35 years
I have a shoulder pain for more than 1 week .I used to play basketball. what shoud I do?
Aug 6, 2014
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The shoulder is in fact made up of several joints (not just one joint) that combine with tendons and muscles to allow a wide range of motion in the arm. It is the most mobile joint in the body, and consequently one of the most vulnerable and prone to injury – owing to the fact that it is made up of so many parts, in addition to having many vital structures passing through it, including a whole bunch of major nerves. Being a very mobile joint predisposes the shoulder to increasing problems with instability or impingement of the soft tissue or bony structures. The hallmark is, of course, pain. You may feel pain only when you move your shoulder, or all of the time. The pain may be self-limiting, or it may persist and require medical diagnosis and treatment.
Three bones make up the shoulder joint: the humerus (upper arm bone), the scapula (the shoulder blade) posteriorly, and the clavicle (collarbone).
The head of your upper arm bone fits into a rounded socket, known as the glenoid, in your shoulder blade. A group of muscles and tendons, called the rotator cuff, function together to keep your arm bone centered in your shoulder socket. They cover the head of your upper arm bone and attach it to your shoulder blade.
Most shoulder problems fall into four major categories:
• Tendon inflammation (bursitis or tendinitis) or tendon tear
• Instability
• Arthritis
• Fracture (broken bone)
Much less commonly, tumors, infection, and nerve-related problems produce shoulder pain.
Bursitis
Bursae are small, fluid-filled sacs that found in joints throughout the body. They serve to absorb shocks (from trauma) by acting as cushions between bones and the overlying soft tissues, and help reduce friction between the gliding muscles and the bone.
Excessive use of the shoulder may lead to inflammation and swelling of the bursa between the rotator cuff and part of the shoulder blade known as the acromion. The result is a condition known as subacromial bursitis. Bursitis often occurs in parallel with rotator cuff tendinitis.
Tendinitis
A tendon is a cord that attaches muscle to bone. Most cases of tendinitis result from a corrosion of the tendon that happens slowly over time. Tendinitis can be acute (excessive ball throwing or other overhead activities) or chronic (secondary to degenerative diseases like arthritis or repetitive wear and tear due to age).
The most commonly affected tendons in the shoulder are the four rotator cuff tendons and one of the biceps tendons. The rotator cuff, which is mainly responsible for providing your shoulder with motion and stability, is made up of four small muscles and their tendons that cover the head of your upper arm bone and keep it in the shoulder socket.
Tendon Tears
Splitting and tearing of tendons may be associated with acute injury or degenerative changes with advancing age, long-term overuse and wear and tear, or a sudden injury. These tears may be partial or complete (the tendon gets literally torn into two pieces). In most cases of complete tears, the tendon is pulled away from its attachment to the bone. Rotator cuff and biceps tendon injuries are among the most common of these injuries.
Impingement
Shoulder impingement occurs when the top of the shoulder blade (acromion) pushes down against the underlying soft tissues when the arm is lifted away from the body (abduction of the shoulder). As the arm is lifted, the acromion rubs, or "impinges" on, the rotator cuff tendons and bursa. This can cause bursitis and tendinitis, with pain and limiting movement. Over time, severe impingement can even lead to a rotator cuff tear.
Instability
Shoulder instability occurs when the head of the upper arm bone is forced out of the shoulder socket. This can happen as a result of a sudden injury or from overuse.
Shoulder dislocations can be partial (subluxation), with the ball of the upper arm coming just partially out of the socket, or complete, with the ball coming all the way out of the socket.
With the ligaments, tendons, and muscles around the shoulder loose or torn, dislocations can recur, partially or completely, resulting in pain and unsteadiness when upon raising the arm or abducting it away. Recurrent episodes of subluxations or dislocations lead to an increased risk of developing arthritis in the joint.
Arthritis
The most common type of arthritis in the shoulder is osteoarthritis, also known as "wear and tear" arthritis. Swelling, pain, and stiffness are seen, usually around middle age, and progress slowly and worsen over time.
Osteoarthritis may be due to sports or work injuries and chronic wear and tear. Other types of arthritis can be related to rotator cuff tears, infection, or an inflammation of the joint lining.
Fracture
Common shoulder fractures: the clavicle, humerus, and scapula. Contact sports injury can cause one of these bones to break. Severe pain, swelling, and bruising about the shoulder are seen.
In your case, if pain does not resole or gets worse, if you have severe shoulder joint impairment (inability to move the shoulder due to severe pain), if you notice worsening swelling or bruising, you need to be examined by a physician in order to identify the cause. Most likely it is a tendinitis or bursitis, which are commonly encountered in your age group and the type of activity you do (sports).
Meanwhile and as recommended by Dr. Saab, rest your affected shoulder (arm sling) and take non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like Advil or Brufen (make sure to eat before taking those, and if you have stomach problems, use Nexium/Pariet/Gastrimut along with them).
Three bones make up the shoulder joint: the humerus (upper arm bone), the scapula (the shoulder blade) posteriorly, and the clavicle (collarbone).
The head of your upper arm bone fits into a rounded socket, known as the glenoid, in your shoulder blade. A group of muscles and tendons, called the rotator cuff, function together to keep your arm bone centered in your shoulder socket. They cover the head of your upper arm bone and attach it to your shoulder blade.
Most shoulder problems fall into four major categories:
• Tendon inflammation (bursitis or tendinitis) or tendon tear
• Instability
• Arthritis
• Fracture (broken bone)
Much less commonly, tumors, infection, and nerve-related problems produce shoulder pain.
Bursitis
Bursae are small, fluid-filled sacs that found in joints throughout the body. They serve to absorb shocks (from trauma) by acting as cushions between bones and the overlying soft tissues, and help reduce friction between the gliding muscles and the bone.
Excessive use of the shoulder may lead to inflammation and swelling of the bursa between the rotator cuff and part of the shoulder blade known as the acromion. The result is a condition known as subacromial bursitis. Bursitis often occurs in parallel with rotator cuff tendinitis.
Tendinitis
A tendon is a cord that attaches muscle to bone. Most cases of tendinitis result from a corrosion of the tendon that happens slowly over time. Tendinitis can be acute (excessive ball throwing or other overhead activities) or chronic (secondary to degenerative diseases like arthritis or repetitive wear and tear due to age).
The most commonly affected tendons in the shoulder are the four rotator cuff tendons and one of the biceps tendons. The rotator cuff, which is mainly responsible for providing your shoulder with motion and stability, is made up of four small muscles and their tendons that cover the head of your upper arm bone and keep it in the shoulder socket.
Tendon Tears
Splitting and tearing of tendons may be associated with acute injury or degenerative changes with advancing age, long-term overuse and wear and tear, or a sudden injury. These tears may be partial or complete (the tendon gets literally torn into two pieces). In most cases of complete tears, the tendon is pulled away from its attachment to the bone. Rotator cuff and biceps tendon injuries are among the most common of these injuries.
Impingement
Shoulder impingement occurs when the top of the shoulder blade (acromion) pushes down against the underlying soft tissues when the arm is lifted away from the body (abduction of the shoulder). As the arm is lifted, the acromion rubs, or "impinges" on, the rotator cuff tendons and bursa. This can cause bursitis and tendinitis, with pain and limiting movement. Over time, severe impingement can even lead to a rotator cuff tear.
Instability
Shoulder instability occurs when the head of the upper arm bone is forced out of the shoulder socket. This can happen as a result of a sudden injury or from overuse.
Shoulder dislocations can be partial (subluxation), with the ball of the upper arm coming just partially out of the socket, or complete, with the ball coming all the way out of the socket.
With the ligaments, tendons, and muscles around the shoulder loose or torn, dislocations can recur, partially or completely, resulting in pain and unsteadiness when upon raising the arm or abducting it away. Recurrent episodes of subluxations or dislocations lead to an increased risk of developing arthritis in the joint.
Arthritis
The most common type of arthritis in the shoulder is osteoarthritis, also known as "wear and tear" arthritis. Swelling, pain, and stiffness are seen, usually around middle age, and progress slowly and worsen over time.
Osteoarthritis may be due to sports or work injuries and chronic wear and tear. Other types of arthritis can be related to rotator cuff tears, infection, or an inflammation of the joint lining.
Fracture
Common shoulder fractures: the clavicle, humerus, and scapula. Contact sports injury can cause one of these bones to break. Severe pain, swelling, and bruising about the shoulder are seen.
In your case, if pain does not resole or gets worse, if you have severe shoulder joint impairment (inability to move the shoulder due to severe pain), if you notice worsening swelling or bruising, you need to be examined by a physician in order to identify the cause. Most likely it is a tendinitis or bursitis, which are commonly encountered in your age group and the type of activity you do (sports).
Meanwhile and as recommended by Dr. Saab, rest your affected shoulder (arm sling) and take non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like Advil or Brufen (make sure to eat before taking those, and if you have stomach problems, use Nexium/Pariet/Gastrimut along with them).
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