The shoulder works with surrounding muscles and tendons to allow for a broad range of motion in the arm. Because of the shoulder’s design, our arms can rotate, push, pull, and lift objects overhead with relative ease. Because we rely on the shoulder for daily movements, wear and tear in the shoulder can often lead to painful shoulder injuries.  The most common problems that people are concerned about are tears in the rotator cuff and arthritis.

The shoulder is a complicated joint. Because it has a wide range of motion it is also less stable then other joints in the body. This can lead to shoulder problems

Typical causes of shoulder pain are overuse and trauma. These occur frequently during activities like weightlifting, football, or gymnastics. Common conditions include bursitis, rotator cuff tendonitis/tears, and shoulder impingement.

Most causes of shoulder pain fall into these two categories:

ACUTE

• Joint Dislocation
• Fracture
• Ligament or muscle tear

CHRONIC

• Inflammation (shoulder tendonitis/tendinitis, shoulder bursitis)
• Arthritis
• Ligament or muscle tears

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF A SHOULDER INJURY?

Symptoms vary depending on the type of shoulder injury. Shoulder injuries will cause pain with movement and may cause weakness in the joint when attempting activities of daily living or sports. Typically, an injury to the shoulder will be painful and easily aggravated by movement.

Depending on your condition, you may experience any of the following symptoms:

• Dull, aching pain that worsens with activity
• Stiffness or reduced mobility
• Joint swelling or edema
• A clicking sound from the shoulder
• Pain or difficulty raising your arms
• Tenderness to the touch
• Radiating pain into your arm or neck
• Difficulty sleeping

Common Shoulder Problems

Rotator Cuff Tears

The rotator cuff is part of your shoulder made up of muscles, tendons, and ligaments.  Rotator cuff tears can occur when these structures are damaged. This can happen in a sudden injury or slowly over time due to arthritis or impingement. At Absolute Wellness Center we have several options to help people with rotator cuff issues.

Arthritis in the shoulder

There are a few joints in the shoulder that are all susceptible to arthritis. The glenhumeral joint is the biggest joint in the shoulder and is typically what people think of as their shoulder joint.There is also the AC joint that can develop arthritis that is part of the shoulder as well. Shoulder arthritis develops when there is damage to the joint or laxity in the joint from torn tendons and ligaments , like a rotator cuff tear.

Bursitis in the shoulder

We have many areas in our bodies that have bursas, these fluid filled sacs help cushion tendons when they insert onto bones. Sometimes these sacs can become irritated and inflamed. When this happens the bursa can become painful. Bursitis is very common in the shoulder in a condition called subacromial bursitis.

Frozen shoulder

Frozen shoulder, also called adhesive capsulitis, involves stiffness and pain in the shoulder joint along with the loss of range of motion. Signs and symptoms typically begin slowly, then get worse over time. The leading theory of how frozen shoulder occurs is that the ligaments around the shoulder thicken and get tighter. This is painful and causes the range of motion of the shoulder to be limited. Having to keep a shoulder still for a long period increases the risk of developing a frozen shoulder. This might happen after having surgery or breaking an arm.

What can I do about my shoulder pain?

At Absolute Wellness Center our mission is to help people heal naturally without unnecessary drugs and surgery. When patients come to us with joint pain, we do a comprehensive exam including imaging. We then determine if the person is a good candidate for care in our office. If the person is a good candidate, we recommend a care plan that may include:

• Joint injections
• Therapeutic exercise
• Chiropractic care
• Bracing
• Physiotherapy

In our experience when patients use a combination of these therapies it can have a profound impact on their health that reduces pain and increases function. Our approach is much different than the standard of care. We are trying to help your body heal to solve the problem. Not just treating the symptoms of joint pain.

Typically, with joint pain, the first thing a person will do is try something at home like heat or ice. They might do stretches or exercises, maybe take some ani-inflammatories to deal with the pain. If that doesn’t work they might try chiropractic or physical therapy. If that doesn’t work, they got to the doctor. At the doctor they most likely get a cortisone injection. The relief from cortisone is usually temporary and you can only get so many cortisone injections in a joint without side effects. After injections the next stop is surgery, and after that more surgery.

It is very difficult to get the results you want by the current standard of care. Our goal is to help people get back to the lifestyle that they want. To get back to the activities they like to do and share these experiences with their loved ones. We have helped thousands of patients with joint pain over the years. The first step to see if we can help you is to schedule a consultation here