Simple movements like turning the wrong way or throwing a ball can result in troubling shoulder pain. It may just be a muscle strain, but you may have severely injured one of your shoulder’s soft tissues. Another possibility is an underlying medical condition, such as arthritis. See one of Redefine Healthcare’s shoulder specialists for a definitive diagnosis and appropriate treatment for your pain (we have six convenient locations in New Jersey).

What is Shoulder Pain?

You’ve just finished helping your best friend move and are now experiencing acute shoulder pain. Someone just rear-ended you at a stoplight, and your seat belt is now causing pain in your left shoulder. That last golf shot triggered noticeable right shoulder pain, and you’re concerned about maintaining your handicap.

All these factors and more may contribute to your need for shoulder pain treatment. Redefine Healthcare’s pain management doctor works hard to treat the underlying cause of your pain so you can get back to doing what you enjoy. Identifying whether your shoulder pain is caused by a muscle or ligament injury or an injury to the shoulder joint allows your physician to provide you with the best treatment possible.

Causes of Shoulder Pain

The shoulder is one of the most commonly used joints in the body. Hence, shoulder pain can be caused by a variety of problems and medical conditions that involve swelling, difficulty moving the shoulder in various directions, impaired motility, etc. Pain occurs when the shoulder joint or the tissues around it get irritated.

Although arthritis or a heart condition might trigger shoulder pain as you age, it is more commonly caused by an injury or strain when you are younger. Our physicals will look for conditions like those caused by:

Arthritis in the Shoulder

Arthritis can manifest itself in various ways, all of which can affect the shoulder joint. For example, rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disorder caused by the immune system attacking the synovium. When this occurs in the shoulder joint, the inflammation limits joint movement and causes pain when.

Osteoarthritis develops as the cartilage in the joint deteriorates from its use. This type of arthritis causes inflammation and pain when the joint is moved, potentially resulting in shoulder pain. Unfortunately, there is no cure for either type of arthritis.

Injury and Trauma
The shoulder joint is surrounded by muscles, tendons, and ligaments, which allow the arm to move. Pain can occur when these tissues are damaged due to traumatic events. A traumatic impact around the shoulder can result in torn muscles and tendons. Aside from the direct injury, the tissues of the joint may become inflamed, resulting in shoulder pain.

Overuse
Despite the fact that the shoulder joint’s primary function is to move and support activity, overusing it can result in shoulder pain. This is a common issue among athletes that engage in activities involving shoulder movements, such as javelin throwers. Manual laborers are also at risk of overusing their shoulders, causing nerve impingement and pain.

When the muscles contract and relax repeatedly, they rub against the tendons and ligaments, causing inflammation. Overuse can result in two types of shoulder pain: tendinitis and bursitis. Tendonitis is caused by misuse of a tendon, whereas bursitis is caused by inflammation of the bursa. Because they affect the rotator cuff, these conditions are known as rotator cuff tendonitis and bursitis.

Instability
Shoulder instability occurs when the shoulder joint fails to move normally. In the worst-case scenario, the humerus ball pops out of the shoulder blade socket, fully dislocating the joint. Most of the time, there is just some difficulty or obstruction in the joint’s movement. Although it can develop gradually and naturally, instability is most commonly caused by trauma that knocks the joint out of place. In either case, it causes shoulder pain that requires medical attention.

Immobility
When the shoulder area is immobilized for an extended period, such as following surgery, a serious injury, or a stroke, it can stiffen and become painful, resulting in a condition called frozen shoulder. Inflammation of the muscles and tendons, as seen in bursitis and tendonitis, can potentially contribute to the development of this condition. The resulting disability can be severe, and if not addressed, the symptoms tend to worsen with time.

Bursitis
Bursitis is an inflammation of the bursa that leads to shoulder pain, swelling, redness, and a thickening of the affected bursa. Bursa is a fluid-filled sac that surrounds every joint in the human body. It is surrounded by tendons, muscles, and skin. The bursa helps lubricate and reduce friction when you move the joint. Shoulder bursitis is frequently caused by recurrent shoulder joint damage or overuse of this joint.

Because your shoulder joint is made up of bones, cartilage, tendons, ligaments, and muscles that allow for such a wide range of motion, determining the exact cause of shoulder pain takes experience and detective work. Soft tissue inflammation or impingement can be caused by activities as simple as scratching your back or throwing a ball in the yard.

Redefine Healthcare – Edison, NJ
10 Parsonage Rd Suite 208, 
Edison, NJ 08837
(732) 906-9600
Web Address https://redefinehealthcare.com/

Edison, NJ Office: https://redefinehealthcare.com/contact-us/edison-nj/

Our location on the map: https://g.page/RedefineHealthcareEdison

https://plus.codes/87G7GMW9+M9 Edison

Nearby Locations:
East Brunswick | Monroe Township | New Brunswick | Old Bridge | South Brunswick | South Plainfield | Woodbridge
08816 | 08831 | 08901 | 08857 | 08852 | 07080 | 07095

Working Hours:
Monday:  8AM – 8PM
Tuesday:  8AM – 8PM
Wednesday:  8AM – 8PM
Thursday: 8AM – 8PM
Friday:  8AM – 8PM
Saturday:  Closed
Sunday:  Closed

Payment: cash, check, credit cards.