What most people call the shoulder is a group of joints that work together with tendons and muscles to allow the arm to move in a wide range of motion, from scratching your back to throwing a ball.
However, mobility comes at a cost. It may worsen difficulties with shoulder instability or impingement of soft tissue or bony structures, resulting in discomfort. You may have discomfort only when moving your shoulder or all the time. The discomfort may be transient or persistent, necessitating medical evaluation and treatment. Your doctor can provide more specific information regarding your shoulder discomfort, so consult a Cumming shoulder professional today.
Shoulder pain and discomfort
Your shoulders are the intersections of your shoulder blades (scapula), upper arm bones (humerus), and collarbone (clavicle). The humerus inserts into the rounded socket of the scapula on each side of your body. Each shoulder is kept in place by a rotator cuff, a combination of four muscles and tendons that protects and covers the humerus and allows you to elevate and rotate your arm.
Shoulder discomfort can be caused by a variety of factors. You may have hurt it in a fall or an accident, or you could have overdone a task like cleaning. Shoulder discomfort can be caused by a disorder such as arthritis. It can even be caused by issues in other regions of your body, which is known as referred pain.
Risk factors and common causes
- Separation
This ailment affects the joint between your collarbone and shoulder blade. The acromioclavicular (AC) joint is what it is called. A fall or a violent impact destroys the body’s ligaments. A hump on top of your shoulder will result if your collarbone is pushed out of place.
- Dislocation
If you pull your shoulder back too much or twist it too far, the top of your arm may burst out of its socket. You will have shoulder soreness and weakness. Swelling, numbness, and bruising are also possible.
- Cartilage tear
By doing so, you can harm the cartilage (the rubbery cushioning that surrounds the rim of your shoulder joint). It might happen after repeatedly making the same motion. It can also be injured during a fall or if your shoulder is stressed. With this injury, you may have pain when reaching over your head, and your shoulder may appear weak. It might also feel like locking, catching, or grinding.
- Fracture
A bone might shatter or crack if you fall or take a heavy hit. The clavicle (collarbone) and humerus (arm bone nearest to your shoulder) are the most often broken bones. You will be in a lot of discomfort, and it can bruise. Your shoulder may drop, and you may be unable to elevate your arm if your collarbone is fractured.
