What are the symptoms of shoulder pain?
Shoulder pain will vary from person to person, however if you have shoulder pain you maybe experiencing some of the following symptoms:
1/Shoulder pain when lifting your arm out to the side or in front of you
2/Pain or discomfort around the shoulder blade, or in between the shoulder blades
3/Discomfort when laying on your shoulder at night
4/Pain or discomfort when driving
5/Associated neck pain
6/Pain when pressing weight above shoulder height or away from the chest
7/Shoulder pain when swimming
8/Pain during shoulder pressing, bench pressing or curling
9/Pins and needles in the arm
Shoulder Pain is common and can be caused by a number of conditions. These conditions include:
- Rotator cuff problem – pain in the shoulder or upper arm, particularly when lifting the arm, lying on it or using the sore muscles. It is often the result of repetitive overuse of the arm and shoulder during a sport or activity or the result of a shoulder injury. Age can also play a part.
- Acromioclavicular joint pain – painful joint on the tip of the shoulder where the collarbone and shoulder blade join
- Frozen shoulder or adhesive capsulitis – is the painful and gradual stiffening of the shoulder capsule (the tissue that surrounds your shoulder joint) and the shoulder can often become so stiff and painful that it limits your ability to use your arm in everyday activities.
- Referred shoulder pain – pain is experienced in an area away from the actual injury or problem e.g. pain in shoulder which is usually referred from the neck or upper back
- Osteoarthritis – progressive wearing away of the cartilage of the joint leading to the two bones of the joint rubbing together causing pain. Patients who have had previous trauma or shoulder surgery are most likely to develop osteoarthritis in later life. Symptoms include swelling, stiffness, aching and sharp, stabbing pains.
- Shoulder instability – dislocation or excessive movement of the shoulder joint.
Osteopaths can help with the diagnosis and treatment of all of these conditions.
