Shoulder Pain Causes

Most shoulder problems fall into four major categories:

• Tendon inflammation (bursitis or tendinitis) or tendon tear.
• Instability.
• Arthritis.
• Fracture (broken bone).

Less common causes of shoulder pain are tumors, infection and nerve-related problems.

• Swelling and redness - Physical symptoms that go beyond just “feeling sore” can be a sign that you should seek out medical assistance. If your shoulder joint is visibly swollen or if it is tender or warm to the touch, you should strongly consider having it looked at – particularly if symptoms persist over long periods of time.
• Home remedies have failed - When you experience joint pain in an area of the body like the shoulder, your first instinct is likely to try out some home remedies to help the symptoms subside. But if over-the-counter pain reducers, applying cold or hot compresses don’t seem to be doing the trick (or if they only offer a temporary reprieve), it’s probably a good idea to seek help.
• Pain when lifting - Many injury-related shoulder pains can be linked to harm done to your rotator cuff. That’s why one surefire way to determine whether your pain is something that needs a physician’s care is to try lifting your arm over your head. If this or other everyday activities, like getting dressed in the morning, increase your pain level, you may be experiencing a tear or strain that needs to be treated. (Just make sure that you stop at the first sign of pain – there’s no need to overdo your arm-lift test and risk making the condition worse.)
• Symptoms do not go away - Some temporary, home-treatable conditions will last a day or two and subside. However, if your shoulder pain prolongs over several days or even weeks, regardless of the pain level, it may be the result of something chronic such as osteoarthritis, tendinitis or bursitis. If you’re experiencing even moderate symptoms that last longer than a week, consider scheduling an appointment with one of our specialists.

The good news is that shoulder problems often can be fixed without surgery. Still, it’s best to avoid the problem in the first place. Here are some ways to do that.

Listen to your body. If your shoulder gets sore after any activity, don’t ignore it. If the pain is serious and doesn’t go away, see your doctor. There’s no need to tough it out. You just might make things worse.

Stay in shape. Keep your body in good physical shape with regular exercise and a healthy diet. It’s a way to stay well and it can help you avoid injury.

Exercise the right way. Warm-up before you work out. Start slowly if you haven’t done a sport or an activity in a while. Learn how to lift weights the right way. Don’t lift too much.

Watch out at work. Make sure you don’t injure your shoulder on the job.

• Use good posture when you sit or stand.
• Follow the rules for safe lifting. Keep your back straight and use your legs.
• Take a break for a couple of minutes every hour. Move around and stretch.
• If you work at a desk, make sure your work station is set up so that you can comfortably use your computer.