Shoulder pain is a common problem with an estimated prevalence of 4% to 26% in the general population
For many, pain in the shoulder may seem like a daily problem which starts without giving any hint and gets over on its own. A pain in the shoulder is bore as if it is the way the shoulder works!
Doctors have strongly recommended against it.
Any sort of pain, be it in the joints or in the muscles should not be allowed to grow. Pain starts with being bearable and this is the stage where it needs to be checked. Once it progresses there are many chances it might have affected the peripheral regions in the meanwhile.
Read: Vitamin B12 deficiency-Five areas on your body that can show signs
We, at ETimes spoke to experts on what a pain in the shoulder could possibly mean, why one should not ignore the pain and what are the diseases where pain in the shoulder is commonly seen.
Pain in the shoulder: What could it possibly mean?
A pain in the shoulder can mean anything unless and until you get it checked from a doctor.
On the chronic pain in shoulders, Dr. R. A. Purnachandra Tejaswi, Consultant Arthroscopy and sports medicine consultant, Yashoda Hospitals Hyderabad explains that: A stiff and sore sensation for a couple of days can indicate you slept on your shoulder incorrectly. It can also mean something more serious if the discomfort doesn’t go away. If one is dealing with a limited range of motion, the sensation may be due to tendonitis, bursitis, a fracture, arthritis or the shoulder blade pressing against the nerves.
He further explains on frozen shoulders which is commonly seen among those who have a sedentary lifestyle. "The inability to fully lift one’s arm along with pain is a condition known as frozen shoulder. Pain associated with weakness in the arm indicates a rotator cuff injury, torn ligament or your bones rubbing against the joint’s tissues. In this case, it is difficult to carry items over a certain weight."
Why should you not ignore pain in the shoulder?
Experts have some serious messages for patients who are dealing with this problem.
“Early treatment and diagnosis is the best possible way to treat and heal the pain of shoulders and if left ignored or untreated can even cause long term injuries,” warns Dr. Akhilesh Yadav - Senior Consultant, Orthopaedics & Joint Replacement, Max Hospital, Vaishali.
He goes on to explain the role of shoulders and how timely treatment can ensure proper movement of one of the most mobile body organs. “A complex network of muscles, tendons, and ligaments makes up the shoulder joint. Our shoulder joints enable us to write, type, push, pull, lift, carry, write, and more. You should try to keep your shoulders as flexible and mobile as possible. The chief reason for not ignoring shoulder pain is the risk that it may worsen if left untreated. Therefore, you should seek quick medical attention for a diagnosis and should not put off treatment if you experience chronic pain or pain in the shoulder joint,” Dr Yadav says.
Backing this, comes Dr Tejaswi's statement: Shoulder pain is a common problem with an estimated prevalence of 4% to 26% in the general population. The shoulder joint is the body’s most mobile joint, passing through three planes of motion. Yet there’s a downside. This also makes it more prone to injury, hence one should definitely listen when it’s trying to get your attention.
What are the diseases where pain in the shoulder is seen as a common symptom?
We asked the experts on the various diseases where pain in the shoulder is seen as a common problem.
Dr Yadav explained, diseases like Osteoarthritis (disease causing the breakdown of joints), Rotator Cuff injury, Rheumatoid arthritis (inflammatory joint disease), Bursitis (joint inflammation) are few diseases which begin with pain in the shoulder joint.
He also added that if you are experiencing extreme pain in the shoulder it might be due to ruptured tendon, frozen shoulder, sprain, dislocated shoulder,broken shoulder and arm bone.
What causes pain in the shoulder
Overexertion is the chief cause of shoulder joint pain in many people, says Dr Yadav and adds that other reasons can be Tendonitis or inflammation from overuse, instability of shoulder joint which needs to be corrected medically, shoulder dislocation, collarbone or arm bone fractures, frozen shoulder, torn tendons and arthritis.
On frozen shoulders which is another major cause of this kind of pain, Dr Tejaswi shares an important connection with a serious disease. "Frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis) is the next common cause of shoulder pain, uncontrolled diabetes being the most common risk factor for this condition."
On other possible causes he says, "Shoulder pain may be due to problems with the neck, glenohumeral joint, acromioclavicular joint, rotator cuff, or other soft tissues around the shoulder. Most common source of shoulder pain is the rotator cuff, accounting for 2/3rd of cases. Some other causes include labral tears (bush around the shoulder), arthritis, muscle imbalance."
Start a Conversation
Post comment