What causes chronic arm pain. How to diagnose arm pain symptoms. Which treatments are most effective for arm pain relief. When to seek medical attention for severe arm pain. How to prevent arm pain from recurring.

Common Causes of Arm Pain

Arm pain can stem from a variety of sources, ranging from minor muscle strains to more serious medical conditions. Understanding the root cause is crucial for effective treatment. Here are some of the most common causes of arm pain:

• Overuse injuries from repetitive motions
• Muscle strains and sprains
• Tendinitis and bursitis
• Fractures or dislocations
• Arthritis (osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis)
• Nerve compression syndromes like carpal tunnel
• Rotator cuff injuries
• Cervical spine disorders
• Circulatory issues like peripheral vascular disease
• Heart conditions (in some cases, arm pain can be a sign of a heart attack)

Is your arm pain chronic or acute? Chronic arm pain persists for weeks or months, while acute pain is usually sudden and short-lived. Identifying the duration and nature of your pain can help determine the underlying cause and appropriate treatment approach.

Recognizing Arm Pain Symptoms

Arm pain can manifest in various ways, depending on its cause. Being aware of specific symptoms can help you communicate effectively with your healthcare provider and lead to a more accurate diagnosis. Common arm pain symptoms include:

• Dull aching or sharp, stabbing pain
• Weakness or reduced range of motion
• Numbness or tingling sensations
• Swelling or inflammation
• Redness or skin discoloration
• Stiffness in the joints
• Pain that worsens with movement or exercise
• Muscle cramps or spasms

Are your symptoms localized or do they radiate? Some arm pain conditions cause localized discomfort, while others may radiate pain from the shoulder down to the wrist. Noting the specific location and pattern of your pain can provide valuable diagnostic information.

Diagnostic Approaches for Arm Pain

Proper diagnosis is crucial for effective arm pain treatment. Healthcare providers use a combination of methods to determine the underlying cause of arm pain:

1. Medical history review
2. Physical examination
3. Imaging tests (X-rays, MRI, CT scans)
4. Nerve conduction studies and electromyography (EMG)
5. Blood tests to check for inflammatory markers or other abnormalities

How long should you wait before seeking medical attention for arm pain? If your arm pain is severe, persistent, or accompanied by other concerning symptoms like chest pain or shortness of breath, it’s important to seek medical attention promptly. Don’t hesitate to consult a healthcare provider if your arm pain is interfering with your daily activities or quality of life.

Conservative Treatment Options for Arm Pain

Many cases of arm pain can be effectively managed with conservative treatments. These approaches are often the first line of defense against mild to moderate arm pain:

• Rest and activity modification
• Over-the-counter pain relievers (NSAIDs, acetaminophen)
• Ice or heat therapy
• Compression bandages to reduce swelling
• Elevation of the affected arm
• Gentle stretching and range-of-motion exercises
• Massage therapy

How can you determine which conservative treatment is right for your arm pain? The effectiveness of these treatments can vary depending on the cause of your pain. It’s often beneficial to start with rest and over-the-counter pain relievers, then gradually introduce other therapies as needed. If your pain persists or worsens despite conservative measures, it’s time to consult a healthcare provider for further evaluation.

Advanced Treatment Modalities for Persistent Arm Pain

When conservative treatments fail to provide adequate relief, more advanced interventions may be necessary. Pain management specialists offer a range of treatments for persistent arm pain:

Medication Management

Prescription medications can be effective for managing chronic arm pain. These may include:

• Stronger analgesics
• Muscle relaxants
• Antidepressants or anticonvulsants for nerve pain
• Topical medications

How is medication management tailored to individual patients? Pain specialists work closely with patients to find the right balance of pain relief and minimal side effects. Regular follow-ups and adjustments ensure that medication regimens remain effective and safe over time.

Injection Therapies

Various injection treatments can provide targeted relief for arm pain:

• Corticosteroid injections for inflammation
• Nerve blocks to interrupt pain signals
• Trigger point injections for muscle knots
• Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections for tissue healing

What determines the success of injection therapies? The effectiveness of injections can depend on factors such as the precise location of the injection, the skill of the practitioner, and the underlying cause of the pain. Many patients experience significant relief from injection therapies, but results can vary.

Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation

A structured physical therapy program can be invaluable for arm pain recovery:

• Customized exercise routines
• Manual therapy techniques
• Ultrasound or electrical stimulation
• Ergonomic training and posture correction

How long does it typically take to see results from physical therapy? While some patients may experience improvement within a few sessions, others may require several weeks or months of consistent therapy to achieve optimal results. The key is to maintain a regular routine and communicate openly with your physical therapist about your progress and any challenges you encounter.

Innovative Interventions for Chronic Arm Pain

For cases of severe, chronic arm pain that don’t respond to other treatments, advanced interventional techniques may be considered:

Spinal Cord Stimulation

This minimally invasive procedure involves implanting a small device that sends electrical impulses to the spinal cord, interrupting pain signals before they reach the brain. It can be particularly effective for certain types of neuropathic arm pain.

Peripheral Nerve Stimulation

Similar to spinal cord stimulation, this technique targets specific peripheral nerves responsible for arm pain. It can provide targeted relief for conditions like complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) affecting the arm.

Radiofrequency Ablation

This procedure uses heat to disable specific nerves that are transmitting pain signals. It can provide long-lasting relief for certain types of chronic arm pain.

Are these advanced interventions right for everyone with chronic arm pain? These treatments are typically reserved for cases where other therapies have failed to provide adequate relief. They require careful patient selection and should be performed by experienced pain specialists. A thorough evaluation is necessary to determine if you’re a good candidate for these interventions.

Lifestyle Modifications and Self-Care for Arm Pain Management

In addition to medical treatments, certain lifestyle changes and self-care practices can significantly improve arm pain management:

• Ergonomic adjustments at work and home
• Regular exercise and stretching routines
• Stress reduction techniques like meditation or yoga
• Proper nutrition and hydration
• Adequate sleep and rest
• Use of supportive devices or braces when necessary

How can you incorporate these changes into your daily routine? Start by identifying activities that exacerbate your arm pain and finding ways to modify them. Gradually introduce new habits and be patient with yourself as you adapt. Remember that consistency is key when it comes to lifestyle modifications for pain management.

When to Seek Immediate Medical Attention for Arm Pain

While many cases of arm pain can be managed at home or with outpatient care, certain situations require immediate medical attention. Seek emergency care if your arm pain is accompanied by:

• Chest pain or pressure
• Shortness of breath
• Dizziness or fainting
• Sudden, severe pain or swelling
• Signs of infection like fever or redness spreading up the arm
• Loss of sensation or inability to move the arm

Why is prompt medical attention crucial in these cases? These symptoms could indicate serious conditions such as heart attack, deep vein thrombosis, or severe infection that require immediate treatment. Don’t hesitate to call emergency services if you experience these warning signs.

Preventing Recurrent Arm Pain

Once you’ve found relief from arm pain, taking steps to prevent its recurrence is essential. Here are some strategies to help keep arm pain at bay:

• Maintain good posture and ergonomics
• Engage in regular strength training and flexibility exercises
• Take frequent breaks during repetitive activities
• Use proper form and technique during sports and exercise
• Manage underlying health conditions like diabetes or arthritis
• Maintain a healthy weight to reduce stress on joints and muscles

How often should you reassess your arm pain prevention strategies? It’s a good idea to regularly evaluate your routine and make adjustments as needed. As your lifestyle or work demands change, you may need to modify your prevention techniques. Don’t hesitate to consult with a healthcare provider or physical therapist for personalized advice on maintaining arm health.

Understanding the causes, symptoms, and treatment options for arm pain empowers you to take control of your health and seek appropriate care when needed. Whether you’re dealing with acute discomfort or chronic pain, there are numerous strategies and interventions available to help you find relief and improve your quality of life. Remember to listen to your body, communicate openly with your healthcare providers, and stay proactive in your arm pain management journey.

Arm Pain Causes and Relief

Causes of Arm Pain

What can cause chronic arm pain and how can you find relief? The answer depends on the underlying condition. Causes of severe arm pain can include conditions, such as:

• Exercise or overuse (muscle aches)
• Repetitive joint use (bursitis or joint inflammation)
• Bone fractures
• Joint dislocations
• Peripheral vascular disease
• Muscle, ligament or tendon strains (tendinitis) or sprains
• Fibromyalgia
• Skeletal structure irregularities
• Arthritis
• Cardiac disorders or heart attack (angina)
• Angina pectoris that radiates to the arm
• Nerve damage
• Spine conditions such as cervical disk herniation
• Diabetic neuropathy
• Osteoporosis
• Infection
• Carpel tunnel syndrome
• Rotator cuff injury
• Other underlying conditions

It is important that you find out what causes your arms to ache, as there are many reasons for arm pain. At The Pain Center, we can help diagnose the cause to help you find relief.

Arm Pain Symptoms and Diagnosis

Be sure to inform your doctor of all your symptoms. Arm pain symptoms may include:

• Pain in the wrist, elbow or shoulder
• Arm weakness
• Pain in one or both arms
• Upper arm pain
• Sudden arm pain in the right arm
• Redness or discoloration of the skin on the arm
• Swelling of the arm, wrist, or elbow
• Stiffness in the joints
• Arm skin that is warm to the touch
• Itching or throbbing skin
• Pain that worsens when exercising
• Numbness or tingling
• Muscle pain / muscle aches
• Tenderness
• Reduced range of motion
• Muscle cramps / sore arm

To diagnose the cause of your pain, your doctor will ask you questions about your health and family history, and do a physical examination. Other tests that can help diagnose the source of your pain include X-rays, MRI scan, CT scan, EMG/Nerve conduction studyand blood tests. It is important that your condition is properly diagnosed so that you can receive the most effective treatment. 

How to Treat Arm Pain

How can you ease the discomfort of arm pain symptoms? Your treatment options depend on the underlying cause and severity of your arm pain.

Treatment may start with conservative therapies, such as over-the-counter aspirin, acetaminophen or ibuprofen. These nonprescription medications can be effective for certain types of arm pain when taken according to instructions. You may also consider home care such as drinking plenty of water to reduce muscle cramps. Stretching and massage can help. You may also try using heating or cold packs, taking warm baths or showers, and resting your arms. Elevate your arm(s) when you lie down. Compression bandaging can help reduce swelling.

The pain management specialists at The Pain Center may also recommend the following interventional pain therapies to reduce your arm pain:

• Prescription medications / medication management
• Topical agents (creams)
• Injections such as steroid medications
• Spinal Cord Stimulator
• Physical therapy (can include exercises, heat and cold therapy, and electrical nerve stimulation-TENS unit)
• Alternative treatments such as acupuncture, chiropractic adjustments and/or massage 

Some of the interventional medical therapies we provide at The Pain Center include:

Our pain specialists can prescribe and regulate medication that you use to help control your pain. The pain management specialists will provide you with the knowledge you need to take your medications properly.

The Pain Center takes a conservative approach with medication management. We try to limit prescription medications to help avoid dependence.

One option for treating pain is injection of a steroid that can help reduce pain and inflammation. This can be very effective for arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and osteoarthritis.

A nerve block is an injection therapy that reduces pain caused by nerves. This can help treat arm pain, radicular pain and/or peripheral neuropathy. This procedure injects a combination of local anesthetic agents around the peripheral nerve branches for optimal pain relief. Peripheral nerve blocks provide relief that lasts from a few weeks to a few months, depending upon the patient’s condition.

Spinal cord stimulation is an FDA-approved, minimally invasive procedure that requires the implantation of a nerve stimulation device. This treatment delivers low-voltage electrical currents to areas of the spine, ultimately reducing pain signals caused by chronic pain in the arm(s). Patients living with chronic pain, who have not responded to conservative treatments for at least six months, may be candidates for this procedure. A trial device is implanted before a permanent device is considered.

Contact The Pain Center today to learn more about how we can help you effectively manage your arm pain.

When Further Arm Pain Treatment is Required

Based on the underlying condition, further treatments may be required. If there is something that can be addressed by another type of specialist, we will refer you to the appropriate specialty doctor.

Commonly Asked Questions about Arm Pain

What causes arm pain?

Because arm pain has a number of causes, from muscle strains to traumatic injury or underlying conditions such as arthritis, it is important to get an accurate diagnosis upfront. Your doctor or pain specialist will help to diagnose and assess the cause of your arm pain to determine the most effective course of treatment for you.

What is the best treatment for upper arm pain symptoms?

The best treatment for you will depend upon your health situation and the cause of your pain. Your pain specialist will work with you to create a custom set of treatments to help you get relief from your pain and get back to your normal routine of activities. Your pain specialist will give you the information you need to understand and manage your condition.

How can the cause of my arm pain be diagnosed?

The Pain Center will work to diagnose your pain, or work with another specialist to help, if necessary. We will do an examination and ask you about your health and family history, and can provide additional tests such as blood tests or medical imaging (such as MRI or CT scans).

What can I do at home to help ease my discomfort?

There are many therapies you can use at home to help with arm pain, such as over-the-counter pain relievers (use as directed), rest, massage, elevation of the arm(s), cold or hot packs, and careful stretching.

I have been having neck problems. Could my arm pain be related to my neck?

It is possible for neck problems to cause pain in the arms. Sometimes, disc protrusion/herniation or degenerative changes in the cervical spine can cause pain that radiates out to the arm or hand.

I don’t have underlying conditions that could cause arm pain. What else could cause my symptoms?

Arm pain can be caused by overuse, anatomic abnormalities, or traumatic injuries such as falls. Your pain specialist can help determine the cause of your arm pain.

Arm Pain | Causes, Symptoms And Treatment

If nagging arm pain has left you with reduced range of motion and struggling to perform basic tasks, you may be dealing with an underlying injury. Join Airrosti’s Brooke Green, DC, as she explains the common causes and injuries associated with arm pain. She also covers traditional treatment methods and how Airrosti can help you find arm pain relief.

what is arm pain?

Arm pain can present itself in various sections of the arm. You may experience pain in the rotator cuff or shoulder, elbow pain, wrist pain, or carpal tunnel syndrome. Arm pain is often caused by a sports or activity-related injury, but can also be caused by soft tissue imbalance, a joint injury, a pinched nerve, or restricted blood flow.

WHAT CAUSES ARM PAIN?

While we usually think of an arm injury as something that happens during activity, it can also occur over a long period of time. Because of our reliance on our arms to complete everyday tasks, they can easily become overworked. Overuse injuries involving the arm can develop if the arm is used to compensate for weakness in other muscles, like the shoulders, neck, or back.

Identifying the specific location of your pain can often help determine the type of injury involved. A muscle strain in your bicep or tricep will most likely be felt in the upper arm. Injuries like tennis elbow and carpal tunnel syndrome will likely manifest pain in the forearm and wrist.

Common causes of arm pain include:

• Tennis Elbow
• Golfer’s Elbow
• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
• Rotator Cuff Pain
• Bicep/Tricep Tendonitis
• Shoulder Pain
• Thoracic Outlet Syndrome

SYMPTOMS OF AN ARM INJURY

Symptoms of arm pain may vary based on the location of the injury. In some cases, arm pain can be a symptom of a problem in other parts of the body, like your neck or shoulder joint.

Potential signs of an arm injury include:

• Tenderness
• Redness
• Joint pain
• Numbness or tingling
• Reduced range of motion
• Swelling in the affected area of the arm or joints

Severe traumatic injuries like fractures may feature additional symptoms like bruising and difficulty moving your arm. Depending on the cause, pain can start suddenly or develop over time.

Pain in the left arm, combined with excessive sweating, nausea, difficulty breathing, palpitations, fainting, or chest pain can be signs of a heart attack.  Please call 911 if you think you might be having a heart attack.

ARM INJURY RISK FACTORS

Older adults have a greater chance of having arm problems because they lose muscle mass as they age. Children may have arm problems because of overuse injuries.  Injuries in children occur more often because their bones have not fully developed. Individuals who exercise with improper form, or try to exercise beyond their limits, are also more likely to sustain an arm injury. 

ARM PAIN TREATMENT OPTIONS

The treatment for arm pain depends on the underlying cause. For pain due to overuse injuries, the treatment typically includes rest, ice, compression, and elevation.

If the pain is more severe, a splint or sling, or anti-inflammatory medications for pain may be prescribed. For more severe injuries, like fractures or complete muscle tears, surgery may be recommended.

HOW AIRROSTI CAN HELP: ARM PAIN DIAGNOSIS, TREATMENT, AND PAIN RELIEF

At Airrosti, our providers will conduct a thorough evaluation of your pain and develop a personalized treatment plan for your specific injury. In addition, we also provide tools and resources that can boost your recovery and help you avoid future pain..

Don’t let chronic arm pain hold you back. schedule an appointment with an Airrosti provider today and get back to doing the things you love most, pain free.

We offer convenient remote telehealth options in addition to in-office visits. Call us today at (800) 404-6050 to learn more about treatment at Airrosti or find a provider near you.

Reviewed by Casey Crisp, Doctor of Chiropractic

Disclaimer: Always consult with your doctor before starting any exercise program. If you experience any numbness, tingling or reproduction of your symptoms, please contact your doctor.

Patient Testimonials

I’m so glad I went back to Dr. Tong. Years ago, she helped my hip pain from giving birth. This time I had numbness and tingling in my arm for over a week and it scared me. I thought it wasn’t something I could wait to be over, but then I remembered her and made an appointment via Airrosti. She instantly diagnosed the site and the cause of the injury and created a treatment plan for me. With an exercise coaching program on their app, I quickly shook off the symptoms in a few appointments. I believe Dr. Tong is on top of her profession. She is very knowledgeable, and I trust her 100%. Making an appointment is quick and easy, and all pre-appt questionnaires are paperless and done over the app/web. The location is also easy to find and e…+ show moreasily accessible. There is no waiting at check-in. I would recommend her and Airrosti highly!

by Karen Wang

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Shoulder hurt? Article of the candidate of medical sciences Elizarov Ivan Valentinovich.

Traumatologist-orthopedist of the highest qualification category, Candidate of Medical Sciences Ivan Valentinovich Elizarov talks about pain in the shoulder joint, causes and methods of treatment.

Patients with pathology of the shoulder joint often come to me at an orthopedic appointment with complaints of pain during movement, at rest, night pain (it hurts like a “bad tooth”), limited range of motion in the shoulder or a feeling of instability, “laxity” and an occasional feeling of numbness in hand. Many in the past had an injury, a fall on the elbow, shoulder, the dog pulled on the leash, the patient abruptly lifted a heavy object or unloaded a lot of weights, there was a dislocation of the shoulder, playing sports with loads on the arms (volleyball, throwing objects, martial arts with punches, bench press lying bars). Some people don’t remember the injury. In the last century, they were given a thoughtful diagnosis of “shoulder-shoulder periarteritis” – which literally means “inflammation somewhere in the area of ​​​​the shoulder and shoulder blades”, they were treated for many months by a neurologist without a significant positive result, pricked by a surgeon or rheumatologist “blockade” with hormonal drugs . In fact, these complaints are associated with damage or inflammation of the ligaments of the shoulder joint, the tendons around it, the joint capsule, they are different in volume, size, quantity, which affects the clinical picture.

Most common causes of pain

The most common causes of pain are injuries to the rotator cuff, the tendon layer that surrounds the shoulder joint and is responsible for flexion, abduction, and internal rotation of the shoulder.

* Image from http://koleno.su/upload/medialibrary/03a/03a7264613dec619369fbb63bd31c616.jpg

More often, the tendon of the supraspinatus muscle is damaged, when it falls on the arm, it is partially or completely cut on the acromial process of the scapula, less often the tendons of the infraspinatus and subscapular muscles, a fracture of the large tubercle of the shoulder, to which the tendon of the supraspinatus muscle is attached, causes similar symptoms. These injuries are accompanied by pain in the shoulder joint and shoulder, night pains like a toothache, there were patients who could only sleep while sitting, holding a sick hand with a healthy hand. Also, the range of motion in the shoulder is often reduced, the person cannot raise his arm, comb his hair, but if the tendon is not completely torn, the range of motion in the shoulder can be maintained in sufficient volume.

Damage to the ligaments and capsule of the shoulder joint (Bankart injury, SLAP) also leads to this, in this case, a feeling of instability in the shoulder joint, numbness in the arm, repeated dislocations of the shoulder during normal household movements are added to pain and limitation of movement.

*Image from http://ortopedya.ru/images/ort/public/plecho/28.jpg

Damage to the ligaments that fix the collarbone to the shoulder blade is also accompanied by pain and impaired function.

*Image from http://www.alriyadh.com/media/thumb/fc/63/750_c353983c6f.jpg

Similar complaints about the shoulder joint occur in people without injury. Gout disease (disturbance of uric acid metabolism) leads to the deposition of ossificates in the area of ​​the rotator cuff tendons and pain syndrome.

*Image from the site http://sustavguru.ru/img/kalcificiruyucshij_tendinit_1.jpg

Breast surgery is often accompanied by swelling, inflammation of the rotator cuff and surrounding tissues and, as a result, pain and impaired range of motion in the shoulder.

Patients with such complaints should seek advice from an orthopedist who, after a detailed conversation and examination, will prescribe the necessary examination, most often it is X-ray and MRI on a device with a power of at least 1.5 Tesla, and recommend to come for a second appointment with the results of the examination .

*Image from the website http://www.nld.by/399/stat10_2_big.jpg

Treatment

Most of these problems are solved in an operative way. Modern endoscopic equipment makes it possible to perform such operations with little trauma, quickly, with a short stay in the hospital, good functional and cosmetic results, many of them are simply impossible to perform in the classical surgical way using incisions. Treatment with injections and pills does not eliminate the problem, it simply masks it, and, especially after the use of hormonal injections, often makes it completely unsolvable.

*Image from https://wooridulhospital.files.wordpress.com/2015/01/orthopedic-shoulder-clinic-3.jpg

*Image from the site http://www.pirogov-center.ru/etc/pic4322.jpg

You should contact your doctor if your shoulder hurts for several days.

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What should I do if my shoulder hurts?

Pain in the shoulder area is an unfavorable fact, which indicates that pathology occurs in soft tissues or in bone. Somewhat less often, the cause of pain in the shoulder may lie in the cervical spine, in the internal organs. According to its manifestation, pain can be constant, acute, subacute, pressing, dull. There is a close relationship with movement in the shoulder joint. Most often, pain symptoms can increase with movement, and at rest, on the contrary, decrease somewhat. To understand the causes of such adverse symptoms, diagnostics are carried out. The doctor first interviews the patient, conducts an examination, then decides to carry out auxiliary diagnostic methods. Before clarifying all the circumstances of pain symptoms in the shoulder, it is recommended to create peace, and, with the permission of the doctor, the use of painkillers.

Shoulder pain causes

Shoulder injury

Trauma is one of the common causes of shoulder pain. Doctors note in most cases a shoulder bruise, as a result of a fall or blow to this area. As a result, pain symptoms occur, but over time, discomfort disappears. In half of the cases, in addition to pain, there is a slight swelling, sometimes bruising. On medical examination, the patient’s upper limb function was preserved. If the degree of injury is serious, then there is a restriction of movement in the shoulder joint.

Usually, bruises rarely occur in patients with bruises, with the exception of those people who are overweight. A bruise occurs due to compression of the shoulder area or a direct blow. Pain further, there may be an increase in pain, as well as the development of edema in the tissues. On palpation of the injury area, the tissues are dense, moderately tense.

With partial or complete rupture of the biceps muscle of the shoulder, pain symptoms are acute. When you try to raise, bend your arm or turn your hands palm up, the pain intensifies several times. On examination and palpation of the shoulder, the pain is pronounced.

If the patient has a fracture of the humerus, the pain is extremely acute, the function of the limb is impaired. The patient with such an injury usually holds the diseased limb with a healthy hand. On examination, the doctor notes crepitus, pathological mobility is diagnosed.

Inflammation of the shoulder

Pain symptoms in the shoulder area may occur due to inflammation. Inflammatory factors can be: constant overstrain of the muscles of the shoulder girdle, various infections / parasites, an intoxication process, or autoimmune pathologies.

If the pain is due to palpation of the biceps brachii, it can be assumed that the patient has tendinitis. The pain is not pronounced and may increase somewhat with the movements of the limb. Upon receipt of additional traumatization, excessive overloads of the muscles of the shoulder, shoulder-scapular periarthritis may occur. The patient notes gross pain symptoms, which no longer have a clear localization, but radiates to neighboring areas. It can be the cervical region, hand, forearm, torso. Usually such patients practically cannot sleep, constantly avoid any movements, try to spare the hand, pressing it to the body. In most cases, a patient with such a problem is diagnosed with subfebrile temperature and general malaise.

Periarthrosis of the shoulder

Periarthrosis of the shoulder usually results from chronic spasm and shortening of the muscles that surround the shoulder joint. If the pathology is not treated in any way, then the pathology becomes chronic, followed by tendinosis of the biceps muscle. The patient in this condition complains of constant pain, which can be aggravated by sudden movements. in the neck, or in the chest.

Shoulder-shoulder periarthrosis means that the soft tissues around the shoulder joint and scapula are primarily affected. From the pattern loads, they are in round-the-clock tension, the blood flow gradually worsens, which in the long term leads to the development of dystrophic (dys – disturbance, trophism – nutrition) changes and in the joint itself – the development of arthrosis is provoked. The quality of the muscles attached to the upper surface of the shoulder joint and the scapula will be that they start from the vertebrae of the cervical region and the base of the occipital bone.

Muscles that are in spasm under the influence of trigger points work according to Hooke’s law (the law of the spring!). They are not able to fully relax when stretched, becoming less elastic and losing their natural range of motion. Quite often, pain in the right shoulder with humeroscapular periarthrosis can be combined with pain in the cervical region, or in the chest.

Muscles from stereotyped, non-optimal loads go into a multi-vector “tear”, breaking the joint-forming surfaces. The spherical head of the humerus is slightly displaced relative to the glenoid cavity of the scapula. That is, the key in the lock does not reach its legal groove in the well a little. And at the same time, we are forced to regularly make movements, even if they are everyday household ones. Thus, constantly injuring the articulating surfaces. This leads to a tear of the tendons of the supraspinatus / infraspinatus muscle, reactive (reciprocal – natural) edema of injured tissues, subacromial bursitis, and other complications.

Swollen muscle-tendon portions, when trying to move the arm to the side / put the arm behind the back, cannot slip into the small physiological tunnels provided for them by nature. Movement is pretty limited. Traditionally, it is customary to extinguish this reactive inflammation with nonsteroidal drugs, hormonal blockades, use a scarf bandage or orthoses, fixing the arm. But this is the way to the transformation of swollen, inflamed tissues into a lifeless cicatricial process. Dead tissue does not hurt. True, the problem with such tactics moves to neighboring ones. A symmetrical joint begins to suffer, or a herniated disc in the cervical region breaks out, or a “vertebral artery syndrome” / panic attacks unfolds. In this case, the priority in solving this problem is the relief of the myofascial component of pain. That is, identifying all the accumulated triggers (no matter how strange it may seem, the most significant of them can hide along the back of the legs / deep in the stomach), their elimination; stretching of shortened muscle chains by the hands of an exercise therapy instructor to the physiological norm.

Plus: capillary therapy, because without putting the capillaries into operation it is not possible to solve the problem of dystrophic diseases, which include humeroscapular periarthrosis in combination with cervical osteochondrosis. What is really important in this disease: compliance with the water-drinking regimen (we are dealing with the “drought” disease), the exclusion of sugar in all its manifestations, even with fruits – be careful.

Pain in the shoulder which doctor should I contact?

With these causes of pain in the shoulder, an orthopedic traumatologist deals with this problem. If an orthopedic traumatologist sees a different cause of the disease, he may prescribe an additional consultation with other specialists (surgeon, neuropathologist).

Usually the doctor interviews the patient. Complaints should be clarified, when they arose, and under what circumstances. Next, the doctor examines the patient, palpation of the body. The doctor necessarily conducts trauma tests on the shoulder joint, checks the range of motion. Only then can you decide on treatment tactics. You also need to palpate the muscles around the shoulder joint for the presence of pathological tension in them, since such muscles will be a “vice” for the joint, aggravating blood circulation and increasing degenerative changes.

After the examination, the doctor decides on additional research methods:

If there is a suspicion of a fracture, then it is urgent to give the limb rest. You can use a scarf bandage. If the fracture is confirmed, then it is necessary to fix the limb with a plaster splint, and give the patient an anesthetic. In no case should you self-medicate, that is, try to set bone fragments on your own. To do this, in a medical institution, specialists under X-ray control will choose the tactics of treating a fracture. It can be done conservatively or surgically. Pain in the left shoulder, must always be differentiated from diseases of the cardiovascular system

If a patient has humeroscapular periatrosis, then all efforts must be directed to solving the cause of the disease. Almost always, the cause of this condition is a long-term spasm of the muscles surrounding the shoulder joint. The longer you do not take any therapeutic measures, the further the pathological process goes, up to arthrosis of the shoulder joint itself. Considering this condition as a consequence of chronic muscle tension, treatment will be aimed at eliminating this very tension. Unfortunately, there are no effective drugs, so the treatment uses a complex of deep myofascial massage of the muscles involved, individual kinesiotherapy and physiotherapy to stimulate capillary blood flow.

Conservative treatment is carried out by closed reduction of fragments under general anesthesia, and under radiographic control. Next, a plaster splint is applied to give rest to the limb and the possibility of bone fusion. If for certain reasons it is not possible, or it is impossible to treat the fracture conservatively, then an open reposition of the fragments is performed. The fracture is fixed with metal structures.