Most Common Shoulder Injuries
The shoulders form a very intricate unification of three bones, the humerus, scapula, and clavicle.
Shoulder pain can be a result of overuse or injury or it can happen due to an underlying condition affecting the joints such as arthritis. Muscle fatigue in the shoulder area can also trigger pain or the pain can radiate from some other source of injury in the upper body towards the shoulders.
If your shoulders are injured or you’re experiencing pain in this region, then there are certain symptoms that you will experience. Along with pain, you will experience stiffness and tingling sensation in the area. Weakness is another factor that accompanies a painful shoulder and can become apparent and concerning if occurs while performing daily chores.
Although most shoulder injuries need professional care, certain mild injuries and pain can be easily self-treated by using certain home remedies. The most common and effective is heat/ice therapy along with proper rest and mild exercises. Although these remedies are very effective, in case of severe injuries they will not work. You can easily identify whether or not your injury needs professional help by simply analysing the condition of your shoulder.
If the pain is intense and has rendered, then surely you need to be concerned. Sometimes the shoulder even shows signs of swelling and there is numbness in the surrounding region such as arms and hands. All these symptoms are alarming and you need to contact a medical healthcare professional as soon as possible.
Here’s a list of the most common shoulder injuries that need to be treated by a doctor.
- Dislocation: This happens when the bone of the upper arm pops out of the socket in the shoulder blade. The shoulder might look out of place and you will experience excruciating pain along with swelling and weakness.
- Fracture: The shoulder is prone to fractures from injuries caused by an accident such as a car crash or a fall. The humerus is the bone that is most prone to fractures followed by the collarbone. Fractures are usually very painful and can make any movement of the shoulder nearly impossible.
- Frozen Shoulder: This condition usually occurs when the shoulder hasn’t been used in a very long time and adhesions have formed causing restriction in movement. The shoulder can feel stiff accompanied by a tingling sensation and numbness.
- Rotator Cuff Tear: These injuries are common and increase with age. It usually happens from normal wear and tear, or if you repeat the same shoulder motion over and over. It also can happen suddenly if you fall on your arm or lift something heavyweight.
- Osteoarthritis: When the cartilage covering the bones undergoes degeneration, it results in heavy friction between the bones as they move against each other. This condition is very painful and is also known as degenerative joint disease.
- Rheumatoid Arthritis: This is an autoimmune disease that affects the joints of the body in a symmetrical manner such as both hands or both shoulders, making its diagnosis easier. In this condition, the immune system attacks the healthy joints of the body resulting in inflammation and pain.
- Supraspinatus Tendinitis: This is when Supraspinatus i.e., one the tendon that makes up your rotator cuff gets inflamed. It can happen slowly over time or as the result of a fall or a direct hit to your shoulder.
