When you experience lingering shoulder pain lasting over a week, you may be experiencing an underlying problem such as a torn rotator cuff or tendonitis. If your shoulder is damaged, it's important you seek appropriate medical attention to prevent it from getting worse. Improper treatment for shoulder injuries can result in a permanent injury and chronic pain.

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An orthopedic surgeon can evaluate the severity of your shoulder pain and prescribe the best kind of treatment for your condition. Your doctor may decide to order additional tests to determine if there are any other possible causes of your symptoms. The treatment for shoulder injuries varies depending on the cause and intensity of your symptoms – however, shoulder injuries tend to be treatable at home.  

If you are suffering from severe shoulder pain, contact us at DOCS4PI. We can connect you to excellent orthopedic surgeons in our network, experienced in treating shoulder injuries and eliminating pain. Continue reading to learn the common causes of shoulder pain, self-treatment options, and how your orthopedic surgeon may diagnose and treat your injury. 

Common Causes of Shoulder Pain 

It's not surprising that shoulder pain is so common: 7.5 million people a year are treated for shoulder pain by a doctor, and many more manage the pain at home. Your shoulders enable you to move your arms from one side to another, as well as forward and backward. Occasionally, a painful shoulder injury can occur from repetitive motions, or if an individual experiences chronic illnesses, like arthritis. 

People experience shoulder pain for the following most common reasons:  

• Torn Rotator Cuff.

  Shoulder rotator cuffs are the muscles and tendons in your shoulder that allow you to lift your arm up overhead and hold it in place. Damage can occur through overuse or from a fall. As you age, it also begins to show signs of wear and tear. You may feel pain or tightness in your shoulder when you sleep and when you try to lift things. You may hear popping noises when you move it. 
  

• Dislocation.

  In extreme cases, your shoulder can pop out of joint if it is pulled back too far. Your shoulder will feel weak and severe pain You may also have bruising and swelling. 
  

• Shoulder Separation.

  This injury affects the joint between your collarbone and shoulder blade. This joint is known as the acromioclavicular (AC) joint. Falling or hard hits can tear the ligaments that hold the ligaments in place. When your collarbone gets pushed out of position, it will cause a bump to appear.  
  

• Fracture.

  When you fall or are hit hard, a bone can break or crack. Breaks to the clavicle (collarbone) and humerus (arm bone closest to your shoulder) are the most common. It is likely that you will have a lot of pain and could bruise. You might be unable to lift your arm if your collarbone has been broken. 
  

• Cartilage Tear. 

  Shoulder cartilage, the rubbery padding that surrounds the edge of your joint, can be injured. Repeating a motion can cause it. You can also injure your shoulder by falling, or when your shoulder absorbs a massive amount of force. When you suffer this type of injury, your shoulder may feel weak, and you might feel pain when you reach overhead. You may feel that something is catching, locking, or grinding as well. 
  

• Frozen Shoulder.

  If your shoulder becomes stiff, you may find it difficult to lift or move your arm away from your torso. Scar tissue can cause frozen shoulder, or it may occur for no apparent reason. 
  

• Impingement.

  This occurs when your rotator cuff gets pinched in the bones of your shoulder. The condition can lead to swelling and pain. This can be triggered by frequently lifting your arms above your head. 
  

• Bursitis.

  If you keep repeating the same motions over and over, your bursa (a fluid-filled sac that cushions your joint) can swell and become irritated. Other factors may be to blame, such as a fall or an injury. If you have bursitis, you may notice the most pain when you move their shoulder.  

Shoulder Pain Self-Treatment  

Shoulder pain can be managed at home unless there is an injury that clearly needs a doctor’s care. Shoulder pain caused by repetitive use usually goes away on its own when ceasing the activity. The longer you continue that activity, the greater the chance that your shoulder will become further damaged, and the worse the pain may be. Some of the most common home remedies for mild cases of shoulder pain include:   

• Painkillers. Pain can be managed by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which are available by prescription or over-the-counter. You should avoid taking non-prescribed medicines longer than two weeks. Orthopedic doctors sometimes recommend corticosteroid injections if oral medications do not work. 
  

• Cold & Heat Therapy. The combination of cold and heat therapy can alleviate shoulder pain by reducing inflammation and relaxing muscles. For acute injuries that become inflamed, apply an ice pack for 20 minutes. For sore muscles, apply heat packs for 20 minutes. 
  

• Rest. Reduce your activities and take a break from your repetitive motions that likely caused your pain. If the shoulder pain is due to an athletic or training injury, speak to a trainer or coach for training modifications 
  

A brace may also be helpful in protecting your shoulder from further injury. When the weight of your arm pulls down on your shoulder and causes pain, a sling may be beneficial. However, immobilizing your shoulder may result in other problems, like frozen shoulder for example. Should the pain be so severe that you need to immobilize your arm, you should consult a doctor for a diagnosis. 

Shoulder Pain Diagnosis 

Starting with a physical exam, your orthopedic specialist will rule out any structural problems and check for anything that could affect your spine or neck. Later, they will assess how strong and flexible your shoulders are by testing your range of motion. There will be a lot of arm movement that involves rotating it either 180 degrees or 90 degrees above your head, or across your body. You doctor may also suggest imaging tests to further examine the problem: 

• X Rays. Your physician may use these to spot bone spurs, arthritis, and other possible causes of your shoulder pain. An arthrogram may be recommended as well, in which the details are shown more clearly with a shot of dye. 
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan. The device uses a powerful magnet and radio waves to take detailed pictures of your shoulder.
• Computed tomography scan (CT scan). X-ray images taken from different angles. They are put together to give your doctor a better look at what’s affecting your shoulder.
• Electromyography (EMG). This measures the electrical activity in your muscles to detect any nerve problems.
• Arthroscopy. An ultra-thin fiber-optic camera can provide a doctor with high-definition images of your shoulder during this surgical procedure. It is a possibility that during the procedure your doctor can treat the problem. 

Orthopedic Shoulder Pain Procedures 

 There are some shoulder procedures that can be done without surgery. Generally, these treatments involve injecting the area of the shoulder where pain is being experienced. Some examples of non-surgical shoulder procedures are: 

• Intracapsular (Glenoid) Injection. A procedure in which anesthesia and anti-inflammatory medicine are injected in the space between the head of the humerus and glenoid. Several painful conditions can be treated with an Intracapsular Injection, including osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis 
  

• Joint Injection. This outpatient procedure involves administering an injection to relieve shoulder and arm pain due to arthritis, injury, or disorder. 
  

Depending on your diagnosis, the prescribed treatment may have to include surgery. A few examples of surgical shoulder procedures include:  

• Minimally Invasive Shoulder Surgery. Minimally-invasive shoulder procedures require smaller incisions and require a lower level of surgical treatment. This kind of treatment often uses a specialized camera and probes to make small and precise repairs. 
  

• Arthroscopic Capsular Release. Patients suffering from adhesive capsulitis (frozen shoulder) require this minimally-invasive surgery. In this procedure, a radio-frequency probe is placed into the shoulder, relieving pain and impairment of mobility. The RF waves in the probe allow the pad to cut the tissue capsule around the shoulder joint and allow increased freedom of movement. 
  

• Shoulder Impingement Surgery. A procedure in which the tight space around the rotator tendon of the shoulder joint is decompressed in order to relieve shoulder pain. An acromion trim allows normal pain-free movement by removing the bursa and trimming back the acromion bone. 
  

Contact DOCS4PI for Orthopedic Surgeons 

For more information on the best orthopedic surgeons for shoulder pain, contact DOCS4PI. Our specialists are carefully screened so that patients receive optimal care. We have an extensive network of specialists able to diagnose and treat your injuries. These professionals will be able to identify the best treatment for you and help devise a plan to reduce your shoulder pain.