If you fall off a ladder and land on your shoulder, it will be pretty easy to figure out why you have shoulder pain. Obvious instances of acute or chronic trauma to the shoulder make it easy to at least understand why you’re in pain, even if you don’t know the exact mechanism of injury. But what happens if you start to develop shoulder pain and you can’t figure out why your shoulder would start hurting in the first place? In today’s blog, we take a look at a few reasons why you may be dealing with shoulder discomfort without an obvious injury.
Shoulder Pain Without Injury
Here’s a look at four common causes of shoulder pain without a clear and obvious cause of injury:
- Osteoarthritis – Osteoarthritis is a condition categorized by wear and tear on the smooth cartilage that cushions the bones where they form a joint. This cartilage helps to facilitate comfortable movement, but over the years it can slowly wear down and allow bones to rub against each other. This bone on bone contact is uncomfortable and can lead to pain and inhibited range of motion in the joint. Osteoarthritis develops very slowly over years of stress on the shoulder, so it’s one of the most common causes of shoulder discomfort without acute injury.
- Bursitis – Inside your shoulder joint are thin sac-like structures called bursae that lubricate structures like tendons and ligaments to help them move smoothly. If these bursae are exposed to too much stress, either in the acute or chronic form, this can cause the bursae or tendons to become inflamed, which limits space for normal movement. When you try to move your shoulder and there isn’t enough space for these tendons and tissue to move, it can be painful. Dr. Holloway and his team can walk you through some conservative and operative techniques for calming bursitis.
- Rotator Cuff Tears – You may think that an injury like a rotator cuff tear would require obvious trauma to the shoulder, but these can also develop as a result of regular wear and tear on your shoulder over time. This can result in microtearing of the cuff-like muscles and tendons that help to hold the head of your upper arm bone to the shoulder socket. Over the years, this strain can lead to what’s known as a degenerative rotator cuff tear, and it’s most common in the dominant arms of older individuals. Strengthening the area with physical therapy exercises or correcting the problem with a minimally invasive procedure are common fixes.
- Adhesive Capsulitis – Adhesive capsulitis, also known as frozen shoulder, occurs as a result of inflammation of the connective tissues in the shoulder joint. Prolonged inflammation can lead to scar tissue formation, which further restricts normal movement in the area. Stiffness and range of motion restrictions are common in patients with adhesive capsulitis. It can develop as a result of acute injury to the shoulder, but it can also occur as a side effect of other conditions like osteoarthritis or thyroid gland problems. Again, physical therapy and gentle stretching exercise can help to thaw your frozen shoulder and allow for more normal motion.
As you can see, a number of different underlying issues can be the cause of your shoulder pain without an obvious injury, so it’s important to consult with a specialist to ensure you know exactly what’s causing your discomfort, as this will make developing a treatment plan much easier to create. For more information about shoulder problems, or to talk to a specialist about your shoulder discomfort, reach out to Dr. Holloway’s office today.
