Shoulder Pain
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Common Causes of Shoulder Pain
As your knee joint, your shoulder boasts a ball-socket joint that enables your arm to roll in all directions. There are also the rotator cuff muscles that allow the shoulder joint to move and stabilize. Due to the complex structure of your shoulders, they are prone to certain disorders and injuries.
Rotator Cuff Impingement
A rotator cuff impingement happens when there is irritation, inflammation, or compression of the tendons or bursa (the fluid-filled sac that sits between bones) in the shoulder. An impingement can be caused by an injury, but it can also just result from general wear and tear from daily life.
Rotator Cuff Tears
A tear in the rotator cuff will produce pain that is similar to an impingement, but is also associated with weakness. A tear can be partial, whereby only part of the tendon is ripped away from the bone it is attached to. Or there can be a full tear, causing the tendon to completely separate from the bone. Although younger people can have rotator cuff tears, they become more common as people age. Compared with impingement, a tear is more likely to be caused by an injury. Common causes include falling on the ice, getting pulled by a dog on a leash, or tripping and landing on your shoulder.
Calcific Tendinitis
Pain from calcific tendinitis comes from calcium deposits embedded within the rotator cuff tendons. While it’s unclear exactly what causes these deposits to form, some experts believe they may result from a healing process in the ligament gone awry. The condition causes sudden, severe pain that often starts in the morning. It’s more common in middle-aged and older adults and those who have diabetes.
Adhesive Capsulitis
Commonly referred to as frozen shoulder, adhesive capsulitis is caused by a thickening and stiffening of the tissues around the shoulder joint. It’s typically develops in people ages 40 to 60. Frozen shoulder is more common in women than in men and in people with certain medical conditions, such as diabetes, high cholesterol, or thyroid disorders.
Osteoarthritis
While osteoarthritis affects the shoulder less often, it’s not uncommon. The condition develops when cartilage cushions between the bones in the shoulder erode, causing the bones to rub against one another.