Symptoms
The vulnerability of the shoulder joint is due to its excessive mobility and functionality. As a result, uncharacteristic or excessive physical activity can lead to inflammatory and destructive processes in the joint.
A large number of people, of any age category, complain of painful sensations. You can often hear about this symptom from older people, however, young people who lead a sedentary lifestyle also suffer from shoulders. As a rule, shoulder pain occurs due to damage to the shoulder joint.
It is easy to determine what a person is dealing with when experiencing pain: pathology of the shoulder joint or something else, by performing the following manipulations:
If, when moving the shoulder, pain occurs precisely there, in this case it can be said with a high probability that there is a pathology of the shoulder.
If, when turning the neck in different directions, the shoulder reacts to such actions, most likely, we are not talking about damage to the shoulder joint.
Bursitis
The disease takes its name from the fluid that forms in the bursa, which is located near each joint. Any body movement is caused by friction of tendons and bones, so the synovial bursa becomes inflamed in different ways. When pain occurs in the right hand or left, it means the bursa is inflamed. The sources of this phenomenon are, as a rule, excessive loads, overexertion, and injuries. Visually manifested by tissue swelling and redness.
It becomes painful for a person to move his hand, especially if he makes a sudden movement.
Nature of pain
From aching to cutting in the situation of subdeltoid, ossifying bursitis.
Diagnosis and treatment
The patient needs to undergo an x-ray and ultrasound examination. The treating orthopedist and traumatologist selects medications. Non-steroidal Ibufen, Ibuprex, Nurofen. If the cause lies in injury, then a joint drug blockade is done with Novocaine, Lidocaine, non-steroidal hormones Disprospan, Hydrocortisone acetate. The infectious nature is removed with Cephalexin, Clindamycin, Dicloxacillin. Applications with paraffin, ozokerite, phonophoresis with hydrocortisone, UHF.
Traditional recipes use compresses with cabbage leaves and a salt dressing.
What it is? The sign is rotation of the shoulder by 30 degrees. The cause is the ingress of calcium salts and small particles into the subacromial bursa. In addition, it is impossible to fully rotate the joint, move it back or forward.
Nature of pain
Diagnosis and treatment
A traumatologist or rheumatologist prescribes ultrasound, radiography, biochemical blood and urine tests. NSAIDs are prescribed: Ibuprofen, Nise. Injections with an anesthetic composition.
Physical therapy and exercises provide a favorable outcome.
Etiology, causes of pain in the shoulders and forearms
There are many causes of pain in the shoulder and forearm, however, we suggest focusing on the most common ones.
- Shoulder arthritis
Arthritis refers to inflammatory diseases of the joints. A person feels acute pain, which becomes stronger in the evening and at night. If treatment is not promptly addressed, the neglected problem will lead to joint destruction and, as a result, disability.
- Shoulder arthrosis
Arthrosis is considered a degenerative disease that gradually destroys articular cartilage, as a result of which a person not only experiences pain, but also becomes limited in his movements. In the most advanced situations, the joint can become completely immobile.
- Bursitis
Bursitis is a disease that is accompanied by an inflammatory process in the bursae surrounding the joint and consisting of connective tissue. In this case, significant swelling is noted. Bursitis is characterized by shooting, throbbing or aching pain in the shoulder and forearm, worsening at night.
- Neuritis
Neuritis is associated with an inflammatory process occurring in the peripheral nerves. The disease is characterized not only by pain, but also by loss of sensitivity, paralysis and paresis in more advanced situations.
- Rotator cuff lesion
As a rule, such a disease is caused by non-standard hand manipulations that have taken place over a long period of time. The lesion is characterized by sharp pain in the shoulder.
- Shoulder impingement syndrome
The disease is associated with the process of deposition of calcium salts. The syndrome is characterized by spontaneous severe pain, which is constant, at the moment when a person moves the shoulder away from the body.
- Tendobursitis, tendinitis
Tendobursitis is an inflammatory process that occurs in the shoulder joint bursa, caused by deposits of calcium salts. As a rule, the disease is characterized by acute pain in the shoulder. The person also experiences restrictions in movement.
Tendinitis is an inflammation of the tendons that surround the shoulder joint. The disease occurs due to heavy loads and is characterized by aching pain.
- Shoulder sprain
Sprains usually occur due to excessive physical activity, resulting in instability of the shoulder joint. This situation often leads to more serious injuries if appropriate treatment measures are not taken in a timely manner. Pain in this case occurs when the shoulder joint moves.
- Humeroscapular periarthrosis
This disease is expressed in the stiffness of the muscles that are located around the shoulder joint, as a result of which the person experiences burning, shooting or aching pain. At night with this disease it is almost impossible to sleep. In addition, hand dysfunction is possible.
- Cervical osteochondrosis
Cervical osteochondrosis affects intervertebral discs, as well as cartilage. When the disease occurs, aching pain occurs in the shoulder, radiating to the forearm.
We looked at the most common causes of pain in the shoulder and forearm. However, sometimes the pain is not related to shoulder problems. This occurs in cases where the source is located in a different location. So, we are talking about referred pain that occurs due to cardiovascular diseases, tumors and various pathologies.
It is impossible to determine the cause on your own, so the best option would be to contact a specialist.
Shoulder problems
The culprits when pain in the hands occurs are osteochondrosis, glenohumeral periarthritis, arthritis, arthrosis. Depending on which part is affected, the right or left side hurts. The basis for the development of sores are heredity, bad habits, injuries, age-related changes, infections, diabetes, and hormonal disorders. Symptoms: impossible to raise an arm, stiffness, limited movement. In acute periarthritis, there is an increase in the inflammatory process and body temperature. Arthralgia is marked by increased temperature of the area, redness, swelling, and accumulation of fluid in the joint cavity.
Nature of pain
Moderate to severe with exacerbation when moving, at night.
Shootings radiating to the wrist joint in acute periarthritis.
Diagnosis and treatment
An orthopedist, rheumatologist, and traumatologist deals with such cases. Based on the patient’s complaints, he prescribes a biochemical, clinical blood test, urine test, ultrasound, radiography, MRI, arthroscopy. NSAIDs Ibuprofen, Aspirin, Voltaren, Diclofenac are used. Corticosteroid injections with Betamethasone, Diprospan, Flosterone. Novocaine blockades to relieve pain in the arm. Creams with analgesic properties Diclofenac, Indomethacin, Methyl salicylate, Dolgit, Nise gel. Therapy with laser, magnet, ultrasound, shock wave method, set of exercises, massage. The traditional method of relieving the ailment involves applying a salt bandage to the area for 2 weeks or a compress with honey. If conservative methods are ineffective, surgical intervention is performed to remove a fragment of the scapular process and ligament. It has another name: subacromial decompression.
Types of pain
Next, we propose to consider the nature of the pain syndrome.
Acute pain
This pain often radiates to the arm and becomes stronger when the person turns his head. Also, such sensations intensify at night and are sometimes unbearable. In the most severe cases, the person is unable to raise his arm.
Chronic pain
Chronic pain syndrome is characterized by constant discomfort, sometimes turning into aching sensations. In this case, the pain may become stronger when a person begins to feel the muscles. There are also often complaints of a feeling of “ache” in the shoulder joint.
Aching sensations
Aching pain is characterized by constant and often unbearable sensations in the shoulder and forearm. Sometimes the pain is described as burning or shooting. In the most difficult situations, hand dysfunction may be present.
Discomfort when moving
In this case, the pain is characterized by suddenness. Unpleasant sensations have a pronounced color, are distinguished by intensity and constancy.
Development of arthrosis
This is a surgical type disease. During shoulder arthrosis, the patient's health gradually deteriorates. There is degradation of nearby tissues and articular cartilage. The surface of the joint loses its smoothness. Sometimes it becomes covered with osteophytes or salt thorns.
Arthrosis of the shoulder joint There are situations when the discomfort weakens. Heavy physical labor leads to worsening of the pathology. Swelling is noticeable on the joint. The tissues surrounding it gradually turn red and become hot. It happens that sometimes a crunching sound is noticeable during movement.
Treatment methods
During arthrosis, the patient is advised the following drug therapy:
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Often, a mild remedy such as Paracetamol is prescribed first. If the desired effect is not visible, the patient is advised to use much stronger drugs: Ibuprofen, Naproxen, Indomethacin, Diclofenac, Nimesulide. These drugs make it possible to eliminate pain.
- Intra-articular block. During severe disease, specific drugs are injected into the joint area. As a rule, they use drugs based on the hormones “Prednisolone”, “Kenalog”, “Hydrocortisone”. These drugs provide an excellent anti-inflammatory effect.
- Chondroprotectors. Designed to help regenerate joint tissue. The most popular drugs are “Arthra”, “Teraflex”, “Arthro-Active”.
In addition to medication treatment, the patient is advised to undergo physiotherapeutic procedures and therapeutic exercises.
Prevention of shoulder and forearm pain
If a person has pain in his shoulders and forearms, sooner or later he begins to think about what to do. However, it is much easier to prevent certain diseases than to treat them later. Thus, the prevention of pain in the shoulder and forearm is constant movement in everyday life. However, even here it is worth considering the nuances. In particular, you should avoid harming the shoulder joint with unilateral movements, excessive physical exertion, and raising your arms above your head.
With the help of special physical training, you can easily strengthen the shoulder joint and also make it mobile. It is worth paying attention to exercises that are aimed at stretching the shoulder and pectoral muscles. Those who want to do strength training should contact a professional trainer who will supervise the exercises.
People who have to work in an office, spending a lot of time at a desk, should take breaks from time to time to move around and do a few muscle stretching exercises. It is also always worth making sure that your shoulders are relaxed and your posture remains straight.
Tumors
Malignant pathologies of the chest and lungs can provoke predominantly pain in the right shoulder. Additional signals of deterioration in health, loss of appetite, headaches, lethargy, shortness of breath.
Nature of pain
Constant, aching, sometimes with a sharp deterioration.
Diagnosis and treatment
The disease requires serious examination. Therefore, at the first stage, the patient undergoes an MRI, CT, X-ray, ultrasound, gives a biochemical, clinical blood sample, urine, and a puncture is performed to examine the contents. Observation is carried out under the supervision of an orthopedist, neurologist, and oncologist. Sometimes the neoplasm is benign, in which case the cyst is simply removed.
Malignant requires the use of medications and chemotherapy.
