Pain in the left shoulder: causes and possible causes. Causes and treatment of pain in the shoulder joint. Arthritis – inflammation of the internal structures of the joint

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.

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. In case of illness in the shoulder, neck, 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 the patient's anxiety and the appearance of 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. 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”.

Pain and its causes in alphabetical order:

left shoulder pain

The shoulder joint is the most unique joint in the human body in terms of its structure and functional ability. At the same time, improper and excessive physical stress on the shoulder joint leads to local inflammatory processes leading to local swelling, joint effusion, and even partial ruptures of the tendons and muscles surrounding the shoulder joint.

However, the shoulder has one feature in common with a conventional mechanism: it can withstand improper handling only up to a certain limit, after which its functions become impaired. For you, such violations result in pain.

Mechanism of pain in the left shoulder

Upper shoulder pain may originate from the neck. This pain spreads along the entire length of the arm (including the hand), intensifies with neck movement, and may be accompanied by numbness or parasthesia. When examining the cervical or thoracic spine, an intervertebral hernia is often detected. Damaged intervertebral discs of the cervical or thoracic spine lose their elastic properties over time, become flattened, and the distance between the vertebrae decreases. This means that the nerve roots extending from the spinal cord are pinched and pain occurs. At the same time, swelling appears in the area where the neurovascular bundle is clamped, which leads to even greater pinching and increased pain.

Capsulitis is a rare condition of painful stiffness in the shoulder girdle muscles. In this condition, there is a limitation in the amount of abduction of the arm to the side when it is raised up and the impossibility of placing the affected arm behind the back. This condition often develops gradually, unnoticed by the patient. Women suddenly find that they cannot fasten and unfasten their bra. In severe cases, the patient is unable to bring the spoon to his mouth with this hand.

Damage to the rotator cuff occurs after performing non-standard movements in the arm (for example, painting a ceiling). On the day the work is completed there are usually no complaints. The next day - acute pain in the left shoulder when trying to remove something from the top shelf.

During the examination, the degree of tension in the muscles of the shoulder girdle and the range of movement in the left shoulder joint are determined. Radiographs of the joint will usually show no changes.

Tendobursitis occurs when reactive inflammation of the shoulder joint bursae is caused by calcifications of the muscle tendons. Characterized by acute pain in the left shoulder and significant limitation of both active and passive movements in it. Usually severe pain in the neck, shoulder and arm areas.

What diseases cause pain in the left shoulder:

The most common causes of left shoulder pain are:

1. One of the most common causes of left shoulder pain is inflammation of the tendons surrounding the shoulder joint. These disorders are called tendonitis. Most often they arise from excessive stress. When you cut wood or play golf, tendons rub against bone. Hence the occurrence of irritation and pain.

2. Biceps tendonitis (the muscle on the inside of the shoulder that runs from the shoulder to the elbow area) is manifested by chronic pain that increases with movement and palpation. In the case of a complete rupture of the biceps tendon, a balloon-shaped swelling appears on the shoulder.

3. Bursitis, this partner of tendinitis and the culprit of pain in the left shoulder, is also associated with overuse. However, it manifests itself in a wider range of disorders: pain is accompanied by swelling in the area of ​​the joint capsule - a soft sac surrounding the joint.

4. If you have pain in your left shoulder when you lift your arm, the cause may be due to the deposition of calcium salts, which leads to calcification of the joint ligaments. These salt deposits occur in the tendon that runs under the shoulder blade and collarbone. These disorders are called “collision” syndrome. Most often these processes occur at the age of 30-50 years. Left shoulder pain usually occurs suddenly, is intense and constant. Movements in the joint to abduct the shoulder from the body by 30-90 become painful. Sometimes the deposition of calcium salts in the joint is discovered by chance, while still asymptomatic, during an X-ray examination for another reason.

5. Pain in the left shoulder can be associated with traumatic injuries, less often tumors and hereditary anatomical abnormalities. A fall can cause the humerus to become dislocated in such a way that the upper arm literally flies out of the socket of the joint. When trying to cushion a fall while leaning on the arm, the tendons of the muscles that rotate the arm may rupture. If such injuries are left untreated, permanent impairment of shoulder function may occur over time.

6. Joint injuries, in addition to accidents, often occur in athletes or young people. In the latter case, recurrent shoulder dislocation often occurs. In adults, injuries to the structures of the shoulder joint occur due to aging, tissue wear, or developed osteoporosis (a disorder of calcium metabolism in the bones).

7. Left shoulder pain is one of the most common problems among bodybuilders, along with pain in the lower back, knees and elbows. A shoulder injury like this can make a number of exercises in your training program impossible. There are many reasons for this, the main one being instability of the shoulder joint.
The likelihood of a shoulder hyperextension increases significantly in key movements such as the bench press, dumbbell flyes, machine curls, and overhead presses. Pain can occur as a result of stress in the joint capsule of the shoulder girdle and excessive work of its muscles, which try to maintain the central position of the head of the humerus in the joint capsule for proper functioning of the joint. In addition, pain can result from a tear in the cartilage ring located along the glenoid cavity. The cartilaginous ring performs several functions: it deepens the articular cavity and serves as additional support for the articular capsule and the tendon of the long head of the biceps.

8. Very often, pain in the left shoulder develops in connection with a disease of the internal organs and spreads to the shoulder, for example, with liver pathology, myocardial infarction, angina pectoris, pneumonia, cervical radiculitis and tumors of the chest organs.

9. The main manifestation of glenohumeral periarthrosis is pain in the left shoulder. The pain often begins gradually without an obvious trigger, is progressive, often wakes the patient up at night, and significantly affects the performance of daily activities. Movement of the joints is painful in several directions. Pain in the arm can include pain in the left shoulder, forearm and hand and can be of a different nature: burning, aching, shooting, etc. Pain in other parts of the body can radiate to the arm. The course of the disease varies - from several weeks to several months. The outcome is also different - from complete recovery (even without treatment) to the development of a blocked shoulder, and in the case of shoulder-hand syndrome - also impaired hand function.

Depending on which shoulder tendons are diseased, pain in the left shoulder occurs with various movements. Limited muscle function results in indicating the cause of the limitation.
- Pain in the left shoulder when moving the arm to the side or when moving it then forward indicates changes in the supraspinal tendon.
- Pain in the left shoulder when externally rotating the upper arm with the elbow joint pressed to the body indicates changes in the infraspinal tendon.
- Pain in the left shoulder when internally rotating the upper arm with the elbow joint pressed to the body indicates changes in the subscapularis tendon.
- Pain in the front of the shoulder when rotating the forearm inward against resistance often indicates long biceps disease.

Other causes of left shoulder pain:
- Impigmentation syndrome (narrowing syndrome).
- Tendon rupture/rotator cuff tear.
- Calcinosis of the forearm / Tendinosis calcarea / calcification of the tendon.
- Inflammatory shoulder diseases such as Polymyalgie rheumatica are an important exclusion diagnosis.
- Pain in the left shoulder can also be caused by neurogenic pathology, which is manifested by paresis, muscle wasting and sensitivity disorders (cervical radiculopathy, cervicobrachial plexopathy, neuropathy, complex regional pain syndrome, neuralgic amyotrophy, myelopathy).
- The presence of protrusions or herniations of intervertebral discs in the cervical and thoracic spine.
- Pain in the left shoulder may be reflected pain of a muscle with myofascial syndrome, the tendon of which is woven into the joint capsule.
- Arthrosis, arthritis of the left shoulder.

Which doctors should you contact if you have pain in your left shoulder:

If your left shoulder hurts, you should consult a doctor. Consult a podiatrist (preferably with experience in sports medicine) or a sports physician who specializes in joint problems. There can be many causes of left shoulder pain, and you need an accurate diagnosis to determine treatment options.

Are you experiencing pain in your left shoulder? Do you want to know more detailed information or do you need an inspection? You can make an appointment with a doctor Eurolab always at your service! The best doctors will examine you, study external signs and help you identify the disease by symptoms, advise you and provide the necessary assistance. you also can call a doctor at home. Clinic Eurolab open for you around the clock.

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If you have previously performed any research, Be sure to take their results to a doctor for consultation. If the studies have not been performed, we will do everything necessary in our clinic or with our colleagues in other clinics.

Does your left shoulder hurt? It is necessary to take a very careful approach to your overall health. People don't pay enough attention symptoms of diseases and do not realize that these diseases can be life-threatening. There are many diseases that at first do not manifest themselves in our body, but in the end it turns out that, unfortunately, it is too late to treat them. Each disease has its own specific signs, characteristic external manifestations - the so-called symptoms of the disease. Identifying symptoms is the first step in diagnosing diseases in general. To do this, you just need to do it several times a year. be examined by a doctor, in order not only to prevent a terrible disease, but also to maintain a healthy spirit in the body and the organism as a whole.

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If you are interested in any other symptoms of diseases and types of pain, or you have any other questions or suggestions, write to us, we will definitely try to help you.

Shoulder pain is a symptom that may indicate a pathological process or a mechanical effect on the shoulder joint. Shoulder pain can vary in nature and intensity. Quite often, this symptom can be localized in the neck and radiate to the entire arm. Self-medication is unacceptable, since therapy without an accurate diagnosis can provoke the development of serious complications, which, in this case, can lead to disability.

Etiology

Shoulder pain when raising your arm can be due to the following etiological reasons:

• previous viral or infectious disease;
• mechanical impact on the shoulder joint or neck;
• habitual dislocation of the shoulder - this syndrome is typical for older people, since with age the elasticity of the joints deteriorates, which leads to dislocations even with the slightest physical impact;
• the presence of chronic diseases of the musculoskeletal system;

Pathological processes that can be included in the list of etiological factors for shoulder pain include the following:

• inflammation of the tendon bursa;
• diseases of internal organs. In this case, the pain can radiate not only to the shoulder, but also to the entire arm and neck;
• oncological processes;

It should also be noted that the etiology of pain in the right and left shoulder is somewhat different. So, pain in the right shoulder can be manifestations of the following ailments:

• pinched nerve;
• - in this case, pain in the forearm of the right hand can radiate to the entire upper limb and back.

It should also be understood that pain in the shoulder is not always caused by joint pathologies. Often these are ailments of internal organs. Therefore, self-medication is unacceptable; you should promptly consult a doctor for medical help.

Pain in the left shoulder can occur with the following pathological processes:

• severe hypothermia.

In addition, pain in the left shoulder can also be a manifestation of cardiovascular disease. A therapy program can only be prescribed by a qualified medical specialist.

Symptoms

Speaking about the general clinical picture, it is necessary to highlight the following possible additional signs:

• pain in the shoulder and neck may increase when you raise your arm;
• minimal physical activity or activity causes discomfort;
• pain can be paroxysmal and vary in intensity and nature of manifestation.

You need to understand that shoulder pain, if it is not a specific injury, is almost always accompanied by symptoms characteristic of the underlying cause.

For pathologies that affect joints, the general clinical picture may be supplemented by the following signs:

• the patient is almost constantly tormented by aching pains that subside only in a state of complete rest;
• periodically, but a person can perform physical activity;
• Shoulder hurts when raising your arm, sometimes radiating to the back or arm;
• local increase in temperature, feeling as if something hot was applied to the shoulder;
• at chronic stages of development, pain in the right or left shoulder is already permanent.

In some cases and depending on the underlying factor, shoulder deformity may be observed on the left or right, depending on the location of the development of the disorder.

If pain in the left or right shoulder is caused by cardiovascular diseases, the symptoms may have the following additional signs:

• the left shoulder hurts, radiating to the neck, forearm, shoulder blade and even jaw;
• the pain is compressive, sharp, cramping in nature;
• discomfort in the chest.

Shoulder pain is no exception. In this case, the clinical picture may be supplemented by the following signs:

• burning in the shoulder, usually on the left side;
• feeling of tightness in the chest;
• feeling of fear, anxiety, for no apparent reason;

With such symptoms, you need to urgently call emergency medical help. Delay can cause not complications, but death.

With a mechanical injury to the shoulder joint, pain may be accompanied by the following symptoms:

• swelling in the localized area, bruising;
• the hand is severely limited in mobility, the degree of limitation depends on the type of mechanical damage;
• the sensitivity of the fingers is impaired;
• possible shortening of the upper limb.

It should be noted that at the initial stage of development of joint pathologies, pain in the shoulders and neck is only symptomatic in nature - with increased physical activity, after a hard day or severe hypothermia. As the pathological process develops, pain may be observed in the arm from the shoulder to the elbow; the symptom does not disappear even in a state of complete rest, and painkillers do not produce the desired effect. This clinical picture already indicates that the acute form of the disease has become chronic and the joint is severely damaged, in some cases beyond the possibility of recovery.

Diagnostics

In this case, it is difficult to identify a standard diagnostic program, since everything depends on the current clinical picture. If the patient's condition allows, the doctor conducts a detailed physical examination with palpation of the affected joint. If a heart attack is suspected, first aid and all necessary medical measures are provided to completely stabilize the patient’s condition.

During the examination, the doctor finds out the general anamnesis and studies the medical history. Based on the test results obtained and the current clinical picture, a diagnostic program is prescribed, which may include the following:

• blood sampling for general and biochemical blood tests;
• general urine analysis;
• radiography of the damaged joint and internal organs;

Please understand that this is only a sample diagnostic program. The exact list of research methods is determined by the doctor, in accordance with the current clinical picture and the presumed cause of the development of this symptom.

Treatment is prescribed strictly by the attending physician, after the final diagnosis. Unauthorized therapeutic measures can lead not only to the development of serious complications, but also to a blurred clinical picture, which complicates diagnosis.

Treatment

Basic therapy is prescribed based on the identified underlying factor and the current clinical picture. Drug therapy may include taking drugs with the following spectrum of action:

• painkillers;
• non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
• chondroprotectors;
• in more complex clinical cases - steroidal anti-inflammatory medications.

In addition to oral medications, the doctor may prescribe topical medications - ointments and gels. However, in most cases, drug therapy is not enough to eliminate this symptom.

Conservative therapy may include physical therapy exercises and a course of manual therapy. Depending on the type of pathology, the treatment program may include physiotherapeutic procedures:

• magnetic therapy;
• massotherapy;
• mud therapy;
• electrophoresis;
• laser therapy;
• swimming.

If treatment with conservative methods does not give the desired result, surgical intervention is used. The type of surgery depends on the diagnosis.

Traditional medicine can be used only after consultation with a doctor and as a supplement to the main course of treatment. To eliminate this symptom, traditional medicine suggests the following:

• honey compress – a thin layer of honey is applied to the affected area, compress paper and a tight bandage are placed on top. You need to wear this compress for at least 12 hours;
• pine baths lasting at least 20 minutes.

As for massage for this symptom, it can also be done at home, but only as prescribed by a doctor. Improper exercises or massage procedures can lead to the development of serious complications, including disability.

Update: October 2018

The human body is a complex mechanism, where each part of the body combines different tissues, generously intertwined with vessels and nerves of different calibers at the same time. In some areas there are more nerves, in others there may be none at all.

One nerve fiber can carry information from nearby, but nevertheless different tissues (for example, from the joint capsule and the muscles that move it). In addition, there are nerves that are of sufficient length. They consist of fibers coming from the underlying and overlying organs. So they carry information about sensations (this is what sensory nerve fibers do) from organs located far from each other and not interconnected.

Why this lyrical digression? It is directly related to your question – what may cause pain in the shoulder joint. This symptom most often accompanies diseases of the structures of the joint itself and the muscles that are responsible for movements in it. But the causes of pain may also lie in the pathology of internal organs. Large nerve fibers carry information about the sensitivity of both the shoulder girdle and, at the same time, the gallbladder (then it will hurt on the right), the heart (the pain is localized on the left), and the diaphragm (it can hurt on both sides).

Anatomy

Below we will return to individual details of the anatomy. Now we'll tell you briefly.

The shoulder joint is the most mobile. It provides movement in any direction. Thus, the arm can be moved away from the body to the side and up, brought towards it, raised up, placed behind the head or behind the back, rotated (as movement around its own axis is called) when bent at the elbow.

High mobility is determined by the shape of the joint, which is called spherical. Here the humerus ends in an almost complete “ball”, and it comes into contact with an almost flat “platform” on the side of the scapula (it is called the glenoid cavity). If this articular area were not surrounded on all sides by cartilage tissue, the head of the humerus would “fly out” of the joint with every movement. But this articular “lip,” as well as the ligaments abundantly entwining the articulation of the bones, hold the shoulder in place.

The joint capsule is a tissue formation similar in structure to the ligamentous apparatus. This structure “wraps” each joint, allowing circulation within this enclosed space. The peculiarity of the capsule of this particular joint is that it is wide, creating space for an abundance of movements performed in the joint.

Since the joint makes a lot of movements, it must be surrounded by a large number of muscles, whose fibers will go in different directions and attach their ends to different sides of the humerus, and to the chest, and to the scapula, and to the collarbone. The latter, although not considered part of the shoulder joint, is directly involved in its activity, being an additional support for the humerus rotating in all directions.

The muscles attach to the humerus and radiate from it in different directions. They form the rotator cuff:

• the deltoid muscle is responsible for shoulder abduction;
• subscapularis – for inward rotation of the shoulder;
• supraspinatus - for lifting and abduction to the side;
• teres minor and infraspinatus – rotate the shoulder outward.

There are other muscles, such as the biceps, whose tendon runs inside the joint. Which of them is inflamed can be indirectly judged by which movement is impaired or causes pain (for example, pain that appears when you raise your arm indicates inflammation of the supraspinatus muscle).

All these structures - muscles, ligaments, articular cartilage and capsule - are penetrated by sensory nerves that carry a sensation of pain to the brain if any of the tissues develop inflammation, stretch or rupture.

Here, motor fibers pass from the spine - they carry a command to the muscles to move the limb in one direction or another. If they become pinched between bone or other structures, pain also occurs.

Please note that medical workers refer to the upper third of the arm as the “shoulder” – from the shoulder to the elbow joint. The area from the neck to the shoulder joint is called in medicine the “shoulder girdle” and, together with the structures surrounding the shoulder blade and collarbone, makes up the shoulder girdle.

Why does the shoulder joint hurt?

The causes of pain in the shoulder joint are conventionally divided into 2 groups:

1. Pathologies associated with the joint itself and surrounding ligaments, tendons or muscles. This includes inflammation of the capsule, rotator cuff muscle, joint capsule, cartilage on articulating bones, muscles, tendons or the entire joint, and some non-inflammatory diseases of these same structures.
2. Pathologies with extra-articular localization. This group includes inflammation of the sensitive nerve fiber (neuritis) or the entire large nerve that is part of the brachial plexus (plexitis), chest disease, heart disease or digestive tract, whose inflammation or swelling “radiates” to the shoulder area.

Let us consider each of the causes of pain in detail, starting with the first group of pathologies.

Tendinitis (inflammation of a muscle tendon)

Since, as we said, the shoulder joint is surrounded by many muscles, which are attached here with their tendons, therefore, tendinitis can have different localizations. The symptoms of the disease will depend on this.

Common features of any tendonitis are:

• occur most often in those who perform stereotypical shoulder movements (athletes, loaders);
• the pain can be sharp, dull or aching;
• most often the pain in the shoulder area is sharp and occurs for no apparent reason;
• hurts more at night;
• the mobility of the arm decreases (that is, it becomes difficult to abduct, bend, or lift it).

Supraspinatus tendinitis

This is a muscle that is located at the top of the shoulder blade and along a short path reaches the outer part of the humeral head. Its tendon becomes inflamed most often due to injury or if there is chronic inflammation of the bursa lying under the acromion process of the scapula.

Here, the pain in the shoulder either increases or decreases - intermittently. Maximum pain is observed if you move your arm to the side by 60-120 degrees. It will also hurt if you press on the shoulder or pat it.

A complication of untreated tendonitis is incomplete rupture of this tendon.

Biceps tendonitis

This muscle, which is more often called the biceps (the word “biceps” is translated from Latin as “biceps muscle”), performs flexion in the shoulder and elbow joints, it makes it possible to turn the hands with the palms facing up.

Symptoms of this tendonitis:

• recurring pain along the front surface of the shoulder, often radiating down the arm;
• no pain at rest;
• it hurts to bend your arm at the shoulder and elbow;
• pressure on the forearm (the area from the elbow joint to the hand) is painful;
• you can find a point in the area of ​​the head of the humerus, palpation of which causes sharp pain.

This tendinitis can be complicated by a complete rupture or subluxation of the tendon. The last condition is when the tendon slips out of the groove on the surface of the bone in which it should lie.

Infraspinatus tendonitis

This is a disease of athletes and heavy physical labor workers. It does not have pronounced symptoms. Only pain when rotating the entire limb, if you put pressure on the shoulder joint. Such pain is localized not only in the shoulder, but also spreads along the back of the arm to the elbow, and sometimes lower - to the fingers.

A complication of this untreated condition is complete rupture of the tendon.

Rotator cuff inflammation

Here, pain in the shoulder joint is detected when raising the arm up (when you need to reach something or when stretching).

This happens on the second day after a person has worked intensively with his hands, especially if he has not had to do such work before (for example, whitewashing a ceiling). The pain is sharp, severe, and goes away when you lower your arm. At rest it doesn't bother me.

If you conduct an X-ray examination of the shoulder joint, the radiologist will say that he does not see any pathology. The diagnosis can only be made by a traumatologist or sports medicine doctor.

Inflammation of the joint capsule (bursitis) and inflammation of the joint capsule together with adjacent tendons (tenobursitis)

Here, the pain in the shoulder joint is acute, occurs for no apparent reason, limits any movements of the arm, and does not allow a stranger (for example, a doctor) to make passive movements with the affected arm.

Capsulitis (inflammation of the joint capsule)

This condition is rare, so you should think about it last, excluding more serious diseases such as arthritis, rupture of joint ligaments or radiating pain in diseases of the abdominal organs.

Patients with capsulitis of the shoulder joint are more likely to suffer from women 40-50 years old who had to lie down for a long time without moving their arm fully.

Inflammation develops gradually, unnoticed by humans. At some point, he notices that it has become too difficult (like a feeling of “numbness”) to perform the usual movement with his hand, which requires lifting it up or placing it behind his back. So, it becomes painful, for example, to play a musical instrument or manage a bra clasp. This symptom is called “frozen shoulder.”

Arthritis – inflammation of the internal structures of the joint

The disease develops due to:

• contact of the joint with infected tissues;
• penetrating injury with an infected object or surgery with non-sterile instruments;
• bacteria entering the joint through the bloodstream;
• rheumatism caused by the bacterium streptococcus (usually develops after a sore throat or glomerulonephritis);
• hemorrhages due to diseases of the blood coagulation system, when blood that gets into the joint cavity then suppurates;
• joint injuries with subsequent development of inflammation and suppuration;
• metabolic diseases (for example), when the joint is irritated by uric acid salts that enter it;
• allergies to substances that have entered the body (often this reaction occurs as a response to the injection of protein drugs into a vein or muscle: serums, antitoxins, vaccines);
• autoimmune damage, when the body considers the proteins of the joint to be foreign and begins to produce antibodies against them (this happens with).

If arthritis is not caused by injury, it may be bilateral.

Arthritis symptoms cannot be ignored. This:

• severe pain in the shoulder joint;
• it does not go away at rest, but intensifies with movement, especially when trying to put your hand behind your head, lift it up or move it to the side;
• pain increases with palpation (palpation by a doctor) or lightly touching the joint;
• it is impossible to raise the arm above a conventional line drawn horizontally through the axis of the shoulder joint (that is, above the shoulder girdle);
• the joint is deformed due to swelling;
• the joint may become hot to the touch;
• body temperature rises.

Arthrosis – non-inflammatory damage to joint tissues

This pathology is associated with the development of changes in the articular cartilage lining the head of the humerus or the scapular articular surface. It develops most often as a result of frequent arthritis, as well as in older people - due to disruption of the normal blood supply to the joint structures.

Symptoms of arthrosis are as follows:

• acute pain in the shoulder, which occurs with any movement of the arm, but goes away with rest;
• maximum pain - when lifting weights with this hand;
• it hurts when you touch the collarbone and the bottom of the shoulder blade;
• Poor mobility in the joint gradually develops: it no longer hurts, but it is impossible to raise your arm or throw your arm behind your back;
• When moving, a crunching or noise is heard in the shoulder.

Shoulder injuries

Pain that appears in the shoulder after a blow to this area, a fall on the side, lifting heavy objects, or a sudden or unnatural movement of the arm indicates that the person has injured the shoulder joint itself or the surrounding ligaments or tendons.

If there is only pain in the shoulder, its motor function is not impaired, we are talking about a bruise of the periarticular tissues. If, after an injury, there is pain in the shoulder to the elbow, the arm hurts, or it is impossible to move at all because of the pain, there may be a tendon rupture or muscle damage - only a traumatologist can distinguish between these conditions.

Deformation of the joint after an injury with the inability to move the arm normally indicates a dislocation. If active movements are impossible, you can only passively (with the help of the other hand or when a third party does this) make movements with this limb, while a crunch or some kind of movement may be felt under the skin if the area of ​​the joint itself or below it is swollen, before it It hurts to touch, then most likely a fracture has occurred.

Deposition of calcium salts in tendon or ligament tissues

This condition – calcification of the soft tissues of the joint – can develop in a person over 30 years of age due to deterioration of metabolic processes. Before this age, calcification occurs in a person suffering from diseases of the parathyroid glands, in which calcium metabolism is impaired.

The symptoms of this pathology are as follows:

• shoulder pain is constant;
• does not disappear at rest;
• intensifies when raising the arm or moving it to the side;
• its intensity increases over time.

Spinal diseases

Pathologies in the area of ​​4-7 vertebrae of the cervical spine, be it:

1. uncomplicated osteochondrosis;
2. herniated intervertebral discs;
3. displacement of one vertebra relative to another (spondylolisthesis);
4. inflammation of the vertebral bodies (spondylitis);
5. subluxations or fracture-dislocations of the vertebrae

will manifest as pain in the shoulder joint.

Dislocations and fracture-dislocations appear after injury. Spondylitis most often appears against the background of tuberculosis, the manifestation of which was a dry cough, malaise, sweating, and low fever.

The most common spinal disease that causes shoulder pain is osteochondrosis. This is a condition when the cartilage formation located between the vertebrae (intervertebral disc) along the periphery becomes thinner, and its central jelly-like section shifts towards the spinal canal. When such a nucleus or the remaining “exposed” vertebrae compress the root of the fourth, fifth or sixth cervical spinal nerve, shoulder pain occurs.

Spinal diseases are characterized by the following:

• pain occurs in the shoulder and arm: it spreads from the shoulder joint to the elbow, and sometimes to the hand;
• worsens when turning and tilting the head;
• along with the pain, the sensitivity of the hand is impaired: it freezes or, conversely, feels hot;
• According to the patient, numbness or tingling is observed.

Osteochondrosis is often complicated by glenohumeral periarthritis, when the tendons of the muscles that move the shoulder, as well as the capsule and ligaments of this joint become inflamed. Periarthritis can also occur with shoulder injuries or reactive inflammation as a result of a chronic infectious process in the body (tonsillitis, inflammation of the kidneys or bronchi)

Here's shoulder pain:

• appears suddenly, for no apparent reason;
• increases gradually;
• occurs at night;
• intensifies when raising the arm, as well as attempts to put it behind the back, lay it behind the head or move it to the side;
• during the day, at rest, the pain subsides;
• pain is localized in the shoulders and neck ;
• after a few months, even without treatment, the pain goes away, but the joint loses mobility: it becomes impossible to raise the arm above the horizontal line or move it behind the back.

Brachial neuritis

Here the shoulder joint experiences pain, being in perfect condition along with the surrounding tissues. The pathology is characterized by the appearance of a “lumbago” in the shoulder, after which acute pain remains. It intensifies when you move your hand.

Brachial plexitis

With this pathology, one, two or three large nerve trunks are affected, passing just below the collarbone. They carry commands to the neck, arm and collect information about sensations from there.

Pathology develops after:

• injuries: collarbone fracture, sprain or dislocation of the shoulder joint;
• birth trauma - in a newborn baby;
• long-term stay in a forced position: during a complex and lengthy operation on the chest or abdominal organs, with special features of professional activity that require a long position with the arm abducted or raised;
• vibrations;
• wearing crutches;
• general infectious disease (diseases caused by viruses of the herpetic group are especially capable of this: mononucleosis, herpes zoster, herpes simplex, chicken pox);
• hypothermia of the shoulder area;
• as a result of disruption of metabolic processes in the body: with, gout).

The disease requires urgent assistance and is characterized by the following symptoms:

• severe pain radiating to the shoulder, but localized in the area above or below the collarbone;
• intensifies when pressing on the area below the collarbone;
• becomes stronger when moving the hand;
• characterized as shooting, aching, boring or aching;
• may feel like pain in the shoulders and neck;
• the hand loses sensitivity on the inside (where the little finger is);
• the hand turns pale and may even acquire a bluish color;
• the hand may swell;
• “goose bumps” that “run” along the inside of the arm, but more in the lower part;
• the hand does not feel hot/cold or pain.

Other reasons

The symptom, more often described as pain in the shoulder muscles, less often as pain in the shoulder or shoulder joint, can occur not only with bursitis, inflammation of the tendons, glenohumeral periarthritis, arthrosis, and osteochondrosis. There are also other diseases and conditions:

1. narrowing syndrome (impingement syndrome);
2. cervicobrachial plexopathy;
3. myofascial syndrome;
4. myelopathy.

There are no subjective symptoms characteristic of these diseases. The diagnosis is made by a doctor - mainly a neurologist, but consultation with a rheumatologist or traumatologist may be necessary.

Referred pain

Pain may radiate to the shoulder due to diseases of the internal organs:

1. Angina pectoris is a condition when the heart suffers as a result of insufficient oxygen supply to it. Here the pain will be localized behind the sternum and at the same time in the left shoulder joint. It occurs against the background of physical activity of any nature, be it walking against the wind, lifting weights or climbing stairs; it does not necessarily have to be a movement with the left hand. The pain goes away with rest. May be accompanied by a feeling of interruptions in the functioning of the heart. .
2. Manifests itself in a similar way to angina myocardial infarction. But here the main symptom - even if the area of ​​death of the heart muscle is small - is a violation of the general condition. This is a violation of the heart rhythm, sticky sweat, trembling, fear, and possibly loss of consciousness. The pain is very severe and requires seeking emergency medical help. .
3. Pain in the shoulders and shoulder blades is characteristic of inflammation of the pancreas. In this case, the pain is severe, radiating to the upper half of the abdomen, accompanied by nausea, loose stools, and fever.
4. If the pain syndrome affects the right shoulder and shoulder blade, this may mean the development of cholecystitis - acute or exacerbation of chronic. In this case, nausea, a bitter taste in the mouth, and fever are usually noted.
5. Upper lobe pneumonia may also be accompanied by pain in the shoulder from the affected lung. In this case, there is a feeling of weakness, lack of air, cough - dry or wet. The temperature often rises.
6. Polymyalgia rheumatica. If pain in the shoulder appeared after a person had a sore throat or, especially if before that there was an increase and pain in the knee joint, most likely he developed a complication - rheumatism. And pain in the shoulder is one of the manifestations of this disease.
7. Tumors of chest tissue. For example, cancer of the apex of the lung, which will cause pain in the shoulder and between the shoulder blades.

Shoulder pain by location

Let's look at the characteristics of pain that can develop in any shoulder joint:

If your right shoulder hurts

Pain in the right shoulder is typical for:

1. bursitis;
2. biceps tendonitis;
3. joint injuries;
4. calcification of periarticular tissues;
5. humeroscapular periarthritis;
6. right-sided pneumonia;
7. exacerbation of cholelithiasis.

The following signs indicate damage to the right shoulder joint, not muscle tissue:

• the pain is constant;
• Pain at rest, worsens with movement;
• diffuse pain;
• all movements without exception are limited;
• enlargement of the joint is visible.

Left shoulder hurts

This is a more dangerous localization of the symptom: pain in the left shoulder may be accompanied by myocardial infarction. It may even be that besides this symptom, a heart attack has no other signs, only sudden fear and a sharp “break into a sweat.”

Pain in the left shoulder may also indicate another heart pathology – angina pectoris. Then this symptom accompanies physical activity, walking against the wind (especially cold) and climbing stairs. The pain usually disappears with rest and is relieved by taking nitroglycerin.

Pain in the left shoulder occurs when:

• shoulder periarthritis;
• tendon calcification;
• impingement syndrome;
• spinal nerve root entrapment
• shoulder joint injuries;
• shoulder tumors.

Diagnosis depending on pain intensity

Let's consider what disease can cause this or that subjective characteristic of shoulder pain.

Strong pain

This is how the pain is described:

1. Shoulder tendon sprain. Then the person remembers that the day before he carried heavy weights or could sleep in an uncomfortable position.
2. Shoulder dislocation. In this case, you can also remember an episode when someone pulled your hand or had to grab a moving object.
3. A fracture of the humerus will also be accompanied by severe pain in the shoulder area. But here, too, trauma is noted at the beginning of the disease.
4. Arthritis. In this case, the joint turns red, becomes deformed, and is very painful to touch.
5. Bursitis. The pain occurs suddenly and prevents either the person or the examining doctor from moving the arm.
6. Tendinitis. The pathology manifests itself as pain when performing various movements, which depends on which tendon is inflamed. The symptoms of major tendonitis are described above.
7. Intervertebral hernia. At the same time, the pain is not only in the shoulder, but also in the neck and face. The hand is freezing, “goosebumps” run over it, it does not feel cold or warmth well.
8. Diseases of the lungs, liver or spleen. They are described above.

Sharp pain

If pain in the shoulder muscles can be described as sharp, this may indicate the development of a neurological disease such as idiopathic brachial plexopathy. The cause of this pathology is unknown. There is an opinion that it is inherited, but more often its appearance is provoked by vaccination. This disease is characterized by the fact that on one side the short branches coming from the brachial plexus become inflamed. It usually develops between 20 and 40 years of age.

Here the pain occurs in one shoulder, suddenly, and has a sharp character. Not only the shoulder hurts, but also the shoulder girdle. This continues for several days, then goes away. Muscle weakness appears: it becomes difficult to raise your arm, put it behind your back, turn the key in the door and comb your hair.

Also, sharp pain in the shoulder will be accompanied by other diseases:

Blunt pain

They describe it this way:

• tendinitis. In this case, the pain intensifies with movement;
• glenohumeral periarthritis. Pain also has a connection with movement;
• diseases of the abdominal organs;
• strangulation of the intervertebral hernia of the lower cervical or upper thoracic region;
• myocardial infarction.

Burning pain

A syndrome with such characteristics is inherent in spinal diseases. Here the pain increases with active movements of the arm, but if the limb is fixed, the pain goes away.

In addition to the pain, the sensitivity of the hand is impaired, and “goosebumps” periodically run across it. Upper limb muscle strength decreases. She may be getting cold.

Shooting pain

This pain is characteristic of inflammation of the spinal nerve root, which can occur with osteochondrosis, spondylosis and spinal injuries.

Pain with numbness in the arm

This symptom is accompanied by:

• glenohumeral periarthritis;
• intervertebral hernia;
• chest tumors;
• bursitis;
• shoulder dislocation.

What to do if you have shoulder pain

In order to treat pain in the shoulder joint of the arm correctly, you need to determine its cause. They begin first with a consultation with a therapist, whose examination is aimed at excluding life-threatening pathologies, such as myocardial infarction, acute cholecystitis, pneumonia, and angina. If the doctor confirms suspicions of internal diseases, he either refers to the appropriate specialist (surgeon, gastroenterologist, cardiologist), or writes out a referral for hospitalization in a multidisciplinary hospital.

If a life-threatening pathology is excluded, the person is recommended to consult an orthopedic traumatologist. This specialist will check the movement along each of the axes of the limb and palpate the joint. He may prescribe the following types of research:

• X-ray of the joint: it will show bone pathology: fracture, dislocation, fracture-dislocation;
• radiography of the cervical and thoracic spine;
• Ultrasound of the joint, which will reveal muscle inflammation, rupture or sprain of ligaments and tendons, and the presence of inflammatory fluid in the joint;
• CT scan of the joint or spine - if the x-ray did not provide comprehensive information.

If the orthopedist excludes pathology of the musculoskeletal system, he refers to a neurologist. This specialist checks sensitivity, reflexes, and if he thinks about a pathology of a neurological nature, then to clarify the diagnosis he focuses on the data of such studies:

• CT scan of the lower cervical and upper thoracic spine;
• electromyography;
• Ultrasound with Dopplerography of large vessels of the head, neck, upper limb.

Treatment for shoulder pain depends on the diagnosis. Before arriving or visiting a doctor, you can only take painkillers:

1. in the form of an ointment or gel: “” (“Voltaren”), “Ibufen”, “DIP”;
2. only on the area of ​​the shoulder joint and surrounding tissues;
3. only if pain is associated with movement.

You cannot relieve your own pain immediately before visiting a specialist: this way, the doctor will not be able to determine the cause or refer you to the diagnostic method that is needed in the first place.

If there is a connection between pain and a certain movement of the arm, you also need to immobilize (immobilize) the affected limb by bending it at the elbow and bringing it towards the body. In that case, before you see an orthopedic doctor or neurologist, you can take painkillers in the form of tablets: Analgin, Diclofenac.

If joint pain occurs after an injury or training, the above rules for immobilization and taking painkillers also apply here. First aid is supplemented by applying to the sore joint:

• on the first day - ice: for 15-20 minutes every 3 hours;
• from the second day - dry heat (warming with a blue lamp or) - 3 times a day, 20 minutes each.

You cannot take any folk remedies, perform shoulder massage or exercise therapy on your own – before consulting a therapist. All this is prescribed by a specialist.

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.