Shoulder Pain and Problems

• March 27, 2023
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The shoulder is the most movable joint in the body, allowing us to perform a wide variety of actions. However, this range of motion makes it an unstable joint and prone to injury due to its ball-and-socket structure. The socket is smaller than the ball which allows for greater mobility but also increases the risk of dislocation or other injuries. To help stabilize this vulnerable area, soft tissues such as muscles, tendons, and ligaments support the shoulder joint. However, these too can be injured from overuse or degeneration if not properly taken care of.

Shoulder pain and problems are common. Many types of shoulder issues can be caused by injuries or long-term (chronic) inflammation of the shoulder joint. The complexity of the shoulder, which allows for great mobility, increases its vulnerability to injury and pain. Common causes include rotator cuff tears, bursitis, tendinitis, or dislocation from overuse activities such as sports or work-related tasks like lifting heavy objects repeatedly. Other causes can include arthritis in older individuals due to age-related wear and tear on this complex joint structure.

Some of the common causes of shoulder problems are:

• Dislocation. Out of all the major joints in our body, the shoulder joint gets dislocated most often. This is usually caused by any strong force that separates the shoulder joint's ball away from the socket.
• Separation. The shoulder joint becomes separated when the ligaments attached to the clavicle (collarbone) are torn (partly or completely) away from the scapula (shoulder blade). It may be caused by a strong blow to the shoulder or a fall
• Impingement syndrome. This is the result of excessive squeezing or rubbing of the rotator cuff and shoulder blade and the pain is caused by an inflamed bursa (lubricating sac) over the rotator cuff or it may be because of the inflammation of the rotator cuff tendons.
• Tendinosis. It is caused when the rotator cuff or biceps tendon becomes inflamed and worn out. This is often caused by being pinched on nearby tissues. The injury may vary from mild inflammation to most of the rotator cuff.
• Bursitis. It usually occurs when inflammation of the bursa sac (a sac that protects the shoulder) is caused by impingement syndrome and tendonitis.
• Adhesive capsulitis (frozen shoulder). This condition is usually caused by an injury that leads to a lack of use because of pain, and limiting the use results in inflammation and scar tissue growing between the joint surfaces. This further limits motion.
• Fracture. It generally occurs due to an impact injury.

For any surgical problem or orthopaedic problem contact Dr. Rahul Grover, Glyra Orthopaedics, and here.