Symptoms of Labrum Damage, Rotator Cuff Injuries and Shoulder Impingement
Shoulder problems can sometimes have overlapping symptoms that can make them trickier to diagnose. Symptoms can include:
• Pain when moving the shoulder or lifting.
• Popping, grinding, or catching sensations when you move the shoulder.
• Weakness and instability in the joint. It may feel like the joint is “slipping” when you move your shoulder or arm.
• Vague aching feelings, even when the shoulder is not moving.
• A decreased range of motion.
What Causes Arm and Shoulder Pain?
Shoulder injuries can occur after either repetitive motion that causes wear over time or an acute trauma. A few causes of acute injuries:
• A direct blow to the shoulder, such as a football tackle.
• A fall on an outstretched arm.
• A sudden pull on the shoulder joints, such as an attempt to lift a heavy object.
• A violent overhead reach, such as one to grab a ball out of the air.
Jobs or sports that involve repetitive reaching can lead to tears as a repetitive stress injury.
Diagnosing the Causes of Arm and Shoulder Pain
Methods for finding the cause of arm and shoulder pain are more advanced than ever. With a sound diagnosis, we can treat the root cause of your shoulder pain and help you regain your mobility. A diagnosis will include:
• An analysis of your medical history. We’ll go over the symptoms you’ve been experiencing and discuss the possible causes of your pain.
• A physical examination. We’ll look at issues like your pain triggers and levels, your ability to move your shoulder, and any other issues.
• Diagnostic tests. Imaging tests like X-rays, MRIs, and ultrasound can show us what is going on with the soft tissue of the shoulder and reveal any damage, fluid buildup or inflammation.
Treating the Causes of Arm and Shoulder Pain
After finding the source of your pain, we can create a treatment plan that will help you heal and get back to your regular activities. Treatments can include:
• Rest of the affected shoulder. Avoiding activities like reaching or lifting for a period of time can give your body time to heal.
• Medication. Medications like anti-inflammatories can curb pain and inflammation.
• Physical therapy. Therapy will start with a focus on restoring the normal motion of your shoulder. After that, we can focus on decreasing any tightness in the area and building strength in the muscles of the rotator cuff to prevent future injuries.
• Steroid injections. These can help relieve inflammation and speed healing.
Request a Consultation
Are painful arm and shoulder conditions interfering with your daily activities? We can help. Our professionals have the skill and experience to diagnose the cause of your pain and create a personalized treatment plan to give you relief. Call for an appointment today.