Sunday, March 16, 2014

The Main Causes Of Shoulder Pain

In addition to headaches and back pain, shoulder pain is among the most prevalent pains experienced in the human body. The shoulder joint is made up of numerous bones and soft tissues which make it rather complex, and this is why injury to the shoulder can cause major limitations particularly where treatment is not obtained. Thus, if you experience any sort of acute pain on your shoulders, it's crucial to seek help from pain management doctors.
Causes of Shoulder Pain
Similar to pain experienced in other parts of the body, shoulder pain is caused by different issues including overuse, tendon tears, osteoarthritis, frozen shoulder and dislocated shoulder.
Overuse
In carrying out everyday activities, the shoulder joint is constantly in operation and with time, these frequent movements can cause tightening and unnecessary friction in the muscles. When this happens over an extended period, the tendon may degenerate and subsequently lead to tendonosis where the patient may experience immense pain when making any kind of shoulder movements.
Dislocated shoulder
Another major cause of shoulder pain is dislocation whereby the bone on the upper arm may come out of the shoulder socket. Such a problem can arise as a consequence of car accidents, a fall or even sports and this can give the arm a deformed appearance and lead to numbness at the same time. In dealing with this problem, pain management doctors give a sedative before moving the dislocated bone back into its socket.
Tendon Tears
Tendons control rotation of the shoulder and when an individual engages in activities that involve carrying out the same task repeatedly, this joint can be affected leading to tendon tears. If left untreated, the individual may experience enough pain to keep them awake at night. While sporting activities can lead to tendon tears, this problem generally affects people as they get older.
Osteoarthritis
At times, the cartilage protecting the shoulder joints may wear down and produce a lot of pain and discomfort in the area. In most cases, this condition affects persons over the age of 50, though it may also arise as a result of traumatic injuries. Apart from becoming stiff and weak, the joint may swell as well. Even though osteoarthritis cannot be treated, there are numerous medications that can be obtained from pain management doctors to help ease the pain.
Frozen Shoulder
Also referred to as adhesive capsulitis, a frozen shoulder develops from inflammation and thickening of the shoulder joint. The problem occurs in three stages: the freezing, frozen and thawing stages. In the first stage, movements become increasingly painful, while in the frozen stage, the pain reduces but excessive stiffness is experienced thus making it difficult to move the shoulder. At the thawing stage however, movement increases as stiffness diminishes.
While shoulder pain is attributable to different problems, you shouldn't let it get the best of you because such soreness can be treated with the help of pain management doctors. Even so, a problem such as a frozen shoulder can fade away on its own; so letting it progress through the three stages while using pain relievers can at times be a good way to go.
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