Reaching out in front of you to turn a doorknob or pick up a cup of coffee is something that we do every day, so if that action becomes painful, your whole day can become uncomfortable. Soon you’re grabbing pens with your opposite hand and doing a delicate little dance as you try to get your arms through your coat. Pain with reaching is never fun, but what’s the mechanism behind this injury, and more importantly, how is it treated? We answer those questions and more in today’s blog.
Causes Of Shoulder Pain When Reaching
Shoulder pain when reaching can develop as a result of a few different issues, which is why it’s so important to connect with a shoulder specialist if lifting your arm forward becomes uncomfortable or painful. The most common reason for pain when reaching is due to shoulder impingement. When you raise your arm forward, the space between the top of your shoulder blade (acromion) and your rotator cuff narrows. In some individuals, these two areas of the shoulder touch as you raise your arm.
When the acromion rubs against or impinges the soft tissues of the rotator cuff below it, it can be quite painful! But if you’ve been lifting your arms without a second thought for all of your life, why has the action suddenly become painful? Oftentimes shoulder impingement occurs as a result of damage and inflammation to the rotator cuff.
Like any part of your body, if your rotator cuff tissues are injured, they may inflame and swell. The space through which the acromion passes unimpeded is already quite narrow, but if rotator cuff tissues swell, that space can become smaller or nonexistent. And as you might imagine, if these tissues are constantly irritated because the acromion is compressing them every time you lift your arm, it can be a tough cycle to break.
Damage to the rotator cuff that could lead to swelling can occur as a result of acute trauma to the shoulder, repetitive stress or just natural wear and tear over the course of years of normal physical activity. Aside from pain, shoulder impingement can lead to range of motion decreases, shoulder stiffness and arm weakness.
Diagnosing And Treating Shoulder Impingement
If it’s becoming painful to lift your arm out in front of you, set up a consultation with a specialist like Dr. Holloway. He’ll talk with you about your symptoms, review your medical history and then look for signs of swelling or discomfort in the shoulder area. He may also have you try to perform a few movements to see how your arm and shoulder respond.
If impingement is suspected, x-rays may be ordered to rule out arthritis and get a closer look at the rotator cuff or reveal the presence of bone spurs. An MRI or ultrasound can provide a more detailed look at damage to the rotator cuff tissues or for bursa inflammation.
Once you’ve been diagnosed with shoulder impingement, your shoulder specialist can begin to walk you through the typical treatment plan. In many cases, shoulder impingement can be resolved over the course of a few weeks with a combination of non-operative treatments like:
- Physical therapy
- Ice
- Activity limitations
- Anti-inflammatory medications
In the event that those techniques fail to provide relief, your shoulder specialist may have a conversation with you about the possibility of surgery. Surgical intervention for an impingement disorder typically involves a decompression procedure where a part of the offending acromion is removed. This is then followed by 4-8 weeks of rest and conservative care techniques to help strengthen the shoulder while healing runs its course.
So if reaching with one of your arms has become painful or you’ve become used to always grabbing for something with one arm because reaching with the other is sometimes uncomfortable, connect with a shoulder specialist and have the problem diagnosed and treated. In the greater Knoxville area, we hope you’ll connect with Dr. Holloway and his team. Call his office today at (865) 410-7887.
