Shoulder Pain FAQ

Shoulder pain is a common complaint among adults. People who play sports or do a lot of heavy lifting at their job may be more susceptible to pain in the shoulder than others. However, nearly everyone will encounter shoulder pain at least once in their lifetime. Shoulder pain causes can vary from chronic overuse to bone fractures, soft tissue injuries, and disease. Your shoulder is made up of bones, muscles, tendons, and ligaments that work together to allow joint mobility.

Your shoulder is one of the body’s most mobile joints, allowing arm movement and flexibility. Shoulder pain can occur suddenly with an injury or progress over time with repetitive use. Muscles can be strained, small tissue tears can become inflamed, and your shoulder bones (the humerus, scapula, and clavicle) can become dislocated. Other common conditions that often cause shoulder pain include:

• Bursitis (joint inflammation)
• Tendinitis
• Rotator cuff injuries
• Pinched nerves
• Bone spurs
• Fractures
• Shoulder dislocation or separation
• Cartilage and muscle tears
• Impingement
• Osteoarthritis
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Spine or disc issues
• Frozen shoulder (severe stiffness and pain in the shoulder joint)

Shoulder pain severity and symptoms may vary by individual. You may experience sudden, sharp pains or a dull, gradual ache. The most common symptoms of shoulder pain include:

• Shoulder pain and swelling
• Warmth, redness, or tenderness to the touch
• Limited range of shoulder motion
• Clicking, popping, or grinding when you move your arm
• Muscle stiffness or weakness
• Pain radiating to your neck, arm, or back

Maintaining a healthy weight and keeping active can help you prevent many types of injuries, including ones related to shoulder pain. If you participate in sports or have an occupation involving manual labor, you may be more at risk for an overuse injury. Adults over 60 are also more likely to develop shoulder pain because cartilage and other soft tissues degenerate over time. Learn to listen to your body’s warning signals that you’re pushing yourself to excess. Whenever something hurts after physical activity, give yourself plenty of time to rest and recover.

Be sure you do warm-up and cool-down exercises before strenuous workouts or activities. Depending on your age and health history, your doctor may suggest certain exercises to help strengthen your arm muscles to protect the shoulder joint and prevent injuries. Work on improving your posture, as slouching can lead to chronic shoulder, neck, and back pain. Finally, consider investing in ergonomic furniture to help you support your shoulder better to avoid repetitive strains and overuse injuries.

Acute shoulder pain and injuries may be alleviated through self-care, including rest, over-the-counter pain relievers, and hot and cold treatments. However, you should consult a doctor or pain specialist if you have shoulder pain that persists or worsens despite self-care. You may require more extensive treatment to reduce shoulder pain, swelling, and tenderness.

If you’re having difficulty breathing or experiencing chest tightness in addition to shoulder pain, seek immediate medical attention. You could be having a heart attack. If your shoulder joint appears deformed or you’ve lost the ability to move your arm, it’s likely time to see a doctor.

A thorough physical exam of your shoulder joint is the starting point for diagnosing the cause of your shoulder pain. The doctor may also ask questions about your personal and family medical history, occupation, and lifestyle. Medical imaging tests may also be necessary to see a clearer picture of what’s going on inside your body. The doctor may order X-rays, an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), a CT (computed tomography) scan, or a diagnostic ultrasound. If you’re suffering from acute or chronic shoulder pain in North Texas, talk to the Pain & Spine Physicians team for diagnosis and treatment.

Many people find shoulder pain relief through chiropractic adjustments and massage therapy. Both can effectively correct bone or spinal misalignments, loosening tight muscles, and improving blood flow, especially to injured areas, to aid in healing. Physical therapy may be helpful to strengthen the arm muscles and joints to help you prevent further shoulder injuries. As a last resort, you may need to be referred to an orthopedic surgeon to discuss taking a surgical approach to alleviating your shoulder pain.

At Pain & Spine Physicians, we often suggest joint injections as an all-natural, non-invasive shoulder pain treatment. Injections don’t require downtime and offer lasting relief for many who’ve tried over-the-counter pain relievers, hot and cold treatments, rehab, and more. They’re among the safest and most convenient shoulder pain treatment options available. We also provide COOLIEF* joint treatments that offer up to 12 months of joint relief with improved mobility without any incisions, opioids, or downtime. COOLIEF* uses ionic heating to block pain sensors in the affected joint area.

Everyone heals differently, with your age, occupation, overall health, and the type of procedure impacting your recovery process. Different types of surgery may be recommended to replace your shoulder’s “ball and socket” components. Total and reverse shoulder replacements are the most common. If you require shoulder replacement surgery, you should expect about 3-4 weeks of recovery and physical therapy or rehab for up to a year on average.

Your doctor or physical therapist may recommend shoulder stretches and exercises to help promote healing and prevent further shoulder injury. These exercises aim to strengthen the muscles in your arm and improve your flexibility during recovery. Common shoulder stretches may include a cross-body stretch, a doorway stretch, a sleeper stretch, or a trapezius stretch.

Many people choose the pain specialists at Pain & Spine Physicians because they’re confident in our personalized approach to treating pain. Just as no two adults are alike, no two cases of shoulder pain are exactly the same. We treat every patient individually, customizing our pain management program to each person’s specific needs. Don’t let acute or chronic shoulder pain hold you back from performing daily activities. Talk to our pain specialists today to devise the best shoulder pain treatment for you, so that you can resume bathing, driving, and sleeping comfortably without debilitating shoulder pain.