Shoulder Pain

Shoulder Pain affecting your day to day life?

People who sit for long hours in front of a computer screen or desks often suffer from shoulder pain. This can happen due to a few reasons, including inflammation, bad posture, minor injury, etc.

Surprisingly, stress is also one of the most common causes of shoulder pain among the majority of the population, not just in the UK but worldwide. To understand and address shoulder pain effectively, we should also understand the anatomy and structure of the shoulder joint

Our shoulder comprises of two joints formed by three boney structures. These three structures are: humerus (bone in the upper arm), clavicle (collarbone), and the scapula (shoulder blade). 

The two joints are: Acromioclavicular (between scapula and clavicle) and Glenohumeral (between humerus and scapula). The rotator cuff, which is a cuff formed by four muscles, is responsible for the stability of the shoulder joint.

In case of an injury to your shoulder, your rotator cuff often sustains the damage. Naturally, when the most mobile part of the body with the widest range of functions is in pain, it can be quite debilitating. The good news is, shoulder pain fades away on its own in most cases. However, if your shoulder pain persists, you should consult a specialist for proper diagnosis and treatment.

 

 

man holding shoulder due to severe shoulder pain

Symptoms

Generally, the symptoms of shoulder pain can vary from person to person. Having said that, here are the most common symptoms of shoulder pain/dysfunction:

It is not necessary for you to experience all the symptoms at the same time. Typically, you might suffer from one or two symptoms along with pain in your shoulder. In case of minor injury or regular physical stress, the symptoms typically improve on their own in a day or two. However, if they fail to do so and cause significant disruption in daily activities, you should seek medical help from a professional immediately.

Causes of Shoulder Pain

There are a number of causes why you are experiencing shoulder pain, which may include:
Image showing distribution of pain in the shoulder

Diagnosing Shoulder Pain

Diagnosing the cause of shoulder pain requires a step-by-step approach. Our practitioners at MyMSK Clinic are trained in providing optimal patient care and identifying the exact cause of your shoulder pain. Here are a few techniques that we use to diagnose shoulder pain for our patients:

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Clinical Examination

We conduct a complete and thorough physical exam of the shoulders and nearby region. This helps us identify any abnormalities or underlying conditions. Most importantly, we ask some basic questions from our patients to get their medical history. These questions also help us find a connection with their shoulder pain for proper diagnosis. At this stage it is important to distinguish between shoulder pain coming from within the neck (referred pain) or possibly from the shoulder joint itself

In-house Ultrasound Scanning Facility

In case we are unable to identify any problems via clinical examination, we scan our patients to get an in-depth look at the muscles, joints and tendons in the shoulder. This takes out the guess work for a more accurate diagnosis of their pain. Our clinic offers high quality ultrasound scanning facilities to our patients (We use Sonosite machines). The ultrasound scanning is especially useful in identifying Arthritis and tendinitis/tears within the rotator cuff muscle. This whole process can only aid in the accurate diagnosis as to the cause of the shoulder pain.

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X-Ray and MRI Facilities

In case clinical examination or ultrasound scanning fails to diagnose the exact cause of the shoulder pain (this doesn’t occur often), we refer our patients for further imaging i.e. an X-ray or an MRI. These tests can help identify any abnormalities in the shoulder and help us diagnose the exact cause of your pain. We do not have in-house X-Ray and MRI facilities; however, we can refer our patients to some of the best facilities in the region.

Image showing clinician giving manual treatment to patient with shoulder pain

Treating Shoulder Pain

Once we have successfully diagnosed the exact cause of your shoulder pain, we can move towards the appropriate treatment. The advancement in musculoskeletal medicine offers a wide range of options to manage pain and reduce disability. Here at MyMSK Clinic, we specialise in all the latest treatment options for shoulder pain. Here are the primary treatment options we offer to our patients to manage their shoulder pain:

Osteopathic treatment

Osteopathy is a gentle form of treatment for shoulder pain. They offer a holistic approach for treating shoulder pain, involving drug-free and non-invasive methods.

Osteopathy employs the use of massage and manipulation to relieve pain and muscle tension. It strengthens the musculoskeletal framework by employing the use of strengthening exercises and relaxation techniques. It not only provides muscular relief but also improves mobility and healing. Osteopathic treatment includes both cold and heat therapy, gentle stretching exercises, as well as resistance band training.

Rehabilitation through stretching and appropriate exercises is backed by scientific evidence and the most efficient and productive exercises are given. Here at the MyMSK clinic, we have certified experts trained in osteopathy. We offer a combination of medical and physical therapy that provides optimal care for patients.

Injections

Here at MyMSK Clinic, we also treat and manage shoulder pain with effective injections. Whether you are facing shoulder pain due to inflammation, degeneration, injury, or any other reason, we can alleviate it using the right injection therapy. Here are a few of the injection therapies we offer at our clinics in Manchester and Burnley:

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Cortisone injections

Cortisone is a special type of steroid that contains potent anti-inflammatory benefits. Cortisone injections are incredibly effective against a number of causes of shoulder pain, including tendinitis, bursitis, arthritis, etc. The injection does not require any anaesthesia prior to taking it.

PRP and Prolotherapy

PRP and Prolotherapy are regenerative techniques used to treat rotator cuff tears and manage pain. PRP or Platelet Rich Plasma therapy involves the use of processed blood. The healing factors (platelets and growth factors) are extracted from the blood and reinjected back into the damaged tissue, ligaments and tendons to aid in regeneration. Prolotherapy employs the use of a sclerosant that initiates the inflammatory process that results in increased collagen synthesis. This in turn strengthens the area being injected into. Both these treatment options accelerate the recovery process via repair and regenerative means.

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Soft tissue injections

We normally use soft tissue injections in cases of shoulder pain referred from another area due to entrapment of a nerve or nerve root under bone structures. These are highly effective in managing pain that is not responding to other forms of therapy. One type of soft tissue injection we perform is termed neural prolotherapy with 5% dextrose. This is very useful for Myofascial pain.

Cortisone injections: Cortisone is a special type of steroid that contains potent anti-inflammatory benefits. Cortisone injections are incredibly effective against a number of causes of shoulder pain, including tendinitis, bursitis, arthritis, etc. The injection does not require any anaesthesia prior to taking it.

PRP and Prolotherapy: PRP and Prolotherapy are regenerative techniques used to treat rotator cuff tears and manage pain. PRP or Platelet Rich Plasma therapy involves the use of processed blood. The healing factors (platelets and growth factors) are extracted from the blood and reinjected back into the damaged tissue, ligaments and tendons to aid in regeneration. Prolotherapy employs the use of a sclerosant that initiates the inflammatory process that results in increased collagen synthesis. This in turn strengthens the area being injected into. Both these treatment options accelerate the recovery process via repair and regenerative means.

Soft tissue injections: We normally use soft tissue injections in cases of shoulder pain referred from another area due to entrapment of a nerve or nerve root under bone structures. These are highly effective in managing pain that is not responding to other forms of therapy. One type of soft tissue injection we perform is termed neural prolotherapy with 5% dextrose. This is very useful for Myofascial pain.

At MyMSK Clinic, we offer all of the above-mentioned treatments for shoulder pain under the care of trained professionals. Our diagnostic and therapeutic services are up to date, and we aim to take care of our patients in the best possible way.

Final Thoughts:

Shoulder pain can pose a major threat to your mental and physical if left untreated. Restricted movements and pain can affect your ability to function normally and perform even the simplest of tasks. If you are experiencing shoulder pain and searching for a reliable clinic in Manchester or Burnley for effective treatment, then MyMSK Clinic is an excellent option.

Here at MyMSK Clinic, we offer a complete range of treatments from osteopathy to regenerative treatments including prolotherapy. We are trained in dealing with all types of muscular or joint ailments, and we are equipped with the latest technology required to help diagnose and treat your condition.

We encourage our patients to come in at their earliest convenience and not to delay getting treatment. Shoulder pain may seem like a harmless symptom, but the underlying conditions that cause it can be quite debilitating and may leave long-lasting effects.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Try to avoid sleeping on the affected shoulder and use pillows to prop up your space in order to avoid rolling onto during sleep. You can also take over-the-counter painkillers to relieve pain. However, try to avoid excessive use of painkillers as they may be injurious to health.

If you feel pain in your shoulder when lifting heavy objects, it is a strong indicator of something being wrong. It could be an AC joint problem, a neck disc herniation or rotator cuff abnormalities, such as arthritis, bursitis, or tendinitis. This is a sign that you need to visit a specialist for a check-up. MyMSK Clinic offers a wide range of treatment solutions for all types of shoulder pains. Book an appointment with our experts in Manchester or Burnley for accurate diagnosis and treatment of your shoulder pain.
Experiencing shoulder pain during bench pressing or other weightlifting activities can be a strong indicator of AC joint pathology or rotator cuff injury. In such cases, it is advised to visit a doctor as soon as possible before it starts to get worse with time and use. Apart from this, try to avoid activities, such as weightlifting or physical exertion until you have had a thorough assessment and diagnosis. In these cases imaging is often required
No, it’s not normal to feel shoulder pain while coughing. Excessive coughing can cause significant stress on the muscles, particularly around the neck and shoulder region. However, in case of an underlying condition such as bursitis or tendinitis, the strain can worsen shoulder pain. If you are feeling shoulder pain while coughing, contact your nearest doctor or visit us for a complete medical check-up to rule out any underlying abnormalities behind your shoulder pain.
If you experience sharp shoulder pain when throwing an object, such as a ball, it can be a sign of tendinitis. When muscles are overworked, they can cause tendons to become strained and sometimes sustain micro tears, which leads to sudden sharp pain and stiffness in the shoulders. Another cause for shoulder pain when throwing is labral tears within the shoulder joint. These can often be missed and are diagnosed with a thorough assessment and an MRI arthrogram. If you experience such pain in your shoulder, it is recommended to get this checked by a doctor.

Yes, you may see a physiotherapist or chiropractor for shoulder pain. These are gentle, more conservative approaches for treating muscular ailments. At MyMSK clinic, we offer osteopathic treatments by trained professionals with state-of-the-art equipment and diagnostic facilities.

Whether it is a sporting injury that you just cannot shake, or a symptom of a degenerative condition such as arthritis, chronic shoulder pain can be a severely limiting problem. Part of the problem is that it is difficult to give your shoulder serious rest.

Everyday activities mean that you have to pick things up, reach for things or steer your car when driving. Shoulders are in constant use during these activities so when things go wrong you really feel it. Sometimes a simple ibuprofen is enough to relieve the pain. Sometimes you need something more effective.

At MyMSK Clinic we can help. Cortisone is a form of the natural hormone cortisol. When injected into a painful shoulder it can relieve pain by calming down the immune system. This causes your immune system to cause less inflammation in the joint and this in turn reduces the pain. Because of its calming effect on the immune system, cortisone injections are particularly useful in the treatment of degenerative diseases such as arthritis. My MSK clinic can help by giving you a cortisone injection for shoulder pain. Cortisone injections are an efficient way of shoulder pain relief. Cortisone Injections work well in conditions such as frozen shoulder, bursitis and degenerative Arthritis.

Treatments

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Osteopath

Osteopathy is a type of alternative medicine that invloves manual therapy and focuses on improving muscle and bone health

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Prolotherapy

A regenerative treatment for chronic painful joints and ligaments which involves the injection of a specially formulated solution into damaged tissue.

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Hyaluronic Acid

At MyMSK Clinic, we tend to offer Hyaluronic Acid injections(Durolane or Ostenil Plus) for Joint Pain and Osteoarthritis.

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Joint Injections

Combined with rehab program, joint injection treatments at MyMSK Clinic show exciting and promising results

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Knee Pain and cortisone injections

Cortisone Injections

A Cortisone Injection (termed steroid injection in the UK) is an anti inflammatory injection for the joints or body tissue to relieve pain.

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Pain between joints and PRP

Platelet Rich Plasma

PRP treatment can reduce the need for anti-inflammatory medication or strong painkillers with unwanted side effects

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For a detailed assessment of your shoulder pain

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