Shoulder Pain
Shoulder Pain affecting your day to day life?
People who sit for long hours in front of a computer screen or desks often suffer from shoulder pain. This can happen due to a few reasons, including inflammation, bad posture, minor injury, etc.
Surprisingly, stress is also one of the most common causes of shoulder pain among the majority of the population, not just in the UK but worldwide. To understand and address shoulder pain effectively, we should also understand the anatomy and structure of the shoulder joint
Our shoulder comprises of two joints formed by three boney structures. These three structures are: humerus (bone in the upper arm), clavicle (collarbone), and the scapula (shoulder blade).
The two joints are: Acromioclavicular (between scapula and clavicle) and Glenohumeral (between humerus and scapula). The rotator cuff, which is a cuff formed by four muscles, is responsible for the stability of the shoulder joint.
In case of an injury to your shoulder, your rotator cuff often sustains the damage. Naturally, when the most mobile part of the body with the widest range of functions is in pain, it can be quite debilitating. The good news is, shoulder pain fades away on its own in most cases. However, if your shoulder pain persists, you should consult a specialist for proper diagnosis and treatment.
Symptoms
- Pain: This is the most obvious symptom. It can be felt anywhere around your shoulder joint region, including the front, back, or sides. Depending on the severity, it can also radiate towards your arm, neck, or back.
- Reduced Range of Movements: You may feel pain or discomfort while moving the joint.
- Numbness or tingling in the shoulder or arm.
- Burning sensation or heat in the joint.
- Fever: This may be due to inflammation.
- Bruising: This can occur in cases of injury to the rotator cuff. It’s pretty common in athletes.
It is not necessary for you to experience all the symptoms at the same time. Typically, you might suffer from one or two symptoms along with pain in your shoulder. In case of minor injury or regular physical stress, the symptoms typically improve on their own in a day or two. However, if they fail to do so and cause significant disruption in daily activities, you should seek medical help from a professional immediately.
Causes of Shoulder Pain
- Rotator cuff tear: The rotator cuff is responsible for maintaining the stability of the shoulder joint. A tear in the rotator cuff can result in severe pain in the shoulder joint, ultimately affecting your daily activities.
Depending on the severity of the situation, the tear may be a partial one or a full-thickness one. A full-thickness tear means that the tendon is no longer attached to the bone. Usually, a tear can occur due to an acute injury to the shoulder or progressive degeneration.
Acute tears are caused by sudden overstretching due to a fall or lifting of heavy objects. In contrast, degenerative tears typically happen due to wear and tear of the shoulder joint over the years. This usually occurs in the dominant arm.
- Tendinitis: Tendinitis, by definition, is the inflammation and in some cases the start of the degeneration of the tendons that make up the rotator cuff.
This can occur when the tendons are repeatedly being pinched by nearby bone structures such as the acromion or due to repeated use over a prolonged period. Typically, this is common in athletes and regular players in baseball, volleyball, badminton, swimming, and weightlifting.
- Arthritis: Arthritis is the degenerative change in the articular cartilages of joints. It also affects the shoulder joint, more commonly the glenohumeral joint (between the head of the humerus and the glenoid fossa of the scapula).
Due to wear and tear with age, the cartilage between the bones of the joint begins to wear down, and the smooth gliding surfaces are lost, resulting in shoulder pain and stiffness.
- Labral tear: Labrum is a piece of fibrocartilage found in the socket of a joint, responsible for stabilising it. It forms a ‘deep cup’ which allows the head of the humerus to rotate inside it and thus allows increased mobility of the joint. Labral tears are a common cause of shoulder pain in the population. The two most common types of labral tears are SLAP and Bankart.
SLAP (superior labrum anterior to posterior) tear involves the attachment of the biceps tendon, whereas, Bankart is a type of anterior labral tear. Both of these tears are caused by physical trauma such as a fall on the outstretched hand or sports injuries, especially this that involve overhead throwing
- Referred pain from the neck: Often, you might experience shoulder pain as a result of pain originating from another part of the body. This can happen in case of nerve entrapment in the neck or surrounding regions. For example, you may experience shoulder pain due to cervical radiculopathy. This is a condition that can result due to compression of nerve roots at their site of origin from the spinal cord. This is generally called ‘Trapped Nerve’ and can often result in severe pain in the shoulder joint. Some other symptoms of a trapped nerve include numbness, tingling, and muscle weakness in the arm or hand including fingertips
- Bursitis: Bursa is a fluid-filled sac that acts as a cushion between tissues to reduce friction in the joints. Multiple bursae are found in the shoulder region that help with smooth gliding movements. Their inflammation is called bursitis. This may result in pain and cause restriction of movements such as raising the shoulder.
- Calcification: Shoulder calcification, also known as calcific tendinitis, is a condition that occurs due to calcium deposition in the rotator cuff tendons. This leads to severe stiffness and pain in the shoulder. Calcification is a common cause of restriction of movements at the shoulder joint. How do the tendons calcify? This is often due to tendon breakdown, a process called tendinosis. The soft tissues of the tendon may over time calcify. The procedure for breaking down this calcification is called ‘barbotage’
Diagnosing Shoulder Pain
Diagnosing the cause of shoulder pain requires a step-by-step approach. Our practitioners at MyMSK Clinic are trained in providing optimal patient care and identifying the exact cause of your shoulder pain. Here are a few techniques that we use to diagnose shoulder pain for our patients:
Clinical Examination
We conduct a complete and thorough physical exam of the shoulders and nearby region. This helps us identify any abnormalities or underlying conditions. Most importantly, we ask some basic questions from our patients to get their medical history. These questions also help us find a connection with their shoulder pain for proper diagnosis. At this stage it is important to distinguish between shoulder pain coming from within the neck (referred pain) or possibly from the shoulder joint itself
In-house Ultrasound Scanning Facility
In case we are unable to identify any problems via clinical examination, we scan our patients to get an in-depth look at the muscles, joints and tendons in the shoulder. This takes out the guess work for a more accurate diagnosis of their pain. Our clinic offers high quality ultrasound scanning facilities to our patients (We use Sonosite machines). The ultrasound scanning is especially useful in identifying Arthritis and tendinitis/tears within the rotator cuff muscle. This whole process can only aid in the accurate diagnosis as to the cause of the shoulder pain.
X-Ray and MRI Facilities
In case clinical examination or ultrasound scanning fails to diagnose the exact cause of the shoulder pain (this doesn’t occur often), we refer our patients for further imaging i.e. an X-ray or an MRI. These tests can help identify any abnormalities in the shoulder and help us diagnose the exact cause of your pain. We do not have in-house X-Ray and MRI facilities; however, we can refer our patients to some of the best facilities in the region.
Treating Shoulder Pain
Once we have successfully diagnosed the exact cause of your shoulder pain, we can move towards the appropriate treatment. The advancement in musculoskeletal medicine offers a wide range of options to manage pain and reduce disability. Here at MyMSK Clinic, we specialise in all the latest treatment options for shoulder pain. Here are the primary treatment options we offer to our patients to manage their shoulder pain:
Osteopathic treatment
Osteopathy is a gentle form of treatment for shoulder pain. They offer a holistic approach for treating shoulder pain, involving drug-free and non-invasive methods.
Osteopathy employs the use of massage and manipulation to relieve pain and muscle tension. It strengthens the musculoskeletal framework by employing the use of strengthening exercises and relaxation techniques. It not only provides muscular relief but also improves mobility and healing. Osteopathic treatment includes both cold and heat therapy, gentle stretching exercises, as well as resistance band training.
Rehabilitation through stretching and appropriate exercises is backed by scientific evidence and the most efficient and productive exercises are given. Here at the MyMSK clinic, we have certified experts trained in osteopathy. We offer a combination of medical and physical therapy that provides optimal care for patients.
Injections
Here at MyMSK Clinic, we also treat and manage shoulder pain with effective injections. Whether you are facing shoulder pain due to inflammation, degeneration, injury, or any other reason, we can alleviate it using the right injection therapy. Here are a few of the injection therapies we offer at our clinics in Manchester and Burnley:
Cortisone injections
Cortisone is a special type of steroid that contains potent anti-inflammatory benefits. Cortisone injections are incredibly effective against a number of causes of shoulder pain, including tendinitis, bursitis, arthritis, etc. The injection does not require any anaesthesia prior to taking it.
PRP and Prolotherapy
PRP and Prolotherapy are regenerative techniques used to treat rotator cuff tears and manage pain. PRP or Platelet Rich Plasma therapy involves the use of processed blood. The healing factors (platelets and growth factors) are extracted from the blood and reinjected back into the damaged tissue, ligaments and tendons to aid in regeneration. Prolotherapy employs the use of a sclerosant that initiates the inflammatory process that results in increased collagen synthesis. This in turn strengthens the area being injected into. Both these treatment options accelerate the recovery process via repair and regenerative means.
Soft tissue injections
We normally use soft tissue injections in cases of shoulder pain referred from another area due to entrapment of a nerve or nerve root under bone structures. These are highly effective in managing pain that is not responding to other forms of therapy. One type of soft tissue injection we perform is termed neural prolotherapy with 5% dextrose. This is very useful for Myofascial pain.
Cortisone injections: Cortisone is a special type of steroid that contains potent anti-inflammatory benefits. Cortisone injections are incredibly effective against a number of causes of shoulder pain, including tendinitis, bursitis, arthritis, etc. The injection does not require any anaesthesia prior to taking it.
PRP and Prolotherapy: PRP and Prolotherapy are regenerative techniques used to treat rotator cuff tears and manage pain. PRP or Platelet Rich Plasma therapy involves the use of processed blood. The healing factors (platelets and growth factors) are extracted from the blood and reinjected back into the damaged tissue, ligaments and tendons to aid in regeneration. Prolotherapy employs the use of a sclerosant that initiates the inflammatory process that results in increased collagen synthesis. This in turn strengthens the area being injected into. Both these treatment options accelerate the recovery process via repair and regenerative means.
Soft tissue injections: We normally use soft tissue injections in cases of shoulder pain referred from another area due to entrapment of a nerve or nerve root under bone structures. These are highly effective in managing pain that is not responding to other forms of therapy. One type of soft tissue injection we perform is termed neural prolotherapy with 5% dextrose. This is very useful for Myofascial pain.
Final Thoughts:
Shoulder pain can pose a major threat to your mental and physical if left untreated. Restricted movements and pain can affect your ability to function normally and perform even the simplest of tasks. If you are experiencing shoulder pain and searching for a reliable clinic in Manchester or Burnley for effective treatment, then MyMSK Clinic is an excellent option.
Here at MyMSK Clinic, we offer a complete range of treatments from osteopathy to regenerative treatments including prolotherapy. We are trained in dealing with all types of muscular or joint ailments, and we are equipped with the latest technology required to help diagnose and treat your condition.
We encourage our patients to come in at their earliest convenience and not to delay getting treatment. Shoulder pain may seem like a harmless symptom, but the underlying conditions that cause it can be quite debilitating and may leave long-lasting effects.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Try to avoid sleeping on the affected shoulder and use pillows to prop up your space in order to avoid rolling onto during sleep. You can also take over-the-counter painkillers to relieve pain. However, try to avoid excessive use of painkillers as they may be injurious to health.
Yes, you may see a physiotherapist or chiropractor for shoulder pain. These are gentle, more conservative approaches for treating muscular ailments. At MyMSK clinic, we offer osteopathic treatments by trained professionals with state-of-the-art equipment and diagnostic facilities.
Whether it is a sporting injury that you just cannot shake, or a symptom of a degenerative condition such as arthritis, chronic shoulder pain can be a severely limiting problem. Part of the problem is that it is difficult to give your shoulder serious rest.
Everyday activities mean that you have to pick things up, reach for things or steer your car when driving. Shoulders are in constant use during these activities so when things go wrong you really feel it. Sometimes a simple ibuprofen is enough to relieve the pain. Sometimes you need something more effective.
At MyMSK Clinic we can help. Cortisone is a form of the natural hormone cortisol. When injected into a painful shoulder it can relieve pain by calming down the immune system. This causes your immune system to cause less inflammation in the joint and this in turn reduces the pain. Because of its calming effect on the immune system, cortisone injections are particularly useful in the treatment of degenerative diseases such as arthritis. My MSK clinic can help by giving you a cortisone injection for shoulder pain. Cortisone injections are an efficient way of shoulder pain relief. Cortisone Injections work well in conditions such as frozen shoulder, bursitis and degenerative Arthritis.
Treatments
Osteopath
Osteopathy is a type of alternative medicine that invloves manual therapy and focuses on improving muscle and bone health
Read More
Prolotherapy
A regenerative treatment for chronic painful joints and ligaments which involves the injection of a specially formulated solution into damaged tissue.
Read More
Cortisone Injections
A Cortisone Injection (termed steroid injection in the UK) is an anti inflammatory injection for the joints or body tissue to relieve pain.
Read More
Platelet Rich Plasma
PRP treatment can reduce the need for anti-inflammatory medication or strong painkillers with unwanted side effects
Read MoreFor a detailed assessment of your shoulder pain
Book in at MyMSK clinic here or contact us: 0333 772 9655
Contact us
We’d love to hear from you!
Just reach out and contact us via any of
these channels:
Call us on
Email us on
Call us on
