Shoulder Pain/Rotator Cuff Pain

Shoulder pain is a common ailment for many people, and there are a wide range of possible causes. This is because the shoulder joint has a wide range of motion and is used – and overused – throughout the day, for almost any activity, which makes it at a great risk for injury. You can’t lift, pull, push, throw or reach without your shoulder, so when it’s injured, the pain can decrease quality of life. The California Pain Consultants team in the Escondido, El Centro, La Mesa, San Diego, Chula Vista areas is dedicated to providing their family of patients with effective and comfortable shoulder pain treatment with a goal to help them get back to their ideal lifestyle, pain free. 

What is Shoulder Pain?

Simply put, shoulder pain is any discomfort felt in the shoulder area and around the shoulder joint. The shoulder joint is the most moveable joint in the body, which puts it at a great risk for injury. 

The shoulder joint is made up of the humerus (upper part of the arm bone), scapula (shoulder blade) and the clavicle (collarbone). The rotator cuff, which is made of four muscles and their tendons, help to give the shoulder its wide range of motion. Any form of swelling, damage or bone changes around or to the rotator cuff can cause shoulder pain, which can be felt when lifting the arm or moving it forward or back.

The most common feelings of shoulder pain varies, but most patients feel weakness, aching or throbbing, stiffness, soreness or popping, regardless if the shoulder is in motion or at rest. However, severe shoulder pain that is usually due to an injury could cause the below feelings of pain: 

• Sharp, stabbing pain
• Sudden pain
• Limited mobility in the affected arm(s)
• Swelling
• Bruising
• Pain that persists or intensifies
• Pain that keep the patient from sleeping

What Causes Shoulder Pain?

There are several possible causes of shoulder pain, and include medical conditions as well as the result of injuries. The most common causes include: 

• Arthritis: Both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis can result in shoulder pain because as the cushion between the bones in the shoulder joint wear down, the bones rub on each other, creating friction and pain. This also leads to limited mobility. 
• Bone spurs: this consists of excess bone growth around your joints and could develop as a result of degenerative joint conditions, injuries or general wear and tear
• Bursitis: inflammation of the fluid-filled sac (bursa) that normally protects the joint and helps it move smoothly
• Rotator cuff injuries: any form of overuse, repetitive motion, or traumatic injury can result in pain from the rotator cuff
• Dislocated shoulder: when something, usually falls/car accidents/sports injuries, causes the bones in the shoulder joint to move out of their usual place
• Shoulder impingement: when the top outer edge of your shoulder blade pinches your rotator cuff beneath it, causing pain
• Frozen shoulder: also known as adhesive capsulitis, this is a condition that happens when the muscles, tendons and ligaments inside the shoulder become stiff, causing pain and limited range of motion in the shoulder joint
• Broken bone or soft tissue injury: usually the result of a traumatic event, any broken bone, torn ligament or pulled muscle can result in shoulder pain
• Tendonitis: inflammation of the tendons that connect the muscles to the bones in the rotator cuff

What are the Treatments for Shoulder Pain?

If your shoulder pain isn’t excruciating and you know it was from an acute injury, it’s first recommended to try at-home therapies, including rest, ice and over-the-counter pain medications (as prescribed). However, if the pain gets worse, was caused by a serious injury, you have swelling in or around your shoulder, or you believe it might be related to another medical condition, it’s best to reach out to a pain management specialist who can accurately diagnose and treat the cause of your shoulder pain. 

Depending on the cause of shoulder pain, possible treatment methods could include: 

• Anti-inflammatory medications: these medications, usually over-the-counter but also prescription, help to both relieve pain and reduce the inflammation that is causing the pain
• Physical therapy: most often used in conjunction with anti-inflammatory medications (which helps patients to enjoy physical therapy more comfortably), physical therapy is a great tool for strengthening the shoulder muscles and improving range of motion, helping to reduce overall pain
• Steroid injections: a minimally-invasive treatment option, steroid injections help to both reduce pain and inflammation when the medicine is injected into the source of pain in the shoulder joint. This allows patients with immediate and long-term pain relief that allows them to enjoy their favorite daily activities without feeling shoulder pain
• Nerve blocks: another minimally-invasive therapy option, nerve blocks work by blocking pain sensations from reaching the brain, providing immediate pain relief that could last for months. This is another option for patients to utilize while they are taking advantage of physical therapy. 
• Platelet rich plasma (PRP): a safe method for providing pain relief where the patient’s own plasma is injected into the damaged tissue, which helps to boost the body’s own regenerative and healing abilities
• Surgery: most often used for fractures or breaks in the bones of the shoulder. However, non-surgical options should always be used whenever possible with the goal to avoid surgery. 

If you are experiencing shoulder pain that has lasted for longer than a few days, has gotten worse in frequency and duration, and you have limited range of motion in your shoulder and arm, medical attention is needed. Please reach out to the California Pain Consultants team in the Escondido, El Centro, La Mesa, San Diego, Chula Vista areas so that we may properly diagnose and treat your shoulder pain, with a goal to help you achieve immediate and long-term relief.