Four Potential Causes of Shoulder Pain | Dr Chirag Patel

The unique construction of the shoulder joint which makes it the most mobile joint in the human body with a wide range of motion also makes it unstable and vulnerable to a wide range of shoulder pains and aches due to injuries. While sports folk get their shoulder injury due to the intensive and eccentric shoulder movements, regular people suffer injuries and pains due to wear and tear. So the most common causes of shoulder pain are caused by shoulder injuries and conditions.

Here is the list of four most common caused shoulder pains, we regularly treat at our Joint and Sports Clinic in Surat:

  1. Rotator Cuff Tear:

The rotator cuff is a group of four muscles in the shoulder that help you raise and rotate your arm. The tendons which attach the muscles to the bones can tear and make it difficult to perform the shoulder movements resulting in weakness, stiffness, pain during movement and reduced range of motion. This injury is most commonly experienced by the athlete who performs repetitive and intensive overhead shoulder motions and also in middle-aged or older adults who already were prone to shoulder problems.

  1. Frozen Shoulder:

Also known as Adhesive Capsulitis, Frozen Shoulder is characterized by the pain and stiffness that intensifies with time through three stages:

Freezing:  Pain develops when you move the shoulder, worsens over time, limits your range of motion and lasts from 6 to 9 months on average.
Frozen:  Pain may reduce but stiffness can get worse making your daily chores tough. It can last from 4- 10 months.
Thawing:  This is the stage where you get normal, stiffness slowly goes away, so do pain. It can take anywhere between 6 to 2 years.

  1. Shoulder Arthritis:

Arthritis is the most common condition suffered by 80% of the world population. In general there are three types of arthritis that can affect the shoulder. Osteoarthritis is a regular wear and tear condition that is caused by aging where the cartilage that serves as a protective cushion between the bones wears away resulting in bones rubbing with each other causing pain and stiffness. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune inflammatory condition that weakens the joints and causes pain. Post-traumatic arthritis is a condition that is caused after the fracture or dislocation of the shoulder. Shoulder pain treatment options for the pain caused by arthritis depend on the type of arthritis and severity.

  1. SLAP Tear:

A SLAP tear is the tear of the cartilage ring which surrounds the surround the socket of the shoulder. The SLAP tear m, in general, develops over a course of time in athletes who perform intensive, overhead throwing motions like swimming, baseball, basketball, and tennis. Medications, Physical therapy, and Shoulder arthroscopy are some of the treatment options recommended by orthopaedic surgeons.

While the above 4 are the most common causes of shoulder pains, the aches can be a result of a wide variety of shoulder problems. Fortunately, all the shoulder problems can be effectively solved with the right counsel of the Joint Replacement Surgeon. Being the best orthopaedic surgeon in Surat Dr. Chirag Patel has a remarkable record in treating various types of shoulder pain at our Joint and Sports Clinic in Surat. You can contact him here: +91 7574887777