Shoulder Pain - Causes and Treatment

Pain on the shoulder: causes and therapy
Shoulder pain is something very painful. Everybody wants a quick help and especially a pain relief. Unfortunately, shoulder pain often does not even help with painkillers, which makes the condition worse. The possible causes of shoulder pain are extremely diverse.

contents

• causes
• Pain in the shoulder
• Cause: overload, violation
• Frozen shoulder
• calcific
• Causes outside the shoulder
• Treatment methods for shoulder pain
• Naturopathic therapies for shoulder pain
• Diet for pain in the shoulder
• conclusion

causes

The shoulder is a ball joint and the most flexible joint of the human body. This has a lot of room to move and is therefore prone to a variety of complaints. In addition, the shoulder joint is the most unstable joint of the human body and therefore requires a variety of muscular support. The joint does not always have to be affected in case of pain. Frequently, shoulder-surrounding muscles and vision are responsible for shoulder pain. Causes include overwork, injuries, wear, inflammation, deposits and the bottleneck syndrome.

The shoulder pain can often be provoked by certain movements, which makes a diagnosis easier.

Shoulder pain can be caused by many different causes and in the worst case requires surgery. (Image: underdogstudios / fotolia.com)

Pain in the shoulder

Pain on the shoulder can interfere with the normal daily routine pretty much. Sleep is also often affected by shoulder pain. Patients become awake during the night due in part to massive pain and can no longer fall asleep. This indicates a chronic inflammatory event. The symptoms can be so severe that painkillers do not really bring relief.

Cause: overload, violation

The following overloads and injuries can lead to shoulder problems: Overloading during sports, for example during strength training, can suddenly cause shoulder pain. Reasons for this are a tearing or overstretching of the capsule or a tendon. Massive pain can be found in a shoulder dislocation (dislocation of the shoulder joint) or a collarbone fracture. As a rule, the affected arm can not be moved at all. Therefore, those affected take a restraint by pressing the arm firmly to the body.

The shoulder joint has extremely complex structures in a confined space, making it particularly vulnerable to injury. (Image: bilderzwerg / fotolia.com)

acromioclavicular blast
Another injury that causes severe pain is shoulder articular blasting. The Schultereckgelenk refers to a firm connection between the outer clavicle and the scapula. In the accident that underlies this injury, the ligaments that stabilize the sockfoot are stretched, torn or completely ruptured. The pain occurs immediately after the event. Often, the injury can even be seen from the outside.

Injury to the rotator cuff
A common cause is rotator cuff injury. It consists of four muscles whose tendons form a tendon plate and which, as the name suggests, surrounds the shoulder joint as a kind of cuff. Their function is extremely important for a healthy shoulder. As you grow older, there is a natural degeneration that can make the rotator cuff easier to tear. An injury occurs here above all beyond the age of 50 years, is however also with younger ones possible. If the area has been damaged before, the cuff can tear, for example, when excessive force is applied.

Even a fall on the shoulder can lead to it. This does not necessarily have to be painful. More often, however, rupture results in shoulder pain and a feeling of weakness in the shoulder. With a complete crack, normal movement is no longer possible. Also, the rotator cuff tear only partially - this causes shoulder pain, but the movement is not limited.

In a partial rupture, the sole conservative therapy is often sufficient. First, however, the inflammation and the pain are in the foreground. Medicines that are anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving are used. Thereafter, regular physiotherapy is important. If the tendon is completely torn, surgery is usually performed. Depending on the extent, different methods are available. Unfortunately, the complicated shoulder also requires a long rehabilitation time. Six months to complete recovery are quite possible.

Physiotherapy can help with many causes of shoulder pain. (Image: Photographee.eu/fotolia.com)

The impingement syndrome of the shoulder
This refers to a narrowness in the area between the shoulder roof and the humeral head, the so-called subacromial space. This is caused by instability, tendon thickness, wear, an unfavorably shaped shoulder roof or limescale (s.Kalkschulter). Most commonly affected are athletes who perform overhead sports such as javelin throwing or swimming. But even people who work a lot overhead in their job (for example, painters), suffer from this disease.

Symptoms include mild to massive shoulder pain. At first, these are mainly dependent on movement. They occur when raising the affected arm to the rear or to the side, such as when donning - especially when the movements are carried out abruptly. Later, lying on the shoulder is no longer possible. Patients wake up with massive shoulder pain. At the latest then, a doctor is visited. The narrowness creates friction, which in turn leads to inflammation. The pain gets worse. The affected structures of the shoulder are in the worst case so irritated and overused that the tendons can tearing or even completely tear. (see violation of the rotator cuff).

In an impingement syndrome, the bursa may also be affected. This causes bursitis, which leads to additional unpleasant shoulder pain.

X-rays and MRI are the drugs of choice for diagnosing shoulder pain. The pain is treated by medication. This is followed by special physiotherapy and manual therapy. Certain muscle groups, which relieve the shoulder joint, should be strengthened. If all this does not help and the rotator cuff is ruptured, surgery is considered.

With the help of imaging techniques, possible causes of shoulder pain can be determined more precisely. (Image: rcfotostock / fotolia.com)

Frozen shoulder

The Frozen Shoulder ("Frozen Shoulder") begins with pain on the shoulder, which becomes more and more frequent and then becomes immobile, as if the shoulder were really frozen. The whole occurs either without apparent cause, or develops after an injury or an operation. Since the frozen shoulder is accompanied by inflammation, anti-inflammatory and analgesic medicines are the first to be prescribed.

A special physiotherapy that tries to keep the shoulder flexible is indispensable. It is important during the inflammatory phase, to adjust the treatment necessarily to the pain, so that the disease does not get worse. The whole thing is supported by warmth, cold and electrotherapy. An operation is rarely necessary.

calcific

As the name implies: In the calculus shoulder lime deposits in the tendon attachments. This disease has a long history. Causes are traumas, sports, bad work, overuse, aging and a weak circulation. Constant stimulation and insufficient blood flow transform tendon tissue into fibrocartilage. In the next phase, the body stores lime in the tissue. This is then also visible with imaging techniques. All this does not have to hurt, but can lead to massive complaints.

In the treatment, as already mentioned with the other painful illnesses, with suitable medicaments one tries to get the inflammation under control and to relieve the pain. Furthermore, painkillers or narcotics are injected. As soon as the pain permits slight movements, targeted physiotherapy takes place. Other procedures include shock wave therapy and matrix therapy. Often the lime dissolves in connection with the appropriate treatment and the pain is history. However, if any therapy is unsuccessful and the pain is unbearable, the calcified lesions are surgically removed by keyhole surgery.

Causes outside the shoulder

Shoulder pain can also occur if the causes are located outside the shoulder, for example due to cervical diseases and neck discomfort. The pain then radiates into the shoulder.

But even a far away from the shoulder organ can be to blame for the complaints. That's the bile. If this is ill, the pain can drag into the right shoulder. Especially if the affected patients in addition to the pain still have indigestion and problems with the consumption of fatty foods, should be thought of the bile.

In case of emergency, shoulder surgery remains essential, but all other options should be exhausted beforehand. (Image: Gorodenkoff / fotolia.com)

Treatment methods for shoulder pain

The treatment naturally depends on the underlying cause. To diagnose a diagnosis, a detailed medical history, an examination and imaging procedures, such as X-rays, ultrasound and MRI are used. As a rule, drugs that are anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving are usually prescribed. This is also to break the vicious circle in which the patients are located: pain - restraint - one-sided stress - even more pain. You may be given medication by injection.

This is followed by individual physiotherapy. In the process, bad postures are recognized, corrected and muscles strengthened. The patient is shown exercises that he or she should do regularly at home. If the disease is too massive and too advanced, surgery may be advised. This is usually minimally invasive today. Since the shoulder joint is a very complicated joint, surgery should not be rushed. Also to think about the long convalescence.

If surgery is required, the guidelines of doctors and therapists must be observed. An early, too massive load is to be avoided at all costs in order not to negatively influence the healing process. The shoulder just needs time to heal.

Naturopathic therapies for shoulder pain

The most varied naturopathic therapies are used. Especially the acupuncture can be helpful for acute shoulder pain. Anthroposophic medicine holds ampoules that are injected and have an anti-inflammatory effect, relieve the pain and additionally strengthen the holding apparatus and the joint. Bursitis associated with shoulder discomfort is also treated with the procedures outlined above.

Acupuncture can also be used to treat acute shoulder pain. (Image: WavebreakmediaMicro / fotolia.com)

Homeopathic remedies for the treatment of shoulder pain include Bryonia, Arnica, Ruta and Rhus toxicodendron. Frequently, these agents are also used in the form of syringes. The Baunscheidt therapy relieves the pain and has an anti-inflammatory effect. Neural therapy according to Huneke is also a tried and tested remedy. A local anesthetic such as procaine is injected at certain points.

Nettle, dandelion, devil's claw and comfrey help with phytotherapy. Relieve pain and rubbings with slightly warmed St. John's wort oil. The patients themselves have to find out if they get better heat or cold. If you want to heat an ointment made from cayenne pepper is recommended. This warms the entire tissue. When refrigerated Quarkwickel do their good.

Anti-inflammatory and at the same time pain-relieving are enzymes from the papaya and pineapple. These are available in tablet form at the pharmacy. But beware: Patients who take blood-thinning medications must refrain from doing so.

Foot reflexology therapy can treat the entire body, including the shoulders. This is a very pleasant therapy, far from the actual pain, but with success.

Foot reflexology therapy can also be used for shoulder pain. (Image: wildworx / fotolia.com)

Diet for pain in the shoulder

Often, patients suffering from shoulder discomfort are acidified. Especially with muscle cramps and / or calcium deposits, this is quite close. And the more pain there is, the more acid the body produces. Therefore, it is essential to think of a basic diet. It is low in animal products and rich in vegetables and fruits. Equally important is adequate hydration with tea and still water.

conclusion

In summary, shoulder pain should not be so easily accepted. The sooner the appropriate therapy starts, the easier this pain will be. So please do not be a hero, but soon to the doctor. (Sw)