptom, can also provoke inflammatory effects in the shoulder joint. These include liver damage, myocardial infarction, pneumonia, angina, rheumatism, neuropathy, allergies, and cervical radiculitis.

If the patient has pain in the shoulder joints and noticeable redness of the skin, then perhaps an inflammatory process has begun in the shoulder. The following factors can provoke this action in the hand:

• hemorrhage due to trauma or hemophilia;
• reactive arthritis;
• post-streptococcal damage;
• metabolic disorders;
• autoimmune diseases.

Symptoms

Damage to the shoulder joint can occur for various reasons, so when diagnosing the disease, doctors must identify the clinical picture. When a bruise occurs, the patient experiences acute pain and a small hematoma. For this reason, there may be a temporary limitation in the movement of the arm with severe pain.

Pain and crunching in the shoulder joint occurs when a dislocation or fracture occurs due to a fall on the arm or a strong blow to it. Frequent, intense pain limits any movement of the entire arm. When you feel the damaged arm during a dislocation, a deformation of the joint area is revealed, and when a fracture occurs, a crunching sound is heard.

Minor fractures and dislocations can also occur in older patients from age-related bone loss and weakening of ligaments.

Shoulder dislocation

Depending on the pathology, joint pain can manifest itself in different symptoms. Doctors have identified clinical manifestations for all sorts of causes of this unpleasant symptom:

• with tendonitis - a sharp and nagging pain of an increasing nature, progressing at night. The inflammatory process in the tendon occurs when there is excessive stress on the shoulder and interferes with the free movement of the arm;
• with bursitis - the symptom persists for several days, or even weeks. The damaged area constantly aches, swells, and the shoulder joint hurts when raising the arm or moving the arm to the side;
• with capsulitis - aching pain appears, spreading to the arm and neck;
• with arthritis - increased body temperature on the inflamed part of the joint, swelling forms, it is painful and difficult for the patient to move the arm, the pain syndrome is periodic;
• with arthrosis - a crunch and pain appears in the shoulder joint when moving. At an advanced stage of hand injury, the syndrome becomes a permanent manifestation. When palpating the inflamed area, the pain radiates to the scapula and collarbone. The joint begins to deform;
• with cervical osteochondrosis – the pain becomes more intense when moving the head or neck;
• humeroscapular periarthritis - burning and pulling pain in the neck and arm when raising the arm or placing it behind the back, and the pain becomes more intense at night. Since this type of disease is a complication of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, the limbs are affected. They may go numb and the muscles atrophy;
• with osteoporosis – the functionality of the shoulder joint weakens, the arm is inactive and weak. Pain increases with physical activity;
• with neuritis of the brachial nerve - pain in the right or left shoulder joint, and it manifests itself more intensely; discomfort appears.

For the clinical picture, it is also important to determine the location of pain. The type of disease that develops also depends on the location of the source of inflammation. The patient's pain can be diagnosed in the following places:

• when raising the arm forward or moving it to the side;
• when rotating the hand around an axis;
• front of the hand;
• when raising your arm vertically;
• when lifting a heavy load;
• with light movements - trying to comb, style hair, etc.;
• when turning the head or moving the neck;
• pain in the shoulder and neck at the same time;
• pain attacks from elbow to shoulder;
• the pain is localized in the shoulder and radiates to the back;
• located in the shoulder and collarbone.

Diagnostics

When identifying such a syndrome, in which the indicators become more intense, the patient should definitely seek the advice of a specialist. With such a problem, you can contact a traumatologist. When making a diagnosis, it is very important for the doctor to determine why the pain syndrome developed. Depending on the location and degree of pain, a physician can detect one or another pathology.

Pain in the shoulder joint of the left hand can occur not only when a tendon is sprained, inflammation of the periarticular bursa or salt deposits, but also indicate serious illnesses, for which the patient needs urgent medical attention.

Pain in the shoulder joint of the right hand is provoked by the same pathologies, as well as injuries, congenital anatomical anomalies, liver disease, radiculopathy, pneumonia, myositis. Increasing pain in the joint of the right hand manifests itself from glenohumeral periarthrosis and periarthritis. The following manifestations of pain and signs will indicate damage to the shoulder joint, and not muscle tissue:

• the pain is constant;
• worsens with movement and at rest;
• diffuse syndrome;
• movements are limited;
• increase in joint volume.

Depending on the clinical picture expressed by the patient, the doctor should refer the patient for a more accurate diagnosis of the condition of the joint. To establish an accurate diagnosis, the patient must be examined by a specialist. If you have pain in the shoulder joint, you can consult a neurologist, orthopedic traumatologist, cardiologist, rheumatologist, oncologist, or allergist. After their examination, the patient needs to do the following examinations:

Shoulder arthroscopy

• radiography;
• arthroscopy;
• tomography;
• rheumatic tests;
• biopsy – if oncological pathologies are suspected.

Treatment

In order for severe pain in the shoulder joint to subside, the patient needs to undergo a comprehensive examination. After diagnosing the inflamed area and establishing the exact disease, the patient is prescribed therapy. To eliminate all factors in the development of the disease, the patient is prescribed treatment consisting of 4 components:

• etiotropic – treatment of the cause of inflammation;
• pathogenetic – to stop the development of the disease;
• symptomatic – to reduce the manifestation of symptoms;
• restorative – to quickly restore the functionality of the joint and improve the general condition of the patient.

When eliminating pain in the shoulder joints, the causes and treatment are interrelated. Therefore, to reduce the chances of developing complications and a quick recovery, the patient is prescribed full-fledged therapy from the four components listed above.

If the pain was caused by a hand injury, then the patient urgently needs to apply a cold compress to the inflamed area. Then the hemorrhage will stop a little, the swelling will decrease, and the discomfort will subside. Doctors eliminate pain in the joint of the right or left hand with traditional treatment:

• applying a cold compress;
• hand fixation;
• elimination of pain syndrome with drugs;
• external agents - ointments.

If the right or left shoulder joint begins to hurt from overexertion, then the patient will only need external influence using special means. Ointments and gels have an analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect. Ointments consist of quickly absorbed components that do not leave a greasy film, do not close pores and act on deep tissues.

When using external agents when a joint hurts, it is worth remembering that it is not advisable to apply them to damaged areas of the skin and mucous membranes. Also, doctors do not advise applying the cream under tight bandages or combining it with various warming objects. If itching, burning or any other allergic reaction occurs, the ointment should be washed off immediately.

To take medications orally, doctors prescribe tablets to patients. They must be taken according to a strict prescription. The doctor prescribes medications to the patient, taking into account the condition at the time of damage to the joint, the presence of other pathologies and possible allergies. The following drugs have an anti-inflammatory effect:

• Diclofenac;
• Ibuprofen;
• Indomethacin;
• Meloxicam;
• Xefocam;
• Nimesulide.

For arthritis, arthrosis or bursitis, pain in the shoulder joint when you raise your arm can be eliminated with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and chondroprotectors. If the disease has developed to a complicated stage and the drugs used do not give the desired effect, then the doctor prescribes the patient a minimal use of hormones and drugs with narcotic analgesics. These drugs are taken to reduce the risk of developing malignant tumors.

Shoulder arthroplasty

If the shoulder joint begins to deform, then traditional treatment will be ineffective. In this case, doctors resort to radical methods of therapy - surgical assistance. The patient undergoes joint replacement.

When periarthritis is detected, the patient is prescribed analgesics and anti-inflammatory drugs that eliminate pain in the left shoulder joint. In case the disease is severely inflammatory, the patient needs to use glucocorticosteroid ointments and injections.

In addition to drug therapy, other methods can be used to eliminate the syndrome. Doctors advise patients:

• protective mode - immobilize the joint so that there are no unwanted movements and progression of pain;
• light physical activity - yoga or gymnastics. At the same time, the muscles relax and the pain in the shoulder joint when raising the arm gradually decreases;
• physiotherapeutic measures - electrophoresis, magnetotherapy, shock wave procedures, laser therapy, phonophoresis, UHF. However, before you begin such treatment on your own, you need to consult a doctor and find out whether the above-mentioned procedures and physical activity can be used for this disease;
• alternative means.

Pain in the shoulder joint can also be eliminated with traditional treatment. This method refers to alternative methods of therapy. You can use such remedies after consulting a doctor. Traditional medicine suggests eliminating pain using the following methods:

• rub the inflamed area with alcohol tincture at night;
• vinegar compresses;
• apply ointment on lard;
• apply cabbage leaf at night;
• drink tea from white willow bark.

Complications

If the treatment process is not started in time, the shoulder joint may hurt for quite a long time, and pain will occur when raising the arm, any movements and physical activity. If the patient initially had ordinary pain from an injury, then serious illnesses may soon develop:

• arthritis;
• arthrosis;
• bursitis;
• joint dysplasia;
• osteomyelitis;
• osteoporosis;
• polyarthritis.

If the pain syndrome is not eliminated in a timely manner, severe pathological processes may begin in the human body, leading to disruption of the musculoskeletal system. If treatment is incorrect or delayed, the patient may lose motor function and become disabled.

Prevention

So that a person does not wonder why the shoulder joint hurts and how to treat this pathology, it is worth devoting time to preventive measures. Doctors advise leading an active lifestyle, taking breaks during sports and promptly eliminating shoulder joint injuries.

The human body is a unique mechanism in which each organ and even cell performs certain functions. If a failure occurs in this harmonious system, the person experiences pain. It is needed for a person to understand that something has gone wrong in his body.

The resulting pain in the joints prevents them from heavy loads, since the patient simply cannot make unnecessary movements in the diseased joint.

These signs cannot be ignored, since advanced joint disease can lead to immobility in the injured limb. What to do if there is a sharp and severe pain in your left shoulder? What reasons can lead to this condition?

Causes of pain in the left shoulder

The shoulder is the most complex joint of the arm. The joint is endowed with maximum mobility. If inflammation occurs in the shoulder joint, the consequences can be very serious.

1. A person feels severe pain in the upper limb.
2. The joint turns red and swells.
3. The inflammatory process leads to the destruction of the joint capsule.
4. The joint becomes immobile.

Although the functionality of the joint may be maintained at first, over time it will still fail.

What are the reasons for sharp pain in the right or left shoulder? Most likely, one of the following pathologies develops in the joint.

• Shoulder tendonitis is inflammation of the joint tendons. This disease can be a consequence of intense loads, during which there is strong friction between the tendon and the surface of the joint.
• Biceps tendinitis occurs in the flexor muscle. The patient constantly experiences severe pain in the upper shoulder area. Pain in the joint increases with palpation and with any movement. If the shoulder ligaments are torn, a ball-shaped tumor may be noticeable on the shoulder.
• Bursitis often goes hand in hand with tendonitis. This disease can occur after prolonged overexertion and leads to swelling of the shoulder joint.
• Salt deposits are another pathology that can impair the functionality of the shoulder. This disease causes the muscles and ligaments of the shoulder to become stiff. Sometimes salt deposits are localized under the collarbone or under the scapula. Most often, salt deposits occur in women after 30 years of age.

Anatomical disorder of the joint structure, inherited. Tendon rupture.

Shoulder injuries that often occur in young people, especially professional athletes. Most often this is a dislocation. Pathologies in older people that develop as a result of degenerative processes in cartilage tissue. Neoplasms.

Protrusion, herniation of vertebral discs in the cervical area. Arthritis, arthrosis.

Oversprain of the shoulder ligaments. This phenomenon is often found among bodybuilders. With this injury, the joint loses stability, and exercises are difficult for the athlete. In some cases, a tear of the cartilaginous ring is diagnosed.

Neurogenic pathology. A condition in which the sensitivity of the neck and upper extremities is impaired.

Humeroscapular periarthrosis. The main symptom of the disease is pain in the shoulder joint of the right or left arm. As the disease progresses, shoulder discomfort increases, causing the patient to lose sleep.

The pain can be of a different nature, from dull nagging to burning.

Other Causes of Shoulder Pain

Often pain in the shoulder joint is perceived as symptoms of osteochondrosis. But such a condition may indicate all sorts of pathologies of internal organs and systems.

With angina, pain may radiate to the shoulder, arm, or neck. The characteristic symptoms of angina are the following:

1. pressing, squeezing pain in the chest;
2. shortness of breath even after minor exertion;
3. shoulder and neck pain.

Pain in the heart may not be felt, and ischemia is detected only on an ECG.

Classic symptoms of myocardial infarction:

• the appearance of unbearable burning pain in the chest;
• labored breathing;
• burning in the shoulders and neck, with discomfort more often observed on the left side;
• feeling of anxiety and restlessness;
• labored breathing;
• the appearance of perspiration on the forehead.

Since these diseases pose a serious threat to the patient's life, if the above symptoms appear, a person should immediately consult a doctor.

Shoulder fracture

This injury is quite common. A joint fracture can occur in any part of the joint and affect:

1. shoulder body;
2. head of the bone;
3. condylar region.

A similar injury can occur from a fall, a strong direct blow to the shoulder, or during sports training or competition.

The following symptoms are typical for a shoulder fracture:

• bruising, swelling;
• discomfort and pain at the site of injury;
• impaired sensitivity of the fingers;
• shoulder deformity;
• shortening of the arm may occur;
• the limb is limited in mobility;
• On palpation, crepitation is clearly heard in the joint.

What to do if it happened? It is unlikely that a patient who experiences such symptoms will self-medicate.

The pain during a fracture is so intense that a person will most likely consult a doctor. After the examination, the doctor will prescribe the patient anti-inflammatory, painkillers and potassium-containing drugs.

If the fracture is mild and not displaced, you can limit yourself to applying a plaster cast, bandage or splint to the shoulder joint. The duration of wearing the device is determined by the doctor, who takes into account the severity of the injury and the speed at which recovery occurs.

Typically, rehabilitation time is 1-1.5 months.

If the injury is serious, the victim may require surgery using fixation screws, rods, pins and special plates. When the bone heals, the patient is prescribed rehabilitation measures, which consist of physiotherapeutic procedures and therapeutic exercise.

What to do if a muscle strain occurs?

The shoulder joint includes the collarbone, scapula, and shoulder bones. All these parts are connected by tendons, muscles and a joint capsule. Stretching the ligamentous apparatus leads to various pathological changes in the joint, having different degrees.

1. Shoulder joint rupture. In this condition, the ligaments are completely torn and all muscle fibers are damaged.
2. characterized by partial damage to tendon and muscle tissue.

The symptoms of a sprain are as follows:

• there is a sharp pain in the shoulder;
• pain is felt even at rest;
• weakness and instability appear in the joint;
• there is limited mobility of the hand;
• the joint swells and increases in size;
• abduction and adduction becomes impossible;
• there are bruises and bruises;
• the shoulder is deformed;
• crepitation is heard when moving;
• tingling and numbness in the joint.

What to do if you have a sprain? If a doctor diagnoses a patient with a sprained arm, therapeutic measures will be as follows:

1. On the first day of injury, a cold compress should be applied to the affected area. However, such exposure should not exceed 20 minutes.
2. Immobilization of the joint - this measure is necessary to reduce the load on the diseased joint, which will reduce pain. For fixation, you need to purchase a special bandage or orthosis. The product guarantees fixation of the shoulder joint in the correct position.

Drug therapy consists of prescribing non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs that will relieve inflammation and relieve pain. Most often, Ibuprofen, Naproxen, and Ketorolac are used for injuries of the musculoskeletal system. These drugs are taken orally.

However, for the treatment of joint pathologies, in particular sprains, doctors also prescribe external agents to their patients, presented in the form of ointments, creams and gels. Local application of liniments provides anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects.

Such drugs include:

• Ibuprofen.
• Voltaren.
• Indomethacin.
• Diclofenac.

The medications are applied to the skin in a thin layer several times a day and rubbed in with gentle circular movements.

If conservative therapy does not produce results and the pain in the arm does not subside, the patient needs to undergo surgery. Athletes often have to resort to surgical intervention.

Sometimes it is only possible to restore movement in an injured shoulder using radical methods.

Other Causes of Shoulder Pain

Osteochondrosis is a disease well known to those people who are forced to spend a long time in one position. Typically, office workers, teachers and assembly line workers suffer from osteochondrosis.

Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine leads to disorders of the autonomic nervous system and blood circulation. Most often, pain appears in the neck, but it can radiate to the shoulder joint. Osteochondrosis is treated by a rheumatologist or neurologist.

The causes of osteochondrosis are bone growths (osteophytes) that appear on the lateral surfaces of the vertebral joints.

Treatment of osteochondrosis is quite long and requires an integrated approach. First of all, the doctor prescribes anti-inflammatory drugs to the patient:

1. Ibuprofen;
2. Diclofenac;
3. Indomethacin.

If the pain is too intense, the patient may need pain medication. For this purpose, the patient is prescribed Pentalgin, and in special cases, Tramadol. Complex therapy also includes antidepressants: Amitriptyline, Fluoxetine. Among the chondoprotectors, the ones that are most respected by doctors are: Structum, Chondroxide, Teraflex.

Physical education is a mandatory component of treatment. Gymnastics helps restore damaged discs and improves mobility of the cervical spine.

After the pain is eliminated, patients are prescribed physiotherapeutic procedures, which include.

Left shoulder pain that radiates to the arm, hand, or head sometimes affects many people for a variety of reasons. This symptom most often manifests itself in diseases of the joint itself and the muscles responsible for its movements. But there are many more real reasons, and some diseases that cause shoulder pain are very dangerous.

The high mobility of the shoulder joint is explained by its spherical shape. The joint is in contact with the shallow glenoid cavity and is held in place by cartilage, ligaments, and muscles (deltoid, subscapularis, supraspinatus, teres minor, and infraspinatus).

Shoulder pain can be associated with the articular mechanism itself, including connective tissues, or it can have an extra-articular origin, and then the cause of the ailment must be sought in diseases of neighboring organs and treated.

Tendinitis

Tendinitis is a disease of those who perform many identical movements with their arms with great tension (athletes, loaders, builders).
It is characterized by two features: the pain occurs suddenly and is more severe at night.

The mobility of the arm decreases, and the nature of the pain can be anything: sharp, dull, aching, sharp. The pain may intensify, weaken, or radiate to the front of the arm. It is difficult for a person to move his arm to the side by 60-120 degrees, but at rest there may be no pain. If you press or pat the patient’s shoulder, you risk getting an outburst of anger, swearing and a retaliatory blow, the pain is so acute.
With tendonitis, the tendon may become inflamed if there has been an injury or chronic inflammation of the bursa under the acromion of the scapula develops. Left untreated, it will result in complete or partial rupture or subluxation of the tendon.

Bursitis

Bursitis develops as a result of injury or constant mechanical irritation of the shoulder joint and is characterized by the filling of the synovial bursa with exudate. The causative agent can also be a bacterial infection of the body. Bursitis can be acute, subacute and chronic.
With bursitis, a swelling forms in the area of ​​the affected joint - it is hot to the touch and reddish in appearance. The patient has severe shoulder pain, and the pain radiates to the arm, especially when moving it backwards. includes therapy with antibiotics, non-hormonal anti-inflammatory drugs, cold compresses; in more severe cases, puncture is used to remove fluid, hormonal injections or excision of swelling.
Without treatment, bursitis can develop into osteomyelitis or arthritis; in the most severe cases, sepsis (blood poisoning) is likely.

Arthrosis

The main symptoms of this disease are:

• crunching in the shoulder joint when moving your arm;
• decreased joint mobility;
• pain with any movement of the hand radiates to the shoulder, scapula and collarbone;
• no pain when moving the joint;
• It is very painful to lift weights with this arm.

Arthrosis is most often caused by age-related degenerative changes in cartilage. Treatment involves lifelong maintenance therapy with chondroprotectors.

Arthritis

An inflammatory process caused by tissue infection, bleeding in the joint area, rheumatism, gout, allergies or autoimmune diseases.
The pain in the shoulder due to arthritis is very severe, does not go away even with rest, a person cannot raise his arm, the joint becomes deformed due to swelling, becomes hot to the touch, and the general body temperature also rises. Inflammation of the joint is treated with antibiotics, and in difficult cases with surgery.

Capsulitis

Inflammation of the joint capsule is detected when more serious diseases are excluded. Capsulitis often develops slowly against a background of inactivity. With this disease, pain in the shoulder prevents you from raising your arm up or placing it behind your back.

Spinal diseases

Various pathologies of the cervical vertebrae are characterized by radiating pain, and the pain can radiate to the elbow and hand, shoulder, head and chest. These are herniated intervertebral discs, osteochondrosis, vertebral displacement, inflammation of cartilage tissue. Characteristic symptoms are numbness, a feeling of cold or heat in the hand, and increased pain when moving the head. A complication of osteochondrosis - glenohumeral periarthritis - can be caused by chronic tonsillitis, inflammation of the bronchi or kidneys, and leads to inflammation of the tendons in the shoulder area.
Pain can manifest itself in different ways, but the consequence of this disease is loss of joint mobility.

Shoulder sprain after exercise

Pain in the left shoulder is always a more dangerous location. When this symptom appears, a complete diagnosis is necessary, starting with radiography of the joint, upper spine, ultrasound of the joint and ending with CT and vascular Dopplerography.
Before the doctor arrives, you can only use local painkillers - Diclofenac, Ibufen - and only on the shoulder joint if the pain is associated with movement.