Shoulder Pain

What Is Shoulder Pain?

Shoulder pain, stiffness, and discomfort from trauma, overuse, or repetitive movements can make normal shoulder function difficult or impossible. With help from the team at CHOICE Pain & Rehabilitation Center in Olney, Rosedale, Hyattsville, Lanham, Gaithersburg, Dundalk, and Baltimore, Maryland, you can find effective and lasting relief. With their dedication to effective, noninvasive, and minimally invasive therapies, the team provides options to help you recover without surgery.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the symptoms of a shoulder injury?

Shoulder injuries and pain can range from mild discomfort and stiffness to severe pain and dysfunction. To determine if you need medical care for your shoulder, find out if you have any warning signs of a shoulder injury.

Shoulder injury symptoms include:

Pain, tenderness, or swelling in or around your shoulder joint
Stiffness and decreased range of motion
Inability to raise your shoulder overhead
Pain when lifting or rotating your shoulder
Pain near your shoulder blade
Popping or clicking in your shoulder
Feeling that your shoulder will pop out or slide out of the socket

Based on the location of your pain, the team can determine which anatomical structures may be involved in your injury.

What conditions cause shoulder pain?

The most common causes of shoulder pain are trauma, repetitive overuse injuries, and straining your shoulders with overhead activities. Conditions that can cause shoulder pain include:

Tendinitis

Tendons attach your muscles to your bones. When the tendons are overused or rub frequently over the bones in your shoulder, they can break down and cause tender, aching pain.

Rotator cuff tears

Rotator cuff tears usually occur where your shoulder joint attaches to your shoulder blade. While trauma is the most common cause of rotator cuff tears, simple movements like pulling a door open can tear muscles in your rotator cuff.

Bursitis

Inside your shoulder joint are bursa, fluid-filled sacs that provide cushion to your shoulder joint. Inflammation, trauma, and overuse can put pressure on these bursa until they swell, causing pain and difficulty moving your shoulder.

Instability

Instability of the shoulder occurs when the ligaments that support your shoulder joint are overstretched or torn. This can make your shoulder pop, click, or feeling like it’s slipping out of place. Lifting and rotating your shoulder can also be difficult.

Arthritis

Arthritis causes a breakdown of the cartilage within your shoulder, leading to pain with movement, stiffness, and discomfort. Different types of arthritis can affect the shoulder, so proper diagnosis is essential to getting effective treatment. By conducting a thorough exam, and any necessary imaging, the team diagnoses the cause of your shoulder pain.