Why Does My Shoulder Hurt?

The construction of your shoulder makes it a remarkable joint that’s strong and has a great range of motion. However, it’s also a complex joint that operates with great precision. When one component becomes damaged, irritated, or inflamed, your entire arm may become useless, and the pain could become chronic.

Pinpointing the cause of your shoulder pain as well as effectively managing it takes the help of a specialist like Dr. James Nassiri of Westside Pain Specialists. His experience as a pain management expert means that your shoulder disorder won’t disrupt your life, no matter the cause. 

Here are some of the most common causes for shoulder pain, some of which may respond to home care, while others may need medical attention for either cause or symptom management.

When to seek medical attention

It’s easy to overwork your shoulders, perhaps while playing a sport or some home improvement activity such as painting a room, particularly when there’s overhead movement. Overworking your shoulders probably means a few days of soreness and limited mobility, but there’s probably no lasting damage.

Sometimes, though, shoulder injuries need medical attention. Signs that you may need to visit a doctor about your injury include:

• Loss of strength: You can no longer carry normal weights
• Range of motion reductions: Your shoulder no longer moves as much as it normally does
• Pain and stiffness: Movement happens, but with resistance and/or pain
• Instability: Your shoulder may feel as though it could pop out of place, or you may feel sudden weakness under a weight load
• Deformation: The shape of your shoulder changes, along with other symptoms
• Swelling: Sudden inflammation and heat radiating from your shoulder
• Arm and hand issues: Weakness or numbness in your forearm, wrist, and hand

Types of shoulder injuries

Dislocation

The shoulder’s complex socket joint is vulnerable to over-rotation, and the ball at the top of your arm could pop out of the socket that is formed by the other components of the joint.

Separation

Your collarbone and shoulder blade connect with ligaments at the acromioclavicular joint. Falling or taking a blow to your shoulder can tear the ligaments that hold the joint together.

Frozen shoulder

Bands of tissue called adhesions form and limit joint mobility. Frozen shoulder is typically a long-lasting but ultimately temporary condition. Pain can interfere with your day and even with sleeping.

Rotator cuff tear

The open nature of the bones of the shoulder socket requires muscles and tendons to hold the joint together. Called the rotator cuff, these soft tissues tear due to injury or wear and tear.

Bursitis

A fluid-filled sac called a bursa cushions your shoulder, but repeated motion can cause inflammation, as can injury. Bursitis typically causes pain when you move your shoulder.

Arthritis

Both rheumatoid and osteoarthritis create shoulder pain and cause the joint to degenerate.

Sometimes, you can feel pain in your shoulder that’s a symptom of a non-related problem. Disorders of the gallbladder or liver can create shoulder pain, and you may also feel pain in your shoulder during a heart attack.

Whenever shoulder pain interferes with your life, it’s a good time to call Westside Pain Specialists in their Beverly Hills or Rancho Cucamonga, California, office. You can also send a message to Dr. Nassiri and the team here on the website. Don’t let your shoulder pain slow you down.