What Can Be Causing My Shoulder Pain?

QUESTION: The pain is always there, but dull. What can be causing my
shoulder pain?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ANSWER: The shoulder joint is the most versatile joint in the body,
possessing an enormous range of motion. It allows us to perform strenuous
tasks such as lifting and throwing, as well as simple manual tasks like
writing or sewing. Because of its anatomical complexity, however, a tradeoff
is made. The shoulder's extraordinary range of motion, a great advantage for
many activities, is counterbalanced by an instability that makes it subject to
injury.
To diagnose the cause of shoulder pain, a great many factors must be
considered, including bones, muscles, tendons, ligaments, vessels, and nerves.
Since countless causes can be involved, the first step in diagnosing the
problem is to determine the exact location of the pain. The more acute the
problem, the more likely the patient can pinpoint it. How the pain started is
important to determine as well. Knowing if there was an injury or if the pain
came on gradually is a key point in a diagnostic evaluation. If certain
movements cause pain or are impossible to perform, they should be noted, as
should any movements that relieve the pain. Swelling, burning, tingling, or
numbness in the arm will influence the diagnosis as well. Knowing the type of
activity a person engages in is also a key factor when diagnosing a shoulder
ailment. For example, sedentary activities such as writing, typing, or sewing
force shoulder muscles to contract, and prolonged engagement in such tasks can
cause shoulder spasms. Exercising to stretch the muscles can prevent the
problem and should be performed because if the joint is not allowed to move
freely, it can "freeze" and cause the formation of fibrotic adhesions. On the
other hand, strenuous activities such as swimming or overhead work causes
certain tendons to stretch and compress. Such violent, repetitive action may
traumatize the tendon and its sheath, producing pain. Other possible causes
of shoulder pain can include chronic inflammation of a shoulder joint that may
develop if a shoulder injury doesn't heal properly or if the joint is
strenuously worked and abused. Even years after an injury, simple activities
such as rolling on the shoulder during sleep may cause pain, tenderness, and
spasms. Arthritis, tension, fibrositis, and bone calcification are still
further possible causes of chronic shoulder pain. If you are suffering from
undiagnosed shoulder pain, I suggest that you see a physician in hopes of
determining the cause. Simple, five-minute examinations have been designed to
quickly pinpoint possible causes, and it's certainly worth your while to
investigate them. Relief can be readily achieved in many cases.