Left shoulder pain treatment. Shoulders and shoulder joints hurt – how to relieve the pain? Diagnosis and exercises for treatment

It can significantly complicate even simple everyday movements. But there is no need to despair! There are many reasons why your left or right shoulder hurts, but for every reason there is a treatment method.

Causes

There is a wide range of ailments that cause suffering to the shoulder joint:

Adhesive capsulitis. The second name of the disease is very eloquent and sounds like “frozen shoulder”. The joint capsule of the shoulder of the right or left shoulder becomes inflamed, changing in size. The pain can spread from the shoulder to the hand, and the movement of the arm is so limited that the limb appears to be “frozen.” Even just raising your hand is very painful.
Arthritis. The inflammatory process in the joint can occur due to many factors - a failure of the immune system or metabolism, a viral infection, etc.
Arthrosis. Pathology of intra-articular cartilage is often caused by age and metabolic disorders. When you try to lift something heavy with a hand affected by arthrosis, the limb reacts with sharp pain.
Bursitis. When the joint capsule becomes inflamed, pain occurs in the shoulder joint when raising the arm.

Diabetes. This disease, widespread throughout the world, has long ceased to be a death sentence, but continues to increase the likelihood of developing frozen shoulder.
Myalgia. Muscle hypertonicity leads to pain. Stress, infection, overload - all this can provoke myalgia.
Shoulder instability. Due to injury or frequent monotonous movements, the stability of the joint head is lost. In this case, the limb may go numb up to the forearm and even the hand.
Humeroscapular periarthritis. One of the common factors explaining why shoulder pain. Triggers degenerative processes in soft tissues. When you raise your arm, the pain intensifies so much that it radiates to the back of your head.
Tendinitis. With this disease, the tendons suffer from inflammation. Tendonitis is characterized by increased pain at night.
Injuries.

The causes of pain in the shoulder joint of the right or left arm can be varied, and each must be dealt with. To do this you will have to see a doctor.

Diagnostics

The first person the patient will meet will be the therapist. This doctor will collect information about the patient, ask in detail about the events that could lead to the disease, and palpate the disturbing joint.

It may be possible to limit yourself to a visit only to a therapist, but there is a possibility that the doctor will send the patient for consultation with other specialists.

A neurologist will help clarify if there was no injury, but the shoulder makes its owner feel discomfort.

If the left shoulder suffers from pain, and the pain spreads to the area of the scapula, then it is necessary to urgently visit a cardiologist. It is likely that it is not the joint that requires treatment, but the cardiovascular system.

A rheumatologist will make an accurate diagnosis if the patient is faced with arthritis, bursitis and other rheumatological diseases.

After an injury, it is logical to go to a traumatologist.

You should not rely on something that will “go away on its own,” but on the help of a professional.

Each specialist must use both proven practice and innovative diagnostic methods, no matter how confusing the diagnosis may seem:

Blood and urine tests. Do you suspect an inflammatory process? Deviations of indicators from the norm can be confirmed or refuted by guesses.
CT scan. A painless study that gives an idea of the nature of the disease.
Magnetic resonance imaging. A true favorite in the diagnostic field. “Draws” a picture of the disease clearly and in detail.
X-ray examination. It will “highlight” the presence of damage and associated tissue damage.

The integrated use of different diagnostic methods will help to find out what disease the shoulder joint has suffered from. When the enemy has revealed himself, it is time to go on the offensive.

Shoulder Pain Treatment

The diagnosis is known, which means treatment can begin. Treatment is traditionally divided into conservative therapy and surgical method. What will be treated when choosing the first type of treatment? What medicine offers:

Drugs anti-inflammatory and analgesic purposes.
Limitation of physical activity shoulder joint using a special bandage. Despite certain inconveniences, you can also find advantages: a correctly selected bandage looks stylish and impressive.
Physiotherapeutic procedures— electrophoresis, phonophoresis and magnetic therapy. Magnetic therapy deserves special mention. This method is applicable during the acute stage of the disease, when the limb cannot even rise up without suffering for the patient.
Exercise therapy. For many years, physical therapy has remained an effective way of rehabilitation after injuries and illnesses. The main thing is the hard work and discipline of the recovering person.
Massage and self-massage. No extreme: all movements should be soft and smooth.
Mud and mineral treatment, if the patient’s budget is designed for such events.

There are difficult cases when conservative therapy fails. Then the surgeons take matters into their own hands. After the operation there is a rehabilitation period.

At the first sign of pain in the shoulder joint, you should schedule a visit to the doctor. There is no need to wait until the unfortunate shoulder begins to hurt so much that when you raise your arm it becomes dark before your eyes. If you turn to professionals in time and start treatment, you will be able to avoid tragic consequences. The main condition is compliance with the doctor’s recommendations.

Nobody likes going to hospitals and doctors, so many people ask the question: “What can you do at home?” Only what the doctor allowed! Ideally, home treatment should be a continuation of professional therapy. At home, you can do physical therapy in strict accordance with the instructions of the methodologist and take medications in the prescribed dosage.

If you are interested in traditional medicine, then before using this or that remedy, ask what your doctor thinks about it.

People's secrets

In the absence of contraindications and a doctor’s prohibition, you can use accessible and inexpensive means:

White cabbage leaf(in summer also a burdock leaf) is rolled out using a rolling pin and applied to the sore joint in the form of a compress.
Swamp cinquefoil can be used both as a raw material for making ointment and as a base for a drink.
Lingonberry leaf tea effective for diabetes (and diabetes provokes adhesive capsulitis). In addition, lingonberry tea has disinfectant properties. But be careful! This folk remedy has very serious contraindications - gastritis and ulcers, allergies and individual intolerance.

Pain in the shoulders and neck is familiar to people of all ages leading an active or passive lifestyle. There are many reasons why shoulders and neck hurt. Some are minor, others require prompt medical intervention, so it is necessary to find out about the source in time and get rid of possible negative consequences.

The disease manifests itself on one side of the neck, gradually moving to the shoulder area. A person is deprived of the ability to painlessly turn his head or move his arm. Over time, severe pain in the neck and shoulder locks the joints, growing and intensifying. Increasing pain when moving, moving to the upper limb means that the disease is progressing.

Most often, problems begin with symptoms:

The shoulder or neck becomes numb;
Unpleasant, pulling sensations in the neck or upper limbs;
Joints crack or click;
The muscles are very tense;
Pain limits movement;
Muscles hurt and become inflamed;
Feels like ;
The cervical and shoulder area hurts, both on the left and on the right side;
Pain when being in the cold;
Sharp pain when turning or raising the head;
Discomfort in the ligament area, pain is felt.

Causes

There are two options for why pain appears in the neck and shoulder area: changes in the anatomy of the structure and pain that penetrates further from diseases of various organs.

In the first option, the area of the cervical spine, shoulder joint, skeletal muscle tissue, nerve fibers, and blood vessels are affected by pain. The pathology affects the organs, involving the rest, showing a standard clinical pattern.
The second option is heart problems and gallbladder diseases radiating to the arm, shoulder or neck.

Identifying the causes of pain in the cervical spine, extending to the shoulder, is entrusted to a specialist, not the patient. Some pathologies require immediate transfer to a hospital with surgeons and therapists; sometimes, resuscitation is required.

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Pathologies of the shoulders and neck

The area of the cervical spine, including the canals of the spinal cord, the bones of the upper limb girdle, the shoulder joints, and a variety of muscle tissue is the collar zone. The main and largest muscle is the trapezius, whose branches extend throughout the area of the neck and nearby organs. The area near the spine contains many blood vessels and cervical plexuses of nerve tissue.

The artery that delivers blood cells to the brain is located in a canal with notches of the transverse processes of the vertebrae of the neck, called the vertebral artery (left or right).

Muscular sections

Muscle pain in the neck area associated with the shoulder occurs from staying in one uncomfortable position for a long time. Neck and shoulder pain affects office workers, people behind the cash register, programmers, artists and scientists. Those who choose this type of activity lead a passive lifestyle, walk little, sit for many hours at an easel, computer, etc. If your shoulder hurts, radiates to your neck, or vice versa after sitting in one place for a long time, a simple warm-up and a walk will help, there is no talk of any serious treatment methods.

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Intervertebral cartilage

Pain in the cervical spine appears due to osteochondrosis. This disease has to be treated not only by older people, but also by young people. The process is degenerative and develops in the structure of the connective tissue of the spine. Changes in the cartilage coating lead to displacement of the vertebrae relative to each other, which is called spondylolisthesis.

Pain in the cervical spine is the result of crumbling cartilage between the vertebrae, hernia or blockage of the vertebrae, and the proliferation of bone tissue that forms spines - osteophytes. Processes in which nerve roots are compressed, tissues become inflamed, and pain in the neck and shoulders appears are successfully treated.

Shoulder joint

Pain in the shoulder and neck is the result of arthritis of the shoulder joint or periarthritis - inflammation of the tissues around the joint without affecting the capsule. When the shoulder joint becomes inflamed, it can spread to the neck if the joint is affected. It is rare in rheumatoid arthritis, where the joints between the vertebrae are involved in the painful process. A tumor appears, the skin turns red, becomes hot, and severe limitation in movement appears.

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When there is pain in the neck, but there is no desire to turn to specialists, but want to do independent treatment, it is important to remember that the shoulder joints with inflamed rheumatoid arthritis in the severe form of the last stages are not curable, and the patient becomes unable to care for himself, acquiring disability.

The brachial plexuses of nerves take part in the effects of periarthritis, move to the cervical area and radiate to the back of the head. The subacute course of the disease is mild, aching pain is felt between the neck and shoulder.

Joint movements are limited, as in the case of arthritis, but the inflammation is not pronounced, and the pathology is treated well. Ultrasonic devices are used to determine the problem of the joint. In special cases, arthroscopy is performed. It allows for additional therapeutic actions, such as administering medications to get rid of inflammation in the joints.

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Spinal artery

When it is difficult to understand the cause of pain in the cervical spine, this indicates. It is accompanied by barely expressed pain, but there is a headache, noise in the ears, the quality of vision decreases, and fainting occurs.

Interesting read:

Doctors confuse it with vegetative-vascular dystonia and prescribe long courses of treatment, but the state of health continues to rapidly deteriorate. Disturbances associated with cerebral circulation occur. To identify the cause, an MRI is performed to determine the exact cause and level of danger.

Diseases of internal organs

Having attributed the emerging problems to osteochondrosis, people begin to treat it on their own or neglect their own health without turning to doctors. The pathologies progress, and the pain, the cause of which is a disease of the internal organ, radiates to the shoulder or neck.

Angina pectoris manifests itself in the form of squeezing, pressing pain behind the chest in the area of the heart. Shortness of breath that occurs during physical activity goes away at rest. Doctors are faced with cases where the patient felt pain in the left shoulder and neck due to angina pectoris and nothing else. It is not felt in the upper limb, there is no cardiac tingling, the ECG reveals ischemic changes. When the pain goes away when using nitroglycerin, the presence of the disease is confirmed.

Myocardial infarction

A dangerous pathology - myocardial infarction, manifests itself in a person with sudden difficulty breathing at complete rest, the area behind the chest is accompanied by an unbearable burning sensation. The patient describes a burning sensation in the neck and shoulder on the left side. Anxiety, forehead sweating, difficulty breathing are the accompanying pathology. If damage to the heart muscle is extensive, pain shock occurs and increases. Help must be timely and adequate so as not to aggravate the situation.

Biliary colic

Pain in the cervical region and right shoulder indicates biliary colic, which is inherent in people who experience all the hardships of cholelithiasis. When the gallbladder is inflamed, the phrenic nerve exhibits a reaction, this is called the phrenicus symptom.

If the menu and diet regimen are violated, smoked meats, fried foods or high-fat foods are consumed, the patient feels sick, vomits, the sclera and skin turn yellow, this is obstructive jaundice. If symptoms occur, hospital treatment and surgical assistance during the “cold period” are required. If biliary peritonitis is suspected, surgery is prescribed and performed on an emergency basis.

Lung tumor and Pancoast syndrome

Cancerous tumors in this area are rare, but we must not forget about it, because the main manifestation is pain in the shoulder near the neck. The initial stage of growth of a cancerous tumor is not noticeable, and it is not possible to detect it without the help of a specialist. After a while, growing and capturing the surrounding tissues, it reaches the brachial plexus, sympathetic nerve fibers located between the initial segment of the neck and ending with the cervical ganglia.

Symptoms occur in the form of a sunken eyeball - enophthalmos, constriction of the pupil - miosis, drooping eyelid - ptosis. Horner's syndrome is common when the sympathetic nervous tissues of the neck are affected. A person gets tired faster than before, loses weight before his eyes, and feels general weakness throughout the body. Curing cancer is difficult and will require a lot of time and effort, but success depends on the stage of tumor development. Doctors prescribe treatment in the form of chemotherapy and radiation therapy to help eliminate cancer cells.

Complications

When your neck hurts, it may seem that the cause is a pulled muscle or a cold nerve. Many people put off seeing a doctor until later, believing that “everything will go away on its own.” As practice shows, non-serious injuries often turn out to be hidden dangerous diseases that later manifest themselves in a severe form.

The neck area contains many vessels that supply the brain with blood, as well as nerve endings that are easily pinched and damaged, immobilizing a person. Pinching causes irreparable damage to the brain due to lack of nutrition.

An advanced form of osteochondrosis leads to pulsating pain, because the vessels are compressed and hypertension appears, the performance of blood vessels and the heart deteriorates, vision decreases, the person becomes deaf and is unable to coordinate his own movements of the limbs and the body as a whole.

The consequence of a compressed spinal artery leads to cerebral ischemia and spinal stroke, which is often encountered in medical practice. Radiculitis is another disease that is preceded by problems of the blood vessels and arteries of the spine. A hernia appears, and when the spinal cord is compressed, paralysis and even death occurs.

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Treatment methods

The choice of therapeutic therapy is influenced by the patient’s condition and the type of disease. The main task is to relieve inflammation and eliminate pain. To avoid incorrect diagnosis, deterioration of the condition, and not to trigger the disease, it is important to abandon self-medication and folk remedies.

Medicines

Conservative methods using drugs are used:

Chondroprotectors improve blood circulation (“Artracin”, “Teraflex”);
Drugs that eliminate the inflammatory process and reduce swelling (Indemethacin, Methoxicam, Diclofenac);
Analgesics that reduce pain (“Ketorol”, “Analgin”, “Barangin”);
Antispasmodics that improve blood flow (“Mydocalm”, “Trental”);
Ointment and gel against the inflammatory process (Diclogel, Voltaren, Nicoflex).

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Physiotherapy

They carry out procedures: they treat with mud, healing waters, do acupuncture, magnetotherapy, and use electrophoresis.

Arthrosis and arthritis are treated with medications for inflammatory processes, and chondroprotectors are used. In advanced cases of the disease, analgesics and hormones are prescribed to relieve pain. Medicines are administered intravenously or intramuscularly. If there is no result, the shoulder joint is replaced.
To relieve pain from a bruise, apply ice cubes wrapped in cloth, and if the pain is unbearable, use analgesics.
Anti-inflammatory medications are used for periarthritis. Doctors prescribe topical ointments.
Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is treated by doing massage, physical exercise and physiotherapeutic procedures. The chronic form requires repetition of courses.

Your feedback on the article

The human body is a complex mechanism, where each part of the body combines different tissues, generously intertwined with vessels and nerves of different calibers at the same time. In some areas there are more nerves, in others there may be none at all.

One nerve fiber can carry information from nearby, but nevertheless different tissues (for example, from the joint capsule and the muscles that move it). In addition, there are nerves that are of sufficient length. They consist of fibers coming from the underlying and overlying organs. So they carry information about sensations (this is what sensory nerve fibers do) from organs located far from each other and not interconnected.

Why this lyrical digression? It is directly related to your question – what may cause pain in the shoulder joint. This symptom most often accompanies diseases of the structures of the joint itself and the muscles that are responsible for movements in it. But the causes of pain may also lie in the pathology of internal organs. Large nerve fibers carry information about the sensitivity of both the shoulder girdle and, at the same time, the gallbladder (then it will hurt on the right), the heart (the pain is localized on the left), and the diaphragm (it can hurt on both sides).

Anatomy

Below we will return to individual details of the anatomy. Now we'll tell you briefly.

The shoulder joint is the most mobile. It provides movement in any direction. Thus, the arm can be moved away from the body to the side and up, brought towards it, raised up, placed behind the head or behind the back, rotated (as movement around its own axis is called) when bent at the elbow.

High mobility is determined by the shape of the joint, which is called spherical. Here the humerus ends in an almost complete “ball”, and it comes into contact with an almost flat “platform” on the side of the scapula (it is called the glenoid cavity). If this articular area were not surrounded on all sides by cartilage tissue, the head of the humerus would “fly out” of the joint with every movement. But this articular “lip,” as well as the ligaments abundantly entwining the articulation of the bones, hold the shoulder in place.

The joint capsule is a tissue formation similar in structure to the ligamentous apparatus. This structure “wraps” each joint, allowing circulation within this enclosed space. The peculiarity of the capsule of this particular joint is that it is wide, creating space for an abundance of movements performed in the joint.

Since the joint makes a lot of movements, it must be surrounded by a large number of muscles, whose fibers will go in different directions and attach their ends to different sides of the humerus, and to the chest, and to the scapula, and to the collarbone. The latter, although not considered part of the shoulder joint, is directly involved in its activity, being an additional support for the humerus rotating in all directions.

The muscles attach to the humerus and radiate from it in different directions. They form the rotator cuff:

the deltoid muscle is responsible for shoulder abduction;
subscapularis – for inward rotation of the shoulder;
supraspinatus - for lifting and abduction to the side;
teres minor and infraspinatus – rotate the shoulder outward.

There are other muscles, such as the biceps, whose tendon runs inside the joint. Which of them is inflamed can be indirectly judged by which movement is impaired or causes pain (for example, pain that appears when you raise your arm indicates inflammation of the supraspinatus muscle).

All these structures - muscles, ligaments, articular cartilage and capsule - are penetrated by sensory nerves that carry a sensation of pain to the brain if any of the tissues develop inflammation, stretch or rupture.

Here, motor fibers pass from the spine - they carry a command to the muscles to move the limb in one direction or another. If they become pinched between bone or other structures, pain also occurs.

Please note that medical workers refer to the upper third of the arm as the “shoulder” – from the shoulder to the elbow joint. The area from the neck to the shoulder joint is called in medicine the “shoulder girdle” and, together with the structures surrounding the shoulder blade and collarbone, makes up the shoulder girdle.

Why does the shoulder joint hurt?

The causes of pain in the shoulder joint are conventionally divided into 2 groups:

Pathologies associated with the joint itself and the surrounding ligaments, tendons or muscles. This includes inflammation of the capsule, rotator cuff muscle, joint capsule, cartilage on articulating bones, muscles, tendons or the entire joint, and some non-inflammatory diseases of these same structures.
Pathologies with extra-articular localization. This group includes osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, inflammation of the sensitive nerve fiber (neuritis) or the entire large nerve, which is part of the brachial nerve plexus (plexitis), chest disease, heart disease or digestive tract, whose inflammation or tumor “radiates” to the area shoulder

Let us consider each of the causes of pain in detail, starting with the first group of pathologies.

Tendinitis (inflammation of a muscle tendon)

Since, as we said, the shoulder joint is surrounded by many muscles, which are attached here with their tendons, therefore, tendinitis can have different localizations. The symptoms of the disease will depend on this.

Common features of any tendonitis are:

occur most often in those who perform stereotypical shoulder movements (athletes, loaders);
the pain can be sharp, dull or aching;
most often the pain in the shoulder area is sharp and occurs for no apparent reason;
hurts more at night;
the mobility of the arm decreases (that is, it becomes difficult to abduct, bend, or lift it).

Supraspinatus tendinitis

This is a muscle that is located at the top of the shoulder blade and along a short path reaches the outer part of the humeral head. Its tendon becomes inflamed most often due to injury or if there is chronic inflammation of the bursa lying under the acromion process of the scapula.

Here, the pain in the shoulder either increases or decreases - intermittently. Maximum pain is observed if you move your arm to the side by 60-120 degrees. It will also hurt if you press on the shoulder or pat it.

A complication of untreated tendonitis is incomplete rupture of this tendon.

Biceps tendonitis

This muscle, which is more often called the biceps (the word “biceps” is translated from Latin as “biceps muscle”), performs flexion in the shoulder and elbow joints, it makes it possible to turn the hands with the palms facing up.

Symptoms of this tendonitis:

recurring pain along the front surface of the shoulder, often radiating down the arm;
no pain at rest;
it hurts to bend your arm at the shoulder and elbow;
pressure on the forearm (the area from the elbow joint to the hand) is painful;
you can find a point in the area of the head of the humerus, palpation of which causes sharp pain.

This tendinitis can be complicated by a complete rupture or subluxation of the tendon. The last condition is when the tendon slips out of the groove on the surface of the bone in which it should lie.

Infraspinatus tendonitis

This is a disease of athletes and heavy physical labor workers. It does not have pronounced symptoms. Only pain when rotating the entire limb, if you put pressure on the shoulder joint. Such pain is localized not only in the shoulder, but also spreads along the back of the arm to the elbow, and sometimes lower - to the fingers.

A complication of this untreated condition is complete rupture of the tendon.

Rotator cuff inflammation

Here, pain in the shoulder joint is detected when raising the arm up (when you need to reach something or when stretching).

This happens on the second day after a person has worked intensively with his hands, especially if he has not had to do such work before (for example, whitewashing a ceiling). The pain is sharp, severe, and goes away when you lower your arm. At rest it doesn't bother me.

If you conduct an X-ray examination of the shoulder joint, the radiologist will say that he does not see any pathology. The diagnosis can only be made by a traumatologist or sports medicine doctor.

Inflammation of the joint capsule (bursitis) and inflammation of the joint capsule together with adjacent tendons (tenobursitis)

Here, the pain in the shoulder joint is acute, occurs for no apparent reason, limits any movements of the arm, and does not allow a stranger (for example, a doctor) to make passive movements with the affected arm.

Capsulitis (inflammation of the joint capsule)

This condition is rare, so you should think about it last, excluding more serious diseases such as arthritis, rupture of joint ligaments or radiating pain in diseases of the abdominal organs.

Patients with capsulitis of the shoulder joint are more likely to suffer from women 40-50 years old who had to lie down for a long time without moving their arm fully.

Inflammation develops gradually, unnoticed by humans. At some point, he notices that it has become too difficult (like a feeling of “numbness”) to perform the usual movement with his hand, which requires lifting it up or placing it behind his back. So, it becomes painful, for example, to play a musical instrument or manage a bra clasp. This symptom is called “frozen shoulder.”

Arthritis – inflammation of the internal structures of the joint

The disease develops due to:

contact of the joint with infected tissues;
penetrating injury with an infected object or surgery with non-sterile instruments;
bacteria entering the joint through the bloodstream;
rheumatism caused by the bacterium streptococcus (usually develops after a sore throat or glomerulonephritis);
hemorrhages due to diseases of the blood coagulation system, when blood that gets into the joint cavity then suppurates;
joint injuries with subsequent development of inflammation and suppuration;
metabolic diseases (for example, gout), when the joint is irritated by uric acid salts that enter it;
allergies to substances that have entered the body (often this reaction occurs as a response to the injection of protein drugs into a vein or muscle: serums, antitoxins, vaccines);
autoimmune damage, when the body considers joint proteins foreign and begins to produce antibodies against them (this happens with rheumatoid arthritis).

If arthritis is not caused by injury, it may be bilateral.

Arthritis symptoms cannot be ignored. This:

severe pain in the shoulder joint;
it does not go away at rest, but intensifies with movement, especially when trying to put your hand behind your head, lift it up or move it to the side;
pain increases with palpation (palpation by a doctor) or lightly touching the joint;
it is impossible to raise the arm above a conventional line drawn horizontally through the axis of the shoulder joint (that is, above the shoulder girdle);
the joint is deformed due to swelling;
the joint may become hot to the touch;
body temperature rises.

Arthrosis – non-inflammatory damage to joint tissues

This pathology is associated with the development of changes in the articular cartilage lining the head of the humerus or the scapular articular surface. It develops most often as a result of frequent arthritis, as well as in older people - due to disruption of the normal blood supply to the joint structures.

Symptoms of arthrosis are as follows:

acute pain in the shoulder, which occurs with any movement of the arm, but goes away with rest;
maximum pain - when lifting weights with this hand;
it hurts when you touch the collarbone and the bottom of the shoulder blade;
Poor mobility in the joint gradually develops: it no longer hurts, but it is impossible to raise your arm or throw your arm behind your back;
When moving, a crunching or noise is heard in the shoulder.

Shoulder injuries

Pain that appears in the shoulder after a blow to this area, a fall on the side, lifting heavy objects, or a sudden or unnatural movement of the arm indicates that the person has injured the shoulder joint itself or the surrounding ligaments or tendons.

If there is only pain in the shoulder, its motor function is not impaired, we are talking about a bruise of the periarticular tissues. If, after an injury, there is pain in the shoulder to the elbow, the arm hurts, or it is impossible to move at all because of the pain, there may be a tendon rupture or muscle damage - only a traumatologist can distinguish between these conditions.

Deformation of the joint after an injury with the inability to move the arm normally indicates a dislocation. If active movements are impossible, you can only passively (with the help of the other hand or when a third party does this) make movements with this limb, while a crunch or some kind of movement may be felt under the skin if the area of the joint itself or below it is swollen, before it It hurts to touch, then most likely a fracture has occurred.

Deposition of calcium salts in tendon or ligament tissues

This condition – calcification of the soft tissues of the joint – can develop in a person over 30 years of age due to deterioration of metabolic processes. Before this age, calcification occurs in a person suffering from diseases of the parathyroid glands, in which calcium metabolism is impaired.

The symptoms of this pathology are as follows:

shoulder pain is constant;
does not disappear at rest;
intensifies when raising the arm or moving it to the side;
its intensity increases over time.

Spinal diseases

Pathologies in the area of 4-7 vertebrae of the cervical spine, be it:

uncomplicated osteochondrosis;
herniated intervertebral discs;
displacement of one vertebra relative to another (spondylolisthesis);
inflammation of the vertebral bodies (spondylitis);
subluxations or fracture-dislocations of the vertebrae

will manifest as pain in the shoulder joint.

Dislocations and fracture-dislocations appear after injury. Spondylitis most often appears against the background of tuberculosis, the manifestation of which was a dry cough, malaise, sweating, and low fever.

The most common spinal disease that causes shoulder pain is osteochondrosis. This is a condition when the cartilage formation located between the vertebrae (intervertebral disc) along the periphery becomes thinner, and its central jelly-like section shifts towards the spinal canal. When such a nucleus or the remaining “exposed” vertebrae compress the root of the fourth, fifth or sixth cervical spinal nerve, shoulder pain occurs.

Spinal diseases are characterized by the following:

pain occurs in the shoulder and arm: it spreads from the shoulder joint to the elbow, and sometimes to the hand;
worsens when turning and tilting the head;
along with the pain, the sensitivity of the hand is impaired: it freezes or, conversely, feels hot;
The sore arm often gets goosebumps and there is numbness or tingling.

Osteochondrosis is often complicated by glenohumeral periarthritis, when the tendons of the muscles that move the shoulder, as well as the capsule and ligaments of this joint become inflamed. Periarthritis can also occur with shoulder injuries or reactive inflammation as a result of a chronic infectious process in the body (tonsillitis, inflammation of the kidneys or bronchi)

Here's shoulder pain:

appears suddenly, for no apparent reason;
increases gradually;
occurs at night;
intensifies when raising the arm, as well as attempts to put it behind the back, lay it behind the head or move it to the side;
during the day, at rest, the pain subsides;
pain is localized in the shoulders and neck
after a few months, even without treatment, the pain goes away, but the joint loses mobility: it becomes impossible to raise the arm above the horizontal line or move it behind the back.

Brachial neuritis

Here the shoulder joint experiences pain, being in perfect condition along with the surrounding tissues. The pathology is characterized by the appearance of a “lumbago” in the shoulder, after which acute pain remains. It intensifies when you move your hand.

Brachial plexitis

With this pathology, one, two or three large nerve trunks are affected, passing just below the collarbone. They carry commands to the neck, arm and collect information about sensations from there.

Pathology develops after:

injuries: collarbone fracture, sprain or dislocation of the shoulder joint;
birth trauma - in a newborn baby;
long-term stay in a forced position: during a complex and lengthy operation on the chest or abdominal organs, with special features of professional activity that require a long position with the arm abducted or raised;
vibrations;
wearing crutches;
general infectious disease (diseases caused by viruses of the herpetic group are especially capable of this: mononucleosis, herpes zoster, herpes simplex, chicken pox);
hypothermia of the shoulder area;
as a result of metabolic disorders in the body: diabetes, gout).

The disease requires urgent assistance and is characterized by the following symptoms:

severe pain radiating to the shoulder, but localized in the area above or below the collarbone;
intensifies when pressing on the area below the collarbone;
becomes stronger when moving the hand;
characterized as shooting, aching, boring or aching;
may feel like pain in the shoulders and neck;
the hand loses sensitivity on the inside (where the little finger is);
the hand turns pale and may even acquire a bluish color;
the hand may swell;
“goose bumps” that “run” along the inside of the arm, but more in the lower part;
the hand does not feel hot/cold or pain.

Other reasons

The symptom, more often described as pain in the shoulder muscles, less often as pain in the shoulder or shoulder joint, can occur not only with bursitis, inflammation of the tendons, glenohumeral periarthritis, arthrosis, and osteochondrosis. There are also other diseases and conditions:

narrowing syndrome (impingement syndrome);
cervicobrachial plexopathy;
myofascial syndrome;
myelopathy.

There are no subjective symptoms characteristic of these diseases. The diagnosis is made by a doctor - mainly a neurologist, but consultation with a rheumatologist or traumatologist may be necessary.

Referred pain

Pain may radiate to the shoulder due to diseases of the internal organs:

Angina pectoris is a condition when the heart suffers as a result of insufficient oxygen supply to it. Here the pain will be localized behind the sternum and at the same time in the left shoulder joint. It occurs against the background of physical activity of any nature, be it walking against the wind, lifting weights or climbing stairs; it does not necessarily have to be a movement with the left hand. The pain goes away with rest. May be accompanied by a feeling of interruptions in the functioning of the heart. Learn more about the symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of angina.
Myocardial infarction manifests itself in a similar way to angina. But here the main symptom - even if the area of death of the heart muscle is small - is a violation of the general condition. This is a violation of the heart rhythm, sticky sweat, trembling, fear, and possibly loss of consciousness. The pain is very severe and requires seeking emergency medical help. Read more about myocardial infarction.
Pain in the shoulders and shoulder blades is characteristic of inflammation of the pancreas. In this case, the pain is severe, radiating to the upper half of the abdomen, accompanied by nausea, loose stools, and fever.
If the pain syndrome affects the right shoulder and shoulder blade, this may mean the development of cholecystitis - acute or exacerbation of chronic. In this case, nausea, a bitter taste in the mouth, and fever are usually noted.
Upper lobe pneumonia may also be accompanied by pain in the shoulder from the affected lung. In this case, there is a feeling of weakness, lack of air, cough - dry or wet. The temperature often rises.
Polymyalgia rheumatica. If pain in the shoulder appeared after a person had a sore throat or scarlet fever, especially if before that there was an enlargement and pain in the knee joint, most likely he developed a complication - rheumatism. And pain in the shoulder is one of the manifestations of this disease.
Tumors of the tissues of the chest cavity. For example, cancer of the apex of the lung, which will cause pain in the shoulder and between the shoulder blades.

Shoulder pain by location

Let's look at the characteristics of pain that can develop in any shoulder joint:

When it hurts	What is this
When raising your arm forward or moving it to the side	Supraspinatus tendinitis
When rotating the hand around its axis towards the thumb, if the elbow is pressed to the body	Infraspinatus tendonitis
When the arm rotates at the shoulder around its axis towards the little finger, when the elbow is pressed to the body	The muscles in the subscapular region are inflamed
Pain in the front of the arm when the forearm rotates towards the little finger It hurts to open the door with a key Shoulder pain worsens when lifting loads Shoulder hurts when bending elbow Pain shoots from elbow to shoulder	Inflammation of the biceps tendon
The joint hurts with any movement. Pain worsens when turning the head or moving the neck	Inflamed joint capsule
It only hurts when lifting heavy objects, even small ones.	Inflamed deltoid tendon
Pain when moving arms back	Tendinitis or sprain of the supraspinatus tendon
Shoulder hurts if you raise your arm vertically	Arthritis or arthrosis of a small joint between the process of the scapula and the collarbone, when the muscles surrounding it become inflamed
The shoulder hurts when trying to comb your hair, style your hair, put your hands behind your head, or turn them around an axis towards the thumb	Stretched infraspinatus or teres minor tendon
The pain is aching and appears only when placing your hands behind your back or when trying to take an object out of your back pocket. It hurts to lie your hand towards the little finger	The subscapularis tendon is injured (stretched or inflamed)
Shoulder and neck pain	arthritis osteochondrosis myalgia plexitis of the shoulder joint arthrosis arthritis
Shoulder and arm pain	Intervertebral hernia tendinitis bursitis glenohumeral periarthritis
Pain from elbow to shoulder	Humeroscapular periarthritis osteochondrosis bursitis inflammation of the cartilage tissue of the elbow joint (epicondylitis or “tennis elbow”, “golfer’s elbow”) rheumatoid arthritis elbow dislocations arthritis or arthrosis of the shoulder joint gouty arthritis of the shoulder joint
Shoulder and back pain	This indicates muscle spasm due to prolonged exposure to an uncomfortable position, the same type of muscle work, hypothermia, and compartment syndrome.
Shoulder and collarbone pain	Clavicle fracture pinching and inflammation of the spinal nerve roots brachial plexus neuralgia intercostal neuralgia glenohumeral periarthritis

If your right shoulder hurts

Pain in the right shoulder is typical for:

bursitis;
biceps tendinitis;
joint injuries;
myositis of one of the shoulder muscles;
calcification of periarticular tissues;
humeroscapular periarthritis;
right-sided pneumonia;
exacerbation of cholelithiasis.

The following signs indicate damage to the right shoulder joint, not muscle tissue:

the pain is constant;
Pain at rest, worsens with movement;
diffuse pain;
all movements without exception are limited;
enlargement of the joint is visible.

Left shoulder hurts

This is a more dangerous localization of the symptom: pain in the left shoulder may be accompanied by myocardial infarction. It may even be that besides this symptom, a heart attack has no other signs, only sudden fear and a sharp “break into a sweat.”

Pain in the left shoulder may also indicate another heart pathology – angina pectoris. Then this symptom accompanies physical activity, walking against the wind (especially cold) and climbing stairs. The pain usually disappears with rest and is relieved by taking nitroglycerin.

Pain in the left shoulder occurs when:

shoulder periarthritis;
tendon calcification;
impingement syndrome;
spinal nerve root entrapment
shoulder joint injuries;
shoulder tumors.

Diagnosis depending on pain intensity

Let's consider what disease can cause this or that subjective characteristic of shoulder pain.

Strong pain

This is how the pain is described:

Shoulder tendon sprain. Then the person remembers that the day before he carried heavy weights or could sleep in an uncomfortable position.
Shoulder dislocation. In this case, you can also remember an episode when someone pulled your hand or had to grab a moving object.
A fracture of the humerus will also be accompanied by severe pain in the shoulder area. But here, too, trauma is noted at the beginning of the disease.
Arthritis. In this case, the joint turns red, becomes deformed, and is very painful to touch.
Bursitis. The pain occurs suddenly and prevents either the person or the examining doctor from moving the arm.
Tendinitis. The pathology manifests itself as pain when performing various movements, which depends on which tendon is inflamed. The symptoms of major tendonitis are described above.
Intervertebral hernia. At the same time, the pain is not only in the shoulder, but also in the neck and face. The hand is freezing, “goosebumps” run over it, it does not feel cold or warmth well.
Diseases of the lungs, liver or spleen. They are described above.

Sharp pain

If pain in the shoulder muscles can be described as sharp, this may indicate the development of a neurological disease such as idiopathic brachial plexopathy. The cause of this pathology is unknown. There is an opinion that it is inherited, but more often its appearance is provoked by vaccination. This disease is characterized by the fact that on one side the short branches coming from the brachial plexus become inflamed. It usually develops between 20 and 40 years of age.

Here the pain occurs in one shoulder, suddenly, and has a sharp character. Not only the shoulder hurts, but also the shoulder girdle. This continues for several days, then goes away. Muscle weakness appears: it becomes difficult to raise your arm, put it behind your back, turn the key in the door and comb your hair.

Also, sharp pain in the shoulder will be accompanied by other diseases:

shoulder arthritis;
capsulitis;
pleurisy;
cholelithiasis;
intervertebral hernia.

Acute pain

This syndrome is accompanied by:

joint injuries;
tendonitis, tendobursitis;
arthritis or arthrosis;
shoulder tendon rupture;
intervertebral hernia localized in the cervical or thoracic region;
angina pectoris;
liver pathologies;
myocardial infarction.

Nagging pain

This is how pain with glenohumeral periarthritis is described. It occurs for no apparent reason, at night. It is localized not only in the shoulder, but also in the neck, and intensifies when placing it behind the back or raising the arm. During the day the pain subsides. If treatment is not carried out, the joint becomes stiff.

Constant pain

If your shoulder hurts constantly, it could be:

tendinitis;
sprain or rupture of ligaments, fracture - if this pain was preceded by injury;
arthrosis: pain accompanies any movement, accompanied by a crunching sound;
glenohumeral periarthritis. Pain occurs at night, gradually intensifies, worsens with pain;
disease of internal organs: hepatitis, cholecystitis, pneumonia, myocardial infarction.

Blunt pain

They describe it this way:

tendinitis. In this case, the pain intensifies with movement;
glenohumeral periarthritis. Pain also has a connection with movement;
diseases of the abdominal organs;
strangulation of the intervertebral hernia of the lower cervical or upper thoracic region;
myocardial infarction.

Burning pain

A syndrome with such characteristics is inherent in spinal diseases. Here the pain increases with active movements of the arm, but if the limb is fixed, the pain goes away.

In addition to the pain, the sensitivity of the hand is impaired, and “goosebumps” periodically run across it. Upper limb muscle strength decreases. She may be getting cold.

Shooting pain

This pain is characteristic of inflammation of the spinal nerve root, which can occur with osteochondrosis, spondylosis and spinal injuries.

Pain with numbness in the arm

This symptom is accompanied by:

glenohumeral periarthritis;
intervertebral hernia;
chest tumors;
bursitis;
shoulder dislocation.

What to do if you have shoulder pain

In order to treat pain in the shoulder joint of the arm correctly, you need to determine its cause. They begin first of all with a consultation with a therapist, whose examination is aimed at excluding life-threatening pathologies, such as myocardial infarction, acute cholecystitis, pneumonia, acute pancreatitis, angina pectoris. If the doctor confirms suspicions of internal diseases, he either refers to the appropriate specialist (surgeon, gastroenterologist, cardiologist), or writes out a referral for hospitalization in a multidisciplinary hospital.

If a life-threatening pathology is excluded, the person is recommended to consult an orthopedic traumatologist. This specialist will check the movement along each of the axes of the limb and palpate the joint. He may prescribe the following types of research:

X-ray of the joint: it will show bone pathology: fracture, dislocation, fracture-dislocation;
radiography of the cervical and thoracic spine;
Ultrasound of the joint, which will reveal muscle inflammation, rupture or sprain of ligaments and tendons, and the presence of inflammatory fluid in the joint;
CT scan of the joint or spine - if the x-ray did not provide comprehensive information.

If the orthopedist excludes pathology of the musculoskeletal system, he refers to a neurologist. This specialist checks sensitivity, reflexes, and if he thinks about a pathology of a neurological nature, then to clarify the diagnosis he focuses on the data of such studies:

CT scan of the lower cervical and upper thoracic spine;
electromyography;
Ultrasound with Dopplerography of large vessels of the head, neck, upper limb.

Treatment for shoulder pain depends on the diagnosis. Before arriving or visiting a doctor, you can only take painkillers:

in the form of an ointment or gel: Diclofenac (Voltaren), Ibufen, DIP;
only on the area of the shoulder joint and surrounding tissues;
only if pain is associated with movement.

You cannot relieve your own pain immediately before visiting a specialist: this way, the doctor will not be able to determine the cause or refer you to the diagnostic method that is needed in the first place.

If there is a connection between pain and a certain movement of the arm, you also need to immobilize (immobilize) the affected limb by bending it at the elbow and bringing it towards the body. In that case, before you see an orthopedic doctor or neurologist, you can take painkillers in the form of tablets: Analgin, Ibuprofen, Diclofenac.

If joint pain occurs after an injury or training, the above rules for immobilization and taking painkillers also apply here. First aid is supplemented by applying to the sore joint:

on the first day - ice: for 15-20 minutes every 3 hours;
from the second day - dry heat (warming with a blue lamp or heating pad) - 3 times a day, 20 minutes each.

You cannot take any folk remedies, perform shoulder massage or exercise therapy on your own – before consulting a therapist. All this is prescribed by a specialist.

The shoulder joint is the most unique joint in the entire body in terms of its structure and functional features. With improper and excessive physical stress on this joint, inflammatory processes develop, resulting in swelling, joint effusion, partial rupture of tendons and muscles that surround the joint.

But the shoulder joint can withstand heavy loads only up to a certain limit, after which its natural functioning is disrupted. The result is pain syndrome. Why does this symptom occur in the left shoulder area? Let's take a closer look.

Causes of pain in the shoulder joint

Pain syndrome in the shoulder joint on the left can radiate to other areas - these are:

The entire length of the arm and neck, moreover, it becomes numb and sensitivity in it is impaired. This symptom may accompany a cervical intervertebral hernia.

The entire length of the arm, while movement is limited. This symptom may accompany capsulitis.

Shoulder, forearm, pain occurs even after raising the arm and during movements (myositis).

Forearm, shoulder, arm, which may indicate a dislocation, fracture, sprain.

The main reasons that cause pain in the shoulder joint are as follows:

after heavy physical exertion;
due to injury;
with intercostal neuralgia;
The left shoulder also hurts after hypothermia, especially after exposure to a draft.

Other reasons include pathologies such as periarthritis, arthritis, heart disease (heart attack, angina), and salt deposition.

Tendinitis

If your shoulder hurts, radiating to the forearm, this may be a signal of the development of tendonitis, an inflammatory-degenerative disease that occurs after heavy physical activity.

As a result of this reason, the first symptom is pain, which is sharp, aching or dull in nature. Its intensification occurs after a sharp raising of the arm, which also becomes numb. The arm can hurt very much at night, which often leads to insomnia. Also, an increase in pain syndrome is observed upon palpation of the hand. In addition to this syndrome, tendinitis also causes symptoms such as limited arm mobility, inflammation, and tissue degeneration.

How treatment will be carried out depends on what stage of the disease is diagnosed:

At the first stage, treatment is carried out such as eliminating any loads and fixing the joint with an immobilizing agent. It is also recommended to do exercises to strengthen the shoulder muscles.
At the second stage, treatment is supplemented by injections with the introduction of anesthetics. It is recommended to treat severe pain with muscle relaxants. Treatment with drugs alone will not bring quick results. It is also necessary to do physical therapy procedures.
At the third stage, surgical treatment is indicated, which is carried out if conservative methods are not effective.

Sprain

A joint sprain (partial tear) on the left side is accompanied by symptoms, the severity of which is determined taking into account the extent of the damage. A characteristic symptom is pain in the shoulder area, radiating to the forearm. In severe cases, even the shoulder blade and neck may hurt.

An increase in pain syndrome is observed after palpation of the lesion. Associated symptoms are: swelling, redness of the skin, hyperemia, hematoma, limited mobility of the arm, and it becomes slightly numb.

Treatment is mainly conservative. If a severe case is observed, surgery is prescribed. First aid after injury consists of applying a cold compress and a fixing bandage. Pain can be eliminated with the help of an analgesic, and damaged fibers can be regenerated with the help of chondroprotectors.

Shoulder bone fracture

If there has been an injury, pain in the shoulder area on the left side may indicate a bone fracture. Trauma pain syndrome can affect not only the shoulder, but also the forearm, as well as the neck. In this case, the discomfort is disturbing both in the lying position and in the standing position. Even the shoulder blade may hurt, especially if the fracture caused bone displacement. A displaced injury is characterized by the appearance of a hematoma, tumor, and shoulder deformity. The pain in this case will be more pronounced.

You can get rid of pain syndrome only after eliminating its cause. Thus, a mild form of fracture requires treatment with a plaster cast. If displacement is diagnosed, it is necessary to perform a reduction, which should only be carried out by a doctor. After this procedure, a plaster cast is applied, which is worn for two months.

The treatment process includes taking painkillers and calcium supplements.

Cervical intervertebral hernia

A pathological phenomenon such as an intervertebral hernia is characterized by a pain syndrome that spreads along the entire arm, covering areas such as the neck, shoulder, forearm, and scapula. Along with the pain, swelling, headache, dizziness, loss of consciousness occur, and the hand goes numb. Natural blood pressure levels may be disrupted. At the same time, the person becomes more irritable and quickly gets tired of physical work.

The syndrome is aching in nature and occurs with some frequency. Increased pain is observed after coughing, sneezing, bending and turning the head.

If a hernia is diagnosed, treatment for this cause of pain can be either conservative or surgical. You can eliminate pain in areas such as the neck, forearm, shoulder, shoulder blade and arm with the help of painkillers. No less useful is treatment with physiotherapy and gymnastics, which help strengthen and relax muscles.

Treatment with surgery is indicated only after diagnosing the rapid progression of the pathology and the ineffectiveness of other methods of eliminating the hernia.

Myositis

Why does myositis occur? The causes of this disease lie in hypothermia, ARVI, and influenza. The main symptom is pain on the left side, which covers areas such as the back of the head, forearm, shoulder, and neck. If the involvement of large nerves in the pathological process is diagnosed, the pain spreads along the entire arm, and the shoulder blade may also hurt.

It is recommended to treat the disease with complete rest of the limb. In this case, it is necessary to make various compresses on the affected area and apply ointment. Treatment with analgesics will help eliminate discomfort and pain. But it is worth considering that treatment should be aimed, first of all, at eliminating the cause of pain, that is, myositis.

Capsulitis

Pain only in the left shoulder area can be a symptom of capsulitis - inflammation of the capsule and synovium of the joint. Common hypothermia, frequent colds, diseases of the spine, heart, and joints can lead to the development of the disease.

Symptoms can be determined based on the stage of the disease.

Treatment of the cause of pain is determined based on the stage of the disease, as well as the individual characteristics of the patient’s body. In the first stages, discomfort can be eliminated with an anesthetic. Severe pain should be treated with corticosteroid injections, and massage and physical therapy are recommended. If a severe course of the disease is diagnosed, surgery is prescribed.

Arthritis

Arthritis is an inflammatory process that is accompanied by degeneration and dystrophy of joint cartilage. Damage to the joint leads to loss of normal functioning. Symptoms at different stages are distinctive:

At the first stage, aching pain occurs, which intensifies with exercise and subsides with rest. Also, an increase in the syndrome is observed in a lying position, especially at night.
In the second stage, the pain is constant. At the same time, the hand goes numb.
At the third stage, the process of shoulder deformation develops.

Treatment is carried out with the help of non-steroidal drugs, analgesics, glucocorticoids. It is also recommended to do physiotherapeutic procedures and follow a proper diet. In severe cases, surgery is prescribed.

Angina pectoris

The pain syndrome associated with a disease such as angina pectoris has a different character. So, it can be pressing, squeezing, burning or cutting. The natural zone of pain localization is on the left behind the sternum. Irradiation of pain can be observed in the following areas: left hypochondrium, neck, shoulder, forearm, shoulder blade, arm and even the lower jaw.

Treatment of pain syndrome means, first of all, eliminating the provoking cause, that is, angina pectoris. The necessary medications should only be prescribed by a doctor. If the disease is diagnosed at a severe stage, surgical intervention is resorted to.

Periarthritis

Periarthritis is the deposition of salts in the shoulder joint. As a rule, there is an asymmetrical lesion, that is, one shoulder is affected (in our case, the left).

The initial stage of the disease is characterized by moderate pain, which occurs only during physical activity (raising the arm, rotating movement). As the pathology progresses, the pain becomes constant, occurring in a lying position, especially at night.

In some cases, the syndrome radiates to areas such as the shoulder blade, forearm, and also to the neck. The inflammatory process causes swelling and limited joint mobility.

Treatment depends on the severity of the pathology. Pain can be eliminated with an anesthetic, while in the presence of an inflammatory process other drugs are used. Severe cases of the disease require immobilization of the hand. Physiotherapeutic procedures are also carried out.

Prevention of left shoulder pain

To prevent the appearance of shoulder pain and, as a consequence, the development of diseases in this area, it is important to follow the following rules and recommendations:

You should organize a proper diet. So, it is necessary to consume a minimum of deli meats, sweet foods and other foods with a high protein content.

You also need to not overwork yourself with excessive physical activity: it should be optimal, to the best of your ability. An excellent choice would be yoga, swimming, physical therapy, as well as other activities that do not require heavy physical activity.

It is very useful to perform a general massage, which helps improve blood flow and relax muscles.

Sleeping on a hard surface will help prevent pathologies of the musculoskeletal system and improve your posture.

To summarize, it is worth noting that any discomfort in the shoulder area should not be ignored, as serious complications can result. Timely contact with a specialist and implementation of the necessary measures will help prevent the disease from progressing to a severe stage and chronic course.

The patient’s task is to take the treatment and doctor’s recommendations seriously and responsibly. Only in this case is a positive result and a favorable prognosis possible.

The human body is unique. Each organ, joint and even cell performs specific functions. If something fails, pain occurs. With these symptoms, the body signals an illness. By causing discomfort, it protects the injured area of the body from excessive damage. That is why these signs cannot be ignored. They should be treated very carefully. What pathologies can indicate pain in the shoulder joint of the left arm? Let's figure it out.

Causes of pathology

The shoulder is a fairly complex joint in the human body. It is endowed with maximum functionality. The presence of one or another pathology in it not only disrupts the functioning of the joint, but also leads to swelling, inflammation and destruction of the joint capsule, and sometimes violates the integrity of the tendons. The shoulder joint can work for a long time even in this case. But the time comes, and it fails. A person experiences severe pain in the shoulder joint.

The reasons for this pathology may lie in developing ailments:

Tendinitis. Or inflammation of the articular tendons. The reason for this pathology lies in intense stress. During heavy physical activity, the tendons interact very closely with the surface of the joint. As a result, the person experiences irritation and pain.
Biceps tendonitis. The pathology manifests itself in the flexor muscle, which is localized in the upper region of the shoulder. With this disease, the patient experiences constant pain. When you feel the damaged area or any movement, the sensations intensify. If the ligaments of the shoulder joint are completely torn, a spherical swelling is visually noticeable.
Bursitis. This disease often accompanies tendonitis. Pathology also occurs after prolonged overexertion. But bursitis leads to swelling of the joint.
Salt deposits. As a result of this pathology, the ligaments of the joint become rigid. Often, salt deposits are localized under the scapula and collarbone. It is observed in people over 30 years of age. Painful discomfort appears suddenly. In its manifestation, it is quite strong. Any position of the hand does not lead to its reduction. It becomes difficult for a person to move a limb even 30 centimeters away from the body.
Violation of joint formation at the genetic level.
Joint injury. Young people, especially athletes, sometimes experience a dislocation that causes pain in the shoulder joint. The causes of pathology in elderly people are usually associated with degenerative processes.
Neoplasms.
Oversprain of the shoulder ligaments. The phenomenon often occurs in bodybuilders. With pathology, the joint becomes unstable. Most exercises cause difficulties for the athlete. Sometimes even a tear of the cartilaginous ring is diagnosed.
Humeroscapular periarthrosis. Pain in the shoulder joint of the left or right arm is the main symptom of the disease. Over time, the discomfort increases. And it leads to the patient not being able to sleep at night. The nature of the pain is quite diverse - from a dull manifestation to a strong burning sensation.
Tendon rupture.
Hernia, protrusion of discs of the cervical spine.
Neurogenic pathology. A phenomenon in which the sensitivity of the upper limbs and neck is impaired.
Arthritis, arthrosis.
Ailments of internal organs (heart, liver, lungs and others).

Serious pathologies of internal organs

Very often, pain in the shoulder joint of the left arm is perceived as a manifestation of osteochondrosis. However, sometimes such discomfort signals various pathologies of internal organs:

Angina pectoris. When the disease occurs, the pain radiates to the shoulder, neck, and arm. Typical symptoms of the classic picture are squeezing, pressing pain in the sternum, shortness of breath after physical activity. But sometimes the disease progresses differently. The patient feels only pain in the shoulder joint of the left arm and in the neck. In this case, discomfort may not be felt in the hand, and there is no tingling in the heart. Only an ECG will detect ischemia.
Myocardial infarction. Classic symptoms, such as difficulty breathing and unbearable burning pain in the sternum, unfortunately, do not always occur. Very often, pathology is signaled by a burning sensation in the shoulders and neck. As a rule, it is the left shoulder joint that worries. The disease is accompanied by patient anxiety, difficulty breathing, and perspiration on the forehead.

Joint fracture

This phenomenon is a fairly common injury. A fracture of the shoulder joint can affect any part:

head of the bone;
shoulder body;
condylar region.

Frequent sources of pathology are: falling on the hand, strong blows or sports injuries. Quite characteristic symptoms indicate a fracture of the shoulder joint:

painful discomfort in the area of injury;
bruising, swelling;
shoulder deformation, sometimes shortening of the arm may be observed;
possible loss of sensitivity in the hand and fingers;
limitation of limb mobility;
When you feel the damaged area, you sometimes hear a crunching sound.

Treatment of pathology

With these symptoms, it is unlikely that anyone will self-medicate. But it is still worth remembering that such pathologies are treated by a doctor. The patient will be prescribed painkillers, anti-inflammatory and calcium-containing medications.

For mild fractures that are not accompanied by displacement, a plaster cast may be prescribed. Sometimes it is enough to apply a splint or bandage to the shoulder joint. The duration of wearing varies depending on the pathology. As a rule, it ranges from one month to one and a half.

In case of serious injuries, the patient may need surgical intervention with fixing screws, special plates, knitting needles, or rods.

After healing of the fracture, the patient is prescribed physical therapy and physiotherapeutic procedures to restore the functioning of the limb.

Crick

The shoulder joint consists of the scapula, collarbone and humerus bone. Its integrity is maintained thanks to the muscles and joint capsule, as well as tendons and ligaments. Sprain of the shoulder joint leads to a whole range of pathological changes.

The patient may experience varying degrees of damage:

Shoulder joint rupture. With this pathology, the ligaments are completely torn, all fibers are damaged.
Sprain. With this phenomenon, partial damage to the fibers is observed.

The following symptoms may indicate this pathology:

the occurrence of pain;
discomfort is felt even in a calm position;
feeling of weakness in the shoulder;
joint mobility is limited - it is impossible to lift and move the limb to the side;
the joint swells and may increase in size;
presence of bruising and bruising;
shoulder deformity;
when moving, you can hear crackling and crunching sounds;
tingling, numbness in the joint.

Treatment methods

Typically these include:

Cold compress. This procedure is acceptable on the first day. However, you should know that exposure to cold should not last more than 20 minutes.
Fixation of the joint. It is recommended to limit the load on the joint as much as possible. This will reduce pain and inflammation. In addition, the doctor may recommend a special brace for the shoulder joint or an orthopedic splint. The device ensures fixation of the joint in the desired position. Typically, the bandage is worn for several weeks.
Relief from pain. To eliminate discomfort, the doctor will recommend non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, which are used for injuries of the musculoskeletal system. The medications Ibuprofen, Ketorolac, and Naproxen are often prescribed.
External means. For severe pain, it is recommended to use ointment. Pain in the shoulder joint is significantly reduced after exposure to drugs that have analgesic properties. The most effective ointments or creams are: Diclofenac, Indomethacin, Ibuprofen, Voltaren. The product must be applied in a thin layer 2-3 times a day to the damaged area.

The question of surgical intervention is raised only if drug treatment is ineffective. Sometimes surgeries are performed on athletes. This intervention allows you to completely restore shoulder mobility and muscle strength.

Pain due to osteochondrosis

This pathology occurs in people who remain in one position for a long time. Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine causes disruption of the functioning of the autonomic nervous system and blood circulation. Often the discomfort is localized in the neck. However, pain is often felt in the muscles of the shoulder joint.

These symptoms are caused by bone growths that appear on the lateral surfaces of the vertebrae. They, injuring the nerve endings, cause pain in the patient.

Treatment of pathology

It is very important to contact a specialist in a timely manner. Since treatment is quite a complex task, an integrated approach is required:

Drug treatment. Initially, patients are prescribed anti-inflammatory drugs, such as Indomethacin, Diclofenac, Ibuprofen. If the pain lasts long enough, additional painkillers may be recommended: Pentalgin, Tramadol. Antidepressants can also be prescribed in combination: Fluoxetine, Amitriptyline. In addition, chondroprotectors are prescribed to patients: Teraflex, Chondroxide, Structum.
Physical education classes. Gymnastics is a mandatory component of treatment. Exercises help restore damaged discs, significantly improve cervical mobility, and strengthen muscle tissue.
Rehabilitation measures. After pain relief, patients are prescribed a variety of procedures: magnetic therapy, massage, laser therapy, mud therapy, electrophoresis, traction, swimming in the pool.

Types of arthritis

Often this pathology provokes pain. In the shoulder area, 3 forms of pathology can be diagnosed:

Osteoarthritis. This disease develops as a result of degenerative age-related changes in tissues. Cartilage does not protect the articular surface from friction. This pathology is typical for older people.
Rheumatoid arthritis. The disease is systemic. The inflammatory process covers the synovial membrane of the joint. People of any age are susceptible to pathology.
Post-traumatic arthritis. The disease develops against the background of injuries - displacement, cracks or rupture of muscles. Refers to types of osteoarthritis.

Shoulder pain is the first and main sign of the development of arthritis. It increases during movement. Changes in weather also affect the patient's well-being. The patient feels a decrease in the amplitude of hand mobility. Sometimes a characteristic clicking sound is heard while driving. In the later stages, the joint hurts with such intensity that the person cannot sleep at night.

Methods of combating pathology

How to treat shoulder joint with arthritis? Initially, doctors use physiotherapeutic procedures, accompanied by medication, and physical exercise. The therapy complex includes:

warming compresses;
the use of special additives such as Chondroitin;
use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
set of exercises.

If such therapy is ineffective, surgeons resort to surgery. In this case, either a complete replacement of the damaged joint with a prosthesis or a partial replacement is considered.

Development of arthrosis

This is a chronic illness. With arthrosis of the shoulder joint, the patient's condition slowly worsens. Degradation of articular cartilage and nearby tissues occurs. The surface of the joint loses its smoothness. In places it is covered with osteophytes or salt thorns.

The development of arthrosis is slow. The first symptom indicating the development of the disease is pain in the shoulder. Periodically, the discomfort subsides. Physical labor leads to an exacerbation of pathology. The joint swells. The surrounding tissues turn red and become hot. Sometimes a crunching sound is heard while driving.

Treatment methods

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. As a rule, a mild remedy such as Paracetamol is initially prescribed. If a favorable effect cannot be achieved, stronger medications are recommended to the patient: Naproxen, Ibuprofen, Diclofenac, Indomethacin, Nimesulide. These medications help relieve pain.
Intra-articular block. In case of severe disease, special drugs are injected into the joint cavity. Hormonal medications such as Hydrocortisone, Prednisolone, and Kenalog are often used. They provide a good anti-inflammatory effect.
Chondroprotectors. Help restore joint tissue. The most preferred medications are: “Teraflex”, “Arthra”, “Arthro-Active”.

Update: October 2018

Anatomy

Below we will return to individual details of the anatomy. Now we'll tell you briefly.

The muscles attach to the humerus and radiate from it in different directions. They form the rotator cuff:

the deltoid muscle is responsible for shoulder abduction;
subscapularis – for inward rotation of the shoulder;
supraspinatus - for lifting and abduction to the side;
teres minor and infraspinatus – rotate the shoulder outward.

Here, motor fibers pass from the spine - they carry a command to the muscles to move the limb in one direction or another. If they become pinched between bone or other structures, pain also occurs.

Why does the shoulder joint hurt?

The causes of pain in the shoulder joint are conventionally divided into 2 groups:

Pathologies associated with the joint itself and surrounding ligaments, tendons or muscles. This includes inflammation of the capsule, rotator cuff muscle, joint capsule, cartilage on articulating bones, muscles, tendons or the entire joint, and some non-inflammatory diseases of these same structures.
Pathologies with extra-articular localization. This group includes inflammation of the sensitive nerve fiber (neuritis) or the entire large nerve that is part of the brachial plexus (plexitis), chest disease, heart disease or digestive tract, whose inflammation or swelling “radiates” to the shoulder area.

Let us consider each of the causes of pain in detail, starting with the first group of pathologies.

Tendinitis (inflammation of a muscle tendon)

Common features of any tendonitis are:

occur most often in those who perform stereotypical shoulder movements (athletes, loaders);
the pain can be sharp, dull or aching;
most often the pain in the shoulder area is sharp and occurs for no apparent reason;
hurts more at night;
the mobility of the arm decreases (that is, it becomes difficult to abduct, bend, or lift it).

Supraspinatus tendinitis

A complication of untreated tendonitis is incomplete rupture of this tendon.

Biceps tendonitis

Symptoms of this tendonitis:

recurring pain along the front surface of the shoulder, often radiating down the arm;
no pain at rest;
it hurts to bend your arm at the shoulder and elbow;
pressure on the forearm (the area from the elbow joint to the hand) is painful;
you can find a point in the area of the head of the humerus, palpation of which causes sharp pain.

This tendinitis can be complicated by a complete rupture or subluxation of the tendon. The last condition is when the tendon slips out of the groove on the surface of the bone in which it should lie.

Infraspinatus tendonitis

A complication of this untreated condition is complete rupture of the tendon.

Rotator cuff inflammation

Here, pain in the shoulder joint is detected when raising the arm up (when you need to reach something or when stretching).

If you conduct an X-ray examination of the shoulder joint, the radiologist will say that he does not see any pathology. The diagnosis can only be made by a traumatologist or sports medicine doctor.

Inflammation of the joint capsule (bursitis) and inflammation of the joint capsule together with adjacent tendons (tenobursitis)

Capsulitis (inflammation of the joint capsule)

This condition is rare, so you should think about it last, excluding more serious diseases such as arthritis, rupture of joint ligaments or radiating pain in diseases of the abdominal organs.

Patients with capsulitis of the shoulder joint are more likely to suffer from women 40-50 years old who had to lie down for a long time without moving their arm fully.

Arthritis – inflammation of the internal structures of the joint

The disease develops due to:

contact of the joint with infected tissues;
penetrating injury with an infected object or surgery with non-sterile instruments;
bacteria entering the joint through the bloodstream;
rheumatism caused by the bacterium streptococcus (usually develops after a sore throat or glomerulonephritis);
hemorrhages due to diseases of the blood coagulation system, when blood that gets into the joint cavity then suppurates;
joint injuries with subsequent development of inflammation and suppuration;
metabolic diseases (for example), when the joint is irritated by uric acid salts that enter it;
allergies to substances that have entered the body (often this reaction occurs as a response to the injection of protein drugs into a vein or muscle: serums, antitoxins, vaccines);
autoimmune damage, when the body considers the proteins of the joint to be foreign and begins to produce antibodies against them (this happens with).

If arthritis is not caused by injury, it may be bilateral.

Arthritis symptoms cannot be ignored. This:

severe pain in the shoulder joint;
it does not go away at rest, but intensifies with movement, especially when trying to put your hand behind your head, lift it up or move it to the side;
pain increases with palpation (palpation by a doctor) or lightly touching the joint;
it is impossible to raise the arm above a conventional line drawn horizontally through the axis of the shoulder joint (that is, above the shoulder girdle);
the joint is deformed due to swelling;
the joint may become hot to the touch;
body temperature rises.

Arthrosis – non-inflammatory damage to joint tissues

Symptoms of arthrosis are as follows:

acute pain in the shoulder, which occurs with any movement of the arm, but goes away with rest;
maximum pain - when lifting weights with this hand;
it hurts when you touch the collarbone and the bottom of the shoulder blade;
Poor mobility in the joint gradually develops: it no longer hurts, but it is impossible to raise your arm or throw your arm behind your back;
When moving, a crunching or noise is heard in the shoulder.

Shoulder injuries

Deposition of calcium salts in tendon or ligament tissues

The symptoms of this pathology are as follows:

shoulder pain is constant;
does not disappear at rest;
intensifies when raising the arm or moving it to the side;
its intensity increases over time.

Spinal diseases

Pathologies in the area of 4-7 vertebrae of the cervical spine, be it:

uncomplicated osteochondrosis;
herniated intervertebral discs;
displacement of one vertebra relative to another (spondylolisthesis);
inflammation of the vertebral bodies (spondylitis);
subluxations or fracture-dislocations of the vertebrae

will manifest as pain in the shoulder joint.

Spinal diseases are characterized by the following:

pain occurs in the shoulder and arm: it spreads from the shoulder joint to the elbow, and sometimes to the hand;
worsens when turning and tilting the head;
along with the pain, the sensitivity of the hand is impaired: it freezes or, conversely, feels hot;
According to the patient, numbness or tingling is observed.

Here's shoulder pain:

appears suddenly, for no apparent reason;
increases gradually;
occurs at night;
intensifies when raising the arm, as well as attempts to put it behind the back, lay it behind the head or move it to the side;
during the day, at rest, the pain subsides;
pain is localized in the shoulders and neck ;
after a few months, even without treatment, the pain goes away, but the joint loses mobility: it becomes impossible to raise the arm above the horizontal line or move it behind the back.

Brachial neuritis

Brachial plexitis

With this pathology, one, two or three large nerve trunks are affected, passing just below the collarbone. They carry commands to the neck, arm and collect information about sensations from there.

Pathology develops after:

injuries: collarbone fracture, sprain or dislocation of the shoulder joint;
birth trauma - in a newborn baby;
long-term stay in a forced position: during a complex and lengthy operation on the chest or abdominal organs, with special features of professional activity that require a long position with the arm abducted or raised;
vibrations;
wearing crutches;
general infectious disease (diseases caused by viruses of the herpetic group are especially capable of this: mononucleosis, herpes zoster, herpes simplex, chicken pox);
hypothermia of the shoulder area;
as a result of disruption of metabolic processes in the body: with, gout).

The disease requires urgent assistance and is characterized by the following symptoms:

severe pain radiating to the shoulder, but localized in the area above or below the collarbone;
intensifies when pressing on the area below the collarbone;
becomes stronger when moving the hand;
characterized as shooting, aching, boring or aching;
may feel like pain in the shoulders and neck;
the hand loses sensitivity on the inside (where the little finger is);
the hand turns pale and may even acquire a bluish color;
the hand may swell;
“goose bumps” that “run” along the inside of the arm, but more in the lower part;
the hand does not feel hot/cold or pain.

Other reasons

narrowing syndrome (impingement syndrome);
cervicobrachial plexopathy;
myofascial syndrome;
myelopathy.

There are no subjective symptoms characteristic of these diseases. The diagnosis is made by a doctor - mainly a neurologist, but consultation with a rheumatologist or traumatologist may be necessary.

Referred pain

Pain may radiate to the shoulder due to diseases of the internal organs:

Angina pectoris is a condition when the heart suffers as a result of insufficient oxygen supply to it. Here the pain will be localized behind the sternum and at the same time in the left shoulder joint. It occurs against the background of physical activity of any nature, be it walking against the wind, lifting weights or climbing stairs; it does not necessarily have to be a movement with the left hand. The pain goes away with rest. May be accompanied by a feeling of interruptions in the functioning of the heart. .
Manifests itself in a similar way to angina myocardial infarction. But here the main symptom - even if the area of death of the heart muscle is small - is a violation of the general condition. This is a violation of the heart rhythm, sticky sweat, trembling, fear, and possibly loss of consciousness. The pain is very severe and requires seeking emergency medical help. .
Pain in the shoulders and shoulder blades is characteristic of inflammation of the pancreas. In this case, the pain is severe, radiating to the upper half of the abdomen, accompanied by nausea, loose stools, and fever.
If the pain syndrome affects the right shoulder and shoulder blade, this may mean the development of cholecystitis - acute or exacerbation of chronic. In this case, nausea, a bitter taste in the mouth, and fever are usually noted.
Upper lobe pneumonia may also be accompanied by pain in the shoulder from the affected lung. In this case, there is a feeling of weakness, lack of air, cough - dry or wet. The temperature often rises.
Polymyalgia rheumatica. If pain in the shoulder appeared after a person had a sore throat or, especially if before that there was an increase and pain in the knee joint, most likely he developed a complication - rheumatism. And pain in the shoulder is one of the manifestations of this disease.
Tumors of chest tissue. For example, cancer of the apex of the lung, which will cause pain in the shoulder and between the shoulder blades.

Shoulder pain by location

Let's look at the characteristics of pain that can develop in any shoulder joint:

When it hurts	What is this
When raising your arm forward or moving it to the side	Supraspinatus tendinitis
When rotating the hand around its axis towards the thumb, if the elbow is pressed to the body	Infraspinatus tendonitis
When the arm rotates at the shoulder around its axis towards the little finger, when the elbow is pressed to the body	The muscles in the subscapular region are inflamed
Pain in the front of the arm when the forearm rotates towards the little finger It hurts to open the door with a key Shoulder pain worsens when lifting loads Shoulder hurts when bending elbow Pain shoots from elbow to shoulder	Inflammation of the biceps tendon
The joint hurts with any movement. Pain worsens when turning the head or moving the neck	Inflamed joint capsule
It only hurts when lifting heavy objects, even small ones.	Inflamed deltoid tendon
Pain when moving arms back	Tendinitis or sprain of the supraspinatus tendon
Shoulder hurts if you raise your arm vertically	Arthritis or arthrosis of a small joint between the process of the scapula and the collarbone, when the muscles surrounding it become inflamed
The shoulder hurts when trying to comb your hair, style your hair, put your hands behind your head, or turn them around an axis towards the thumb	Stretched infraspinatus or teres minor tendon
The pain is aching and appears only when placing your hands behind your back or when trying to take an object out of your back pocket. It hurts to lie your hand towards the little finger	The subscapularis tendon is injured (stretched or inflamed)
Shoulder and neck pain	arthritis osteochondrosis myalgia plexitis of the shoulder joint arthrosis arthritis
Shoulder and arm pain	Intervertebral hernia tendinitis bursitis glenohumeral periarthritis
Pain from elbow to shoulder	Humeroscapular periarthritis osteochondrosis bursitis inflammation of the cartilage tissue of the elbow joint (epicondylitis or “tennis elbow”, “golfer’s elbow”) rheumatoid arthritis elbow dislocations arthritis or arthrosis of the shoulder joint gouty arthritis of the shoulder joint
Shoulder and back pain	This indicates muscle spasm due to prolonged exposure to an uncomfortable position, the same type of muscle work, hypothermia, and compartment syndrome.
Shoulder and collarbone pain	Clavicle fracture pinching and inflammation of the spinal nerve roots brachial plexus neuralgia glenohumeral periarthritis

If your right shoulder hurts

Pain in the right shoulder is typical for:

bursitis;
biceps tendinitis;
joint injuries;
calcification of periarticular tissues;
humeroscapular periarthritis;
right-sided pneumonia;
exacerbation of cholelithiasis.

The following signs indicate damage to the right shoulder joint, not muscle tissue:

the pain is constant;
Pain at rest, worsens with movement;
diffuse pain;
all movements without exception are limited;
enlargement of the joint is visible.

Left shoulder hurts

Pain in the left shoulder occurs when:

shoulder periarthritis;
tendon calcification;
impingement syndrome;
spinal nerve root entrapment
shoulder joint injuries;
shoulder tumors.

Diagnosis depending on pain intensity

Let's consider what disease can cause this or that subjective characteristic of shoulder pain.

Strong pain

This is how the pain is described:

Shoulder tendon sprain. Then the person remembers that the day before he carried heavy weights or could sleep in an uncomfortable position.
Shoulder dislocation. In this case, you can also remember an episode when someone pulled your hand or had to grab a moving object.
A fracture of the humerus will also be accompanied by severe pain in the shoulder area. But here, too, trauma is noted at the beginning of the disease.
Arthritis. In this case, the joint turns red, becomes deformed, and is very painful to touch.
Bursitis. The pain occurs suddenly and prevents either the person or the examining doctor from moving the arm.
Tendinitis. The pathology manifests itself as pain when performing various movements, which depends on which tendon is inflamed. The symptoms of major tendonitis are described above.
Intervertebral hernia. At the same time, the pain is not only in the shoulder, but also in the neck and face. The hand is freezing, “goosebumps” run over it, it does not feel cold or warmth well.
Diseases of the lungs, liver or spleen. They are described above.

Sharp pain

Also, sharp pain in the shoulder will be accompanied by other diseases:

sprain or rupture of ligaments, fracture - if this pain was preceded by injury;

arthrosis: pain accompanies any movement, accompanied by a crunching sound;

glenohumeral periarthritis. Pain occurs at night, gradually intensifies, worsens with pain;

disease of internal organs: hepatitis, cholecystitis, pneumonia, myocardial infarction.

Blunt pain

They describe it this way:

tendinitis. In this case, the pain intensifies with movement;
glenohumeral periarthritis. Pain also has a connection with movement;
diseases of the abdominal organs;
strangulation of the intervertebral hernia of the lower cervical or upper thoracic region;
myocardial infarction.

Burning pain

A syndrome with such characteristics is inherent in spinal diseases. Here the pain increases with active movements of the arm, but if the limb is fixed, the pain goes away.

In addition to the pain, the sensitivity of the hand is impaired, and “goosebumps” periodically run across it. Upper limb muscle strength decreases. She may be getting cold.

Shooting pain

This pain is characteristic of inflammation of the spinal nerve root, which can occur with osteochondrosis, spondylosis and spinal injuries.

Pain with numbness in the arm

This symptom is accompanied by:

glenohumeral periarthritis;
intervertebral hernia;
chest tumors;
bursitis;
shoulder dislocation.

What to do if you have shoulder pain

In order to treat pain in the shoulder joint of the arm correctly, you need to determine its cause. They begin first with a consultation with a therapist, whose examination is aimed at excluding life-threatening pathologies, such as myocardial infarction, acute cholecystitis, pneumonia, and angina. If the doctor confirms suspicions of internal diseases, he either refers to the appropriate specialist (surgeon, gastroenterologist, cardiologist), or writes out a referral for hospitalization in a multidisciplinary hospital.

X-ray of the joint: it will show bone pathology: fracture, dislocation, fracture-dislocation;
radiography of the cervical and thoracic spine;
Ultrasound of the joint, which will reveal muscle inflammation, rupture or sprain of ligaments and tendons, and the presence of inflammatory fluid in the joint;
CT scan of the joint or spine - if the x-ray did not provide comprehensive information.

CT scan of the lower cervical and upper thoracic spine;
electromyography;
Ultrasound with Dopplerography of large vessels of the head, neck, upper limb.

Treatment for shoulder pain depends on the diagnosis. Before arriving or visiting a doctor, you can only take painkillers:

in the form of an ointment or gel: “” (“Voltaren”), “Ibufen”, “DIP”;
only on the area of the shoulder joint and surrounding tissues;
only if pain is associated with movement.

If joint pain occurs after an injury or training, the above rules for immobilization and taking painkillers also apply here. First aid is supplemented by applying to the sore joint:

on the first day - ice: for 15-20 minutes every 3 hours;
from the second day - dry heat (warming with a blue lamp or) - 3 times a day, 20 minutes each.

You cannot take any folk remedies, perform shoulder massage or exercise therapy on your own – before consulting a therapist. All this is prescribed by a specialist.

How to cure shoulder pain?

Thank you

Causes of pain

The shoulder joint is one of the most complex in the entire body. Nature has endowed it with maximum functionality. However, improper use disrupts its functioning, leading to inflammation, swelling, destruction of the joint capsule and even disruption of the integrity of the tendons. Like any other mechanism, the shoulder joint works even if used incorrectly for some time, after which it “breaks” - the person experiences shoulder pain, joint mobility decreases.

How does pain develop?

The source of pain in the upper shoulder may be a neck disease. Such pain covers the entire upper limb to the fingers. The pain worsens when moving the head, often combined with partial loss of sensitivity. In such cases, during diagnosis, hernias of the cervical or thoracic spine are often detected. The properties of the affected discs deteriorate, the spaces between them are shortened, the nerve endings are pinched, and the person feels pain. At the same time, tissue swelling develops at the site where the nerve is compressed, they contract more intensely and hurt even more.

Capsulitis – a fairly uncommon occurrence. With this disease, the patient experiences pain in the shoulder, difficulty moving the arm behind the back, lifting it up. Symptoms increase slowly.

Cuff dysfunction happens after uncharacteristic hand work, for example, finishing work on the ceiling. The patient does not feel pain immediately, but a day later when trying to raise his arm.

Tendobursitis is a disease in which the joint capsule becomes inflamed. In this disease, the muscle tendons become calcified. The pain is acute, hand movements are significantly difficult, the patient complains of sharp pain in the entire limb from the neck to the fingertips.

Diseases that cause shoulder pain:
1. Inflammation of the tendons of the joint - tendonitis . The reason for this is excessively intense stress on the joint. During physical work, such as sawing wood, the tendons interact tightly with the surface of the joint, causing pain and irritation.
2. Biceps tendinitis - This is a flexor muscle located on the upper part of the shoulder. With this disease, the shoulder constantly hurts, and the pain intensifies when palpating the muscle and when moving the limb. If the muscle tendon is completely torn, you may notice a ball-shaped swelling.
3. Bursitis - This is a frequent companion to tendinitis, which also appears with prolonged overexertion. But with bursitis, the joint swells.
4. Salt deposits . This phenomenon occurs when you raise your hand up. When salts are deposited, the ligaments become rigid. Most often, salts are deposited under the collarbone and shoulder blade. Such disorders are called “collision syndrome.” They are found in people over 30 years of age. The pain appears suddenly, it is quite strong and does not go away with any position of the hand. It is difficult to move your hand away from your body even 30 centimeters. But in some cases, salt deposition does not manifest itself in any way and is revealed only by x-ray.
5. Genetic disorder of joint formation .
6. Joint injury . For example, young people or athletes often experience a recurrent form of shoulder dislocation. In mature and elderly people, injuries to these tissues are usually a consequence of age-related degenerative processes.
7. Neoplasm .
8. Shoulder ligament hyperextension . This phenomenon is typical for bodybuilders. When overstretched, the joint becomes unstable, so the athlete cannot do many exercises. The cartilage ring may also tear.

9. The pain radiates for diseases of internal organs (liver, heart, pneumonia, radiculitis, tumors in the chest).
10. Humeroscapular periarthrosis . Shoulder pain is the main symptom of this disease. Over time, the pain intensifies so much that the patient cannot sleep at night. It can be of a very diverse nature, from dull to burning.
11. Tendon rupture .
12. Neurogenic pathology , in which the sensitivity of the neck and upper limbs is impaired.
13. Herniation or protrusion of discs of the cervical spine .
14. Arthritis, arthrosis of the joint.

Based on the direction in which movement is stiff, the doctor can determine which part of the joint is affected:

If it hurts when you move your arm to the side and forward, then the supraspinal tendon is affected,
If it hurts when turning the arm along its axis to the outside with the elbow fixed at the side, then the infraspinal tendon is affected,
If in the same position it hurts when turning the arm to the inside, the subscapularis tendon is affected,
If it hurts in the biceps area when you move your lower arm inward, it may be a biceps injury.

In the arm and shoulder - a symptom of glenohumeral periarthritis

The disease is an inflammation of the capsule and tendons of the shoulder joint. In this case, both the cartilage and the joint itself remain intact. Its main symptoms are pain in the shoulder. Periarthritis and osteochondrosis account for 80% of all diseases that cause shoulder pain. This is a very common disease that affects both sexes equally often. Typically, signs of the disease appear after a shoulder injury or overload with unusual activities. The disease is insidious in that from the moment of its occurrence until the first symptoms of illness appear, it can take from three to seven days.

In some cases, the cause of periarthritis is diseases of the internal organs, for example, the left side may be affected due to myocardial infarction. The primary disease impairs blood circulation in the joint area; the tendon fibers, which lack nourishment, become fragile and crack, swell, and inflammation develops.

The right side is affected in liver diseases.

A fairly common occurrence is periarthritis in women who have had their mammary gland removed, because during the intervention, blood circulation is disrupted not only in the breast, but also in the tissues adjacent to it. In addition, blood vessels or nerves may be damaged during the intervention.
The pain can be either mild and appear only with certain movements, or very acute; in addition, the patient cannot place his arm behind his back or move against resistance. Depending on the severity of the disease, it can be cured in a month or almost impossible to cure if we are talking about a chronic process. In the chronic form of the disease, the shoulder is literally made of stone. But such a disease sometimes goes away on its own after a few years.

In the neck and shoulder

Pain in the shoulder and neck is often combined with weakness, discoloration of the skin ( if blood circulation is impaired), swelling and change in shape. The causes of this pain can be either minor or very dangerous. Therefore, it is best to consult a doctor.

Incorrect posture. This is the most common cause of pain in both the neck and shoulder. If the spine is not in the correct position, and the shoulders are hunched, ligaments and muscles act under conditions of increased stress,
Rupture of muscles, tendons or ligaments,
Degenerative processes in the spine lead to disruption of innervation,
Malignant or benign neoplasm,
Uncomfortable sleeping position
Muscle overload.

In the shoulder muscles - this is myalgia

Signs of myalgia: dull, aching pain in the muscles, sometimes sharp pain, decreased range of motion.

Causes of myalgia: uncharacteristic or very strong physical activity, hypothermia, stretching or tearing of fibers, viral infection.
For myalgia, you should give the muscle a rest for a couple of days, rub in a local anesthetic and anti-inflammatory agent ( ointment or cream). If the pain is caused only by overuse of the muscle, but it is intact, you can slowly stretch it, but very carefully.

If the cause of myalgia is a viral disease, the pain will go away immediately after recovery. If pain in the shoulder muscles is the result of a serious injury, you will most likely need the help of a specialist.

If after five days the pain does not go away, you should definitely visit a doctor.
More severe injuries must be ruled out. It may be necessary to undergo treatment with muscle relaxants.

There is arthrosis in the shoulder joint

Arthrosis of the shoulder joint is a chronic disease. The patient's condition is slowly deteriorating. With arthrosis, degradation of the cartilage of the joint, as well as nearby tissues, occurs. The joint surfaces lose their smoothness and are sometimes covered with osteophytes ( salt spikes). These processes proceed very slowly. But shoulder pain is the first sign of the development of arthrosis. At times the pain eases, but after physical work it worsens, and the range of motion decreases. All tissues of the joint become inflamed, then the joint swells, the tissues surrounding it turn red and become hot.

Not far from the glenohumeral joint is the nerve plexus of the shoulder, which suffers from prolonged inflammation. If osteophytes have already formed on the joint, a crunching sound is sometimes heard when moving, and movements are painful and difficult. Despite the slow progression, the patient’s condition is gradually deteriorating, and the arm’s movements are getting worse. If the disease continues for many years, a persistent deterioration in the range of motion develops ( contracture).

Arthritis in the shoulder joint

Three forms of arthritis can develop in the shoulder joint:
1. Osteoarthritis – this disease develops during degenerative age-related processes in tissues, when articular cartilage ceases to protect the surfaces of the joint from friction against each other. This disease is more typical for people over fifty years of age.
2. Rheumatoid arthritis – the disease is systemic, inflammation covers the synovial membrane of the joint, can occur in people of any age, and is always symmetrical.
3. Post-traumatic arthritis – one of the types of osteoarthritis that develops after injury ( dislocation, fracture of a joint or muscle tear).

Shoulder pain is the most obvious and first sign of arthritis; it increases with movement and becomes stronger over time. The condition worsens when the weather changes. In addition, the amplitude of hand movement decreases; the patient cannot comb his hair or remove a book from the top shelves. Sometimes the patient hears a clicking sound when moving his hand.

In later stages of the disease, the joint also hurts at night, making it difficult to sleep.
The disease is diagnosed using x-rays. Treatment can be carried out using both conservative methods ( medicines, therapeutic exercises, warming up), and operational.

In the chest and shoulder - signs of pneumonia or pleurisy

The pleura is a membrane of two layers that envelops the lungs and chest cavity from the inside. Its inflammation is not a very rare disease. Symptoms of pleurisy include acute chest pain radiating to the shoulder and neck. The pain intensifies during coughing or deep breathing, since at this time the membranes of the pleura move relative to each other.

The breathing of such patients is rapid and shallow. Representatives of the weaker sex are more likely to suffer from pleurisy. Sometimes the pain even radiates to the abdominal area.
In some cases, pleurisy is combined with pneumonia, in which case the pain in the chest is aching and dull.

For osteochondrosis

Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is a very common disease that affects both sexes equally. More often, osteochondrosis develops in people who remain in the same position for a long time and move their heads little ( office workers), as well as making the same head movements.

With osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, the functioning of the autonomic nervous system and blood circulation are disrupted, and pain occurs. Most often the neck hurts, but often the pain radiates to the shoulder. The pain is provoked by bone growths that appear on the lateral surfaces of the cervical vertebrae. These growths injure the nerve endings and cause pain. The more severely the spine is affected, the more intense the pain. Based on which areas of the neck or shoulder hurt, the doctor can determine which vertebrae are affected by the disease.
Thus, pain in the shoulder girdle indicates damage to the third and fourth cervical vertebrae.

The shoulder, girdle and neck hurt if the fourth and fifth cervical vertebrae are affected. The shoulder may become numb on the outside.
If the disease develops between the fifth and sixth vertebrae, the shoulder and forearm hurt, the pain radiates to the 1st and 2nd fingers of the upper limb. The sensitivity of the fingers may be impaired.
The back of the arm hurts if the pathology is located between the sixth and seventh vertebrae.

If a hernia has formed on the discs, the pain is very intense and occurs in attacks. They intensify during movement.
The diagnosis is made by examining and interviewing the patient. To clarify it, X-rays and MRIs are performed. It is impossible to completely recover from osteochondrosis.

Treatment

If shoulder pain is caused by a slight sprain or awkward position, the following measures can help relieve it:
1. Sleep on a hard but comfortable surface.
2. Try to move your sore arm less.
3. In the first hours of pain, apply ice to the shoulder; from the second day you can apply warm compresses and rubbing.
4. Massage the sore area using heated oil in a circular motion.
5. Take a pain reliever based on paracetamol or ibuprofen.
6. If the neck is affected, a corset will help to immobilize it.
7. The hand should not be completely immobilized, as this can lead to the development of contractures.
8. Do physical therapy. It's best to talk to your doctor about exercise. You should spend no more than 20 minutes on exercise so as not to overwork the sore joint. In addition, massage and acupuncture can help.
9. To prevent hand movements from causing severe pain, you should choose the most comfortable positions, and the easiest way to do this is in a bathtub filled with water.

Exercises

1. Tilt your head towards your right shoulder and hold the position for 15 seconds. Slowly raise your head straight and then tilt it towards your left shoulder.
2. Slowly turn your head to the right and hold the position for 5 seconds. Repeat on the other side.
3. Raise your shoulders, lower them, move them forward, move them back. Lower your head as low as possible, rest your chin on your chest, throw your head back.
4. Circular movements of the shoulders back and forth. Repeat in each direction at least 10 times.

Ointments

Depending on the cause of shoulder pain, ointments can be used to improve blood circulation, relieve pain, inflammation, relieve swelling, and accelerate tissue recovery.

Most ointments have either a warming or cooling effect, they relieve inflammation and pain. These remedies are good if shoulder pain is the result of a minor injury.

Warming creams include: red pepper extract, methyl salicylate. These medications should not be applied immediately after a bruise. After all, immediately after an injury, the affected area needs to be cooled.

A few days after the injury, a warming cream can be applied, as well as for pain caused by osteochondrosis, myositis, bursitis, chronic arthritis or arthrosis.

Cooling medications can be applied to the injured shoulder immediately after a sprain or bruise. These drugs often contain essential oils, menthol, alcohol, painkillers, and blood thinners.
For bursitis and tendovaginitis, you can use anti-inflammatory drugs, including those with iodine

Folk remedies

1. Compress with honey: lubricate the sore shoulder with honey and cover with a plastic bag. Leave overnight. Do it for five to ten days in a row.
2. Collect pine cones ( young) and pine needles, pour 200 ml of water at room temperature for ten minutes. Put on fire for 30 minutes, leave in a thermos to brew overnight. Use for taking pain-relieving baths. The duration of the procedure is from 20 minutes. One and a half liters of extract should be made for one bath.
3. Take a few copper coins, hold them over an open fire, then clean them a little with sandpaper. Find the most painful places and stick coins there using an adhesive plaster. Wear until the pain completely disappears.

Before use, you should consult a specialist.