Is Your Shoulder Pain Slowing You Down? Here’s What Could Be Causing It

Shoulder pain can make even the most mundane tasks feel impossible: reaching for something on a high shelf, pulling a shirt over your head, and carrying groceries.

When your shoulder hurts, everyday movements you normally don’t think twice about can suddenly become a challenge (if not impossible), and because your shoulder is one of the most mobile joints in your body, there are plenty of things that can go wrong. 

Shoulder pain may stem from irritated tendons, inflammation, arthritis, an injury, or even a problem that isn’t actually located in your shoulder.

At  Garden State Pain & Orthopedics, our team gets to the bottom of what’s causing your shoulder pain so we can recommend the right treatment. 

Here are six of the most common culprits, courtesy of our team of specialists,

1. Rotator cuff problems

Your rotator cuff stabilizes your shoulder and helps you lift and rotate your arm. It’s a complex part of your shoulder anatomy. It includes four muscles and the tendons that surround your shoulder joint. 

Repeated overhead movements, a sports injury, or normal wear and tear can irritate or damage these tissues. Rotator cuff tendinitis causes inflammation and irritation, while a rotator cuff tear occurs when one or more of the tendons partially or completely tears.

You might notice pain when lifting your arm, reaching behind your back, or sleeping on the affected shoulder. Weakness is also common, particularly with a tear.

2. Shoulder bursitis

Your shoulder contains small, fluid-filled sacs called bursae that cushion the tissues around the joint and help everything move smoothly.

When a bursa becomes inflamed, you develop bursitis. Repetitive movements and overuse are common triggers.

Bursitis can make your shoulder feel tender or achy, particularly when you lift your arm overhead. The pain may also make sleeping on that side uncomfortable.

3. Shoulder impingement

Sometimes, the tissues inside your shoulder simply don’t have enough room to move comfortably. With shoulder impingement, the bones of your shoulder pinch or rub against the rotator cuff tendons or bursa when you raise your arm. That repeated irritation can lead to inflammation and pain.

You may experience a sharp or aching pain when reaching overhead, putting on a jacket, or lifting something above shoulder level.

4. Arthritis

Your shoulder pain may also come from changes inside the joint itself. Osteoarthritis develops as the cartilage cushioning the ends of your bones gradually wears down. Without that smooth protective surface, movement can become painful and stiff.

Even though shoulder arthritis isn’t as common as knee or hip arthritis, it still affects one out of every three adults.

Shoulder arthritis tends to worsen gradually. You may notice decreased range of motion, grinding or clicking sensations, or pain that makes everyday activities increasingly difficult.

5. Frozen shoulder

If your shoulder isn’t just painful but also becoming increasingly difficult to move, you could have frozen shoulder, also called adhesive capsulitis.

The condition develops when the connective tissue surrounding your shoulder joint thickens and tightens. When that happens, your range of motion can become severely limited.

Frozen shoulder often progresses slowly and can take months or even years to resolve fully.

6. Your shoulder might not actually be the problem

Surprisingly, what you suspect is shoulder pain may not even be a shoulder problem. That’s because the pain you feel in your shoulder doesn’t always originate there.

A pinched or irritated nerve in your neck, for example, can cause pain that travels into your shoulder and arm. Depending on the nerve involved, you may also experience numbness, tingling, or weakness.

That’s one reason getting an exam and an accurate diagnosis is step one in feeling better. Treating your shoulder, for example, won’t provide lasting relief if the real problem is coming from your cervical spine.

How we get to the bottom of shoulder pain

Because so many conditions can cause similar symptoms, figuring out what’s causing your pain is step one, and we do that with an exam and, if needed, imaging.

Our team may ask when your symptoms started, which movements make them worse, and whether you’ve experienced an injury. We also examine your strength and range of motion. When needed, imaging can help us take a closer look at the bones, joints, and soft tissues inside your shoulder.

Once we identify the source of your pain, we can build a treatment plan around your specific diagnosis. Depending on your needs, treatment may include physical therapy, medications, injections, regenerative treatments, or other interventional pain management options.

Don’t let shoulder pain keep slowing you down

Occasional soreness after a tough workout is one thing. Shoulder pain that persists, limits your movement, interferes with sleep, or keeps you from doing the things you enjoy deserves a closer look here at Garden State Pain & Orthopedics.

Call our office in Edison, Clifton, Hazlet, Jersey City, and West Orange or request an appointment online today to have your shoulder pain evaluated right away.