Shoulder Pain: Causes, Diagnosis and Treatment Options

Q: What is shoulder pain a sign of?

Shoulder pain can be a sign of various conditions including cardiovascular disease, gallbladder disease, liver disease, and nerve-related issues that may cause tingling or numbness in the shoulder area.

Q: How long does shoulder pain last?

Most cases of shoulder pain are not serious and typically improve within 2 weeks. Pain relievers can help manage discomfort during this time.

Q: How should I sleep with shoulder pain?

To sleep comfortably with shoulder pain, try using two pillows with the upper pillow slightly offset towards the back of the lower pillow. It's also helpful to sleep on your side or back and to hug a pillow to keep your upper shoulder in an open position.

Q: Can shoulder pain go away on its own?

For general mild shoulder pain, adjusting activities, taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and light stretching may help the pain improve on its own. However, persistent pain that does not resolve after a few weeks should be evaluated by a doctor.

Shoulder pain can come from the shoulder joint itself or one of the many surrounding muscles, ligaments, or tendons. If it comes from the joint it usually gets worse with activities or movements of your arm or shoulder.

It is also caused by several diseases and conditions affecting the structure in the chest or abdomen, like cardiac diseases or gallbladder diseases. Pain that comes from another structure is called referred pain

Causes of Shoulder pain

Most shoulder problems will affect a small area and last for a relatively short time.
But sometimes shoulder problems can be part of a larger, long-term condition such as osteoarthritis or rheumatic polymyalgia.
It is quite common for people with rheumatoid arthritis to experience pain and swelling in their shoulders.
Osteoarthritis is less likely to affect your shoulders than other joints unless you have injured them in the past.

There are many other possible causes of shoulder pain, like:

Inflammation, where your shoulder becomes warm, red, swollen, and painful like a natural response to an infection or injury.
Muscles and tendons in the shoulder are damaged.
Muscle tension between the neck and shoulder often results from poor upper back or neck posture, commonly associated with prolonged computer use or workplace positioning.
Inflammation of the bursa.
Damage to bones and cartilage, which can be caused by arthritis.

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Diagnosis of Shoulder Pain

Your physician will want to find out the cause of your shoulder pain. They will ask you for your medical history and perform a physical exam.

They will feel the tenderness and swelling and will also assess your range of motion and the stability of your joints. Imaging tests, such as an X-ray or MRI, can produce detailed images of your shoulder to aid in the diagnosis.

Your physician may also ask questions to determine the cause. Questions may include:

Is the pain in one shoulder or both?
Did this pain start suddenly? If so, what were you doing?
Does the pain travel to other areas of your body?
Can you identify the area of pain?
Does it hurt not to move?
Was the painful area red, hot, or swollen?
Does pain keep you from sleeping at night?
Have you had to limit your activities because of your shoulder pain?

Treatment for Shoulder Pain

A doctor will examine you to determine what is causing your shoulder pain.
They may send you tests (like an x-ray) to check the cause.

They will suggest treatment depending on the cause

Oral medicine or injections to relieve pain and swelling
Physiotherapy or exercises to do at home
Things to avoid to keep the pain from getting worse or coming back
See a specialist for tests or treatment

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When to visit a Doctor?

Have someone drive you to emergency care or the emergency room if your shoulder pain is caused by an injury and is accompanied by.
If Unable to use the joint or keep the arm away from the body.
If there is a Intense pain.
Sudden swelling

Make an appointment with your doctor if your shoulder pain is accompanied by:

Swelling
Redness
Tenderness and warmth around the joint
Prevention

In case to relieve mild shoulder pain, you can go for:

Pain relief: Over-the-counter pain relievers such as acetaminophen (Tylenol, others), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others), and naproxen sodium (Aleve) can help.
Rest: Avoid using your shoulder in a way that causes or worsens pain.
Ice: Apply an ice pack to your painful shoulder for 15 to 20 minutes several times a day.

Often, self-care measures and a little time can be all it takes to relieve your shoulder pain.

Citations

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1521694202001018 https://europepmc.org/article/med/7791172 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/art.1790040403 https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD005319/abstract

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Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is shoulder pain a sign of?

Cardio disease, gallbladder disease, and liver disease can all cause shoulder pain this way. Nervous pain may cause tingling, numbness, tingling, and needles in the shoulder. The area of the body it affects often changes or gets larger over time.

2. How long does shoulder pain last?

Most cases of shoulder pain are not caused by anything serious and will improve within 2 weeks. You can take pain relievers for pain relief.

3. How should I sleep with shoulder pain?

Here are some tips for a comfortable way to sleep:

Use two pillows with the upper pillow offset slightly towards the back of the lower pillow.
Try to lie on your side or your back.
Squeeze a pillow, as this will put your upper shoulder in the open position.

4. Can shoulder pain go away on its own?

But if you have general, mild shoulder pain, try adjusting your activities, taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and doing light stretching to see if the pain improves on its own. However, if the pain does not go away after a few weeks, you should see your doctor.