Shoulder pain is usually either gradual onset or sudden onset. Gradual onset shoulder injuries are often from poor technique or overuse. Sudden onset can be a strain or traumatic shoulder injury caused by impact or twisting.
Shoulder pain and shoulder injuries are very common and can be debilitating conditions for both sports people and the non-sporting population. The shoulder girdle has the highest range of motion of any joint in the body, which means it can be more prone to injury.
Shoulder injuries can generally be divided into either sudden onset injuries or gradual onset injuries. Those of a sudden onset tend to occur at a definite point of time, usually with instant pain from a forceful movement, impact to, or landing on the shoulder.
These may include rotator cuff tears, shoulder dislocations, and AC joint injuries. A subsection of sudden onset shoulder pain can include the fracture of the collar bone, scapula and neck of the humerus. Gradual onset injuries develop more slowly without an obvious cause of pain. These include frozen shoulder, rotator cuff tendinitis, and impingement syndromes.
Common Symptoms:
- Swelling and/or bruising
- Sudden onset of pain
- Pain on stretching the chest muscles
- Pain in the shoulder joint
- Reduced shoulder range of motion
- Tender when pressing the collar bone
- Tender to touch the front of the shoulder
- Pain radiating into the shoulder
- Pain at the breast bone/end of the collar bone
- Tenderness in the chest musclesSwelling and/or bruising
- Sudden onset of pain
- Pain on stretching the chest muscles
- Pain in the shoulder joint
- Reduced shoulder range of motion
Getting a Diagnosis for your Shoulder Pain
If you have tingling, numbness, or pain in your shoulder, see a doctor. He or she will take your medical history, examine you, and possibly perform tests. These may include X-rays, imaging scans, or blood tests. After the examination, the pain management doctors and pain management professionals at Comprehensive Centers For Pain Management will clearly explain to your condition, possible sources of your pain, and which treatment will help.
Our Medical Providers will help determine the best course of action to help you with your shoulder pain.