What Causes Arthritis In Your Shoulder

Rotator Cuff Tear Arthropathy

Rotator cuff tear arthropathy is a type of shoulder arthritis that can develop after a massive and prolonged rotator cuff tear. The four rotator cuff tendons in your shoulder wrap around the ball portion of the shoulder joint, holding it in place. If one or more of these tendons is heavily torn, this may cause the humeral head to rub against other bones and develop arthritis.

What Causes Discomfort In The Upper Arm

Your upper arm pain may originate from an injury or infection:

What Are The Symptoms Of Ra In The Shoulders

You could have pain, swelling, and stiffness in any of the four shoulder joints:

• Where the bone in your upper arm meets your shoulder socket
• Where your collarbone meets your shoulder blade

RA can limit your shoulderâs range of motion. Thatâs how far you can move or stretch a body part.

You may also feel grinding or popping when you move your arm.

Don’t Miss: What Can I Do For Arthritis In My Shoulder

What Does Shoulder Arthritis Feel Like

If you have shoulder arthritis, youll feel mild-to-severe pain and stiffness in your shoulder. Over time, youll notice a loss in your range of motion in your shoulder joint, especially if the glenohumeral joint is involved.

You may feel pain when you reach overhead, lift heavy objects or play sports or join in activities that involve a range of arm movements. In late-stage disease, you may not be able to complete simple everyday tasks without pain. These tasks include such things as bathing, grooming and even writing or using your computer.

What To Do About Shoulder Arthritis

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms it is important to get a proper diagnosis. Although there is no cure for arthritis, there are treatments that might help to slow the development of the disease or ease the symptoms. However, surgery may be the only way to treat more advanced arthritis.

Non-surgical treatments for less advanced arthritis include exercises to increase movement and flexibility, painkilling medication and lifestyle changes. You may also be able to have an injection into your shoulder to reduce pain and inflammation.

If you have been diagnosed with a rotator cuff injury or you have symptoms that suggest you might have torn your rotator cuff, contact us to discuss your diagnosis and the treatment options most suitable for you.

Don’t Miss: Does Air Conditioning Cause Arthritis

Where In The Shoulder Is Pain Felt And What Might It Mean

The location of your shoulder pain may help tell which shoulder joint is affected.

• If your pain at the side of your shoulder and your ache feels like its deep in the joint, it likely involves your glenohumeral joint.
• If you feel pain at the top of your shoulder that sometimes travels to the side of your neck, it likely involves your acromioclavicular joint.

Pain In One Side Of The Neck

Stretching may help to ease shoulder blade pain.

Isolated pain in the right or left side of the neck is most commonly the result of muscle strain or injury.

The following activities could contribute to pain in one side of the neck:

• Bad posture. Poor posture can strain the muscles in and around the neck and may also lead to an uneven spreading of weight, which could cause pain on one particular side.
• Poor sleeping position. Sleeping in an awkward position can cause neck pain, and this is more likely for people who sleep on their stomach. Using too many pillows or an unsupportive mattress can also lead to problems.
• Whiplash. Pain from neck sprains are the result of ligament or muscle damage. While whiplash is most commonly associated with being in a vehicle accident, other common causes include doing vigorous sporting activity and riding a rollercoaster.

Also Check: What Does Arthritis Look Like In Your Fingers

When To Speak To A Health Professional

It is important to seek medical help in certain situations:

• If you are in extreme levels of pain
• If you have had a traumatic incident such as a fall, which results in you being unable to move your arm at all
• If you have any pins and needles or numbness in your arm
• If the skin over your shoulder is hot, red or swollen
• If you feel feverish, unwell or have unusual levels of tiredness
• If you have been experiencing unexplained weight loss or night-time sweating

Possible Reasons For Shoulder Pain

If you havent recently fallen or been in an accident, and there doesnt seem to be any logical explanation for a sudden onset of your shoulder pain, there may be a root cause other than arthritis.

• Rotator Cuff Tendinitis. This is one of the most common causes of shoulder pain without direct injury. Rotator Cuff Tendinitis usually develops over time as the tendons and muscles that move your shoulder joint stiffen. It can be caused by sleeping on one side, keeping the shoulder in one position for long stretches of time, or participating in activities with rhythmic arm motions .
• Bone Spurs in the neck or shoulder. Despite the name, bone spurs are actually smooth outgrowths from the bone. They start small, but over time, they slowly increase in size. Theyre often asymptomatic but occasionally lead to pain or loss of motion in joints.
• Spinal Issues. Sometimes although its your shoulder that hurts, the real problem is that your spine has become misaligned, perhaps even leading to pinched nerves in the neck or shoulder.
• Bursitis. Bursitis is an extremely painful condition. Caused by inflammation of the bursae that cushion the joints, it most often occurs in the shoulders, elbows, and hips.
• Heart Attack. If arm and shoulder pain is ever accompanied by shortness of breath and/or chest pain, call 911 and seek medical assistance immediately.

You May Like: What To Do For Arthritis Pain In Hips

Other Therapies For Psa

Below are additional ways of managing shoulder pain from PsA.

Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation Units

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation units are small, battery-operated devices that use electrical impulses to help reduce pain by stopping pain signals in the brain. One MyPsoriasisTeam member recommended using a TENS unit while exercising: I have a TENS unit that is portable and awesome for keeping the body moving when having severe pain.

Heat and Cold Therapy

Many MyPsoriasisTeam members use heat and cold to help ease PsA pain. One member shared their method for heat therapy: I use a rice-filled sock heated in the microwave for a few minutes. It helps. Others would rather apply ice: I also find that ice packs still help even when Tiger Balm doesnt. I think the cooling action helps reduce the inflammation.

Topical Creams and Patches

Health care providers like rheumatologists can prescribe topical treatments for pain. As one MyPsoriasisTeam member wrote, If you can get your doctor to prescribe it, there are some creams and patches that work very well .

Other MyPsoriasisTeam members recommend trying over-the-counter ointments, like one who shared, Extra-strength Tiger Balm helped me for a long time.

Causes Of Shoulder Pain

There are four main categories of shoulder pain, as follows:

• Tendon inflammation and tearing: The shoulder has many muscles and tendons, including the rotator cuff. When these areas become inflamed you can develop bursitis or tendonitis. You might also experience a rotator cuff tear. These types of injuries are characterized by pain that gets worse after movement or shoulder use.
• Shoulder instability:Shoulder instability, also known as a shoulder dislocation or subluxation, happens when the arm bone comes fully or partially out of the shoulder socket. It can happen as the shoulder weakens over time, or suddenly due to an injury. This can cause dull or severe pain.
• Arthritis:Osteoarthritis, which is inflammation from wear and tear, is common in the shoulder joint. If you have arthritis, your pain will start slowly and build over time. Youll also likely experience joint stiffness and a reduced range of motion.
• Fracture: If you fracture a bone in the shoulder, youll experience sudden and severe pain accompanied by redness and swelling. Older individuals can fracture their shoulders by falling, while younger people generally have shoulder fractures from sports or car accidents.

You May Like: Is Sugar Bad For Rheumatoid Arthritis

How Simon Moyes Can Help

Simon Moyes is an internationally renowned orthopaedic surgeon and leader in the field of arthroscopic surgery. His Capital Orthopaedics team works from The Cromwell Hospital in London, The Basinghall Clinic and The Platinum Medical Centre, with state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment, top sports medicine professionals and highly experienced medical professionals.

Contact Simon Moyes for an expert diagnosis and treatment of your shoulder problems.

Can This Injury Or Condition Be Prevented

There is no way to prevent shoulder OA. You may reduce your risk by staying moderately active, keeping the shoulder strong, and keeping the shoulder muscles the appropriate length with stretching. Your physical therapist can help you determine what exercises will keep your shoulder healthy. Eating healthy and exercising will help you manage a healthy weight and healthy joints. Avoiding injuries to the shoulder joint will help reduce your risk of OA as well.

You May Like: Is Banana Good For Rheumatoid Arthritis

Don’t Miss: Can Sugar Make Arthritis Worse

Pain Between The Shoulder And Elbow

In some cases, pain can be felt in both the area of the right shoulder and further down towards your right elbow. Some causes are:

• Rotator cuff disease: Pain can begin to radiate from your shoulder into the side of your upper arm.
• Torn rotator cuff: Shoulder pain may radiate down your arm to the area of the elbow.
• Dislocated shoulder: The pain from a dislocated shoulder can radiate down the upper arm.
• Upper arm fracture: A break in your upper arm can cause pain thats localized around the area of your shoulder and throughout your upper arm.
• Frozen shoulder: Pain from a frozen shoulder may also spread into your right bicep.
• Calcific tendinitis: Similarly to frozen shoulder, pain from calcific tendinitis can spread down into your bicep area.

Signs Of Shoulder Arthritis

Arthritis affects joints, muscles, ligaments and tendons by wearing away the cartilage that prevents friction between the meeting point of bone ends. Shoulder arthritis feels like recurrent pain and stiffness in your shoulder joints. Other symptoms include the following:

If you notice you’re experiencing some shoulder arthritis symptoms, consulting a doctor to discuss your symptoms can help you receive treatment faster.

Recommended Reading: Does Rheumatoid Arthritis Affect The Whole Body

What Are The Symptoms Of Osteoarthritis

If you have any of the following symptoms, its important to get your shoulder checked out. An early diagnosis of osteoarthritis can avoid the need for surgery.

• Shoulder pain: Tenderness and pain deep at the back of your shoulder. It can get worse at night, making it difficult to sleep.
• Stiffness or loss of motion: decreased range of motion, making day-to-day activities like washing and dressing difficult.
• Catching: a feeling of friction as you move your shoulder. It is often associated with popping or crunching sound .
• Weakness: if you avoid painful movements and lifting objects, it can lead to weakening of your muscles.

Injections For Shoulder Arthritis

There are currently two types of injections that can provide pain relief for shoulder arthritis. The first type is cortisone shots. Typically, cortisone is mixed with a numbing agent that provides immediate pain relief and helps your doctor know if the injection is in the right place. Once the numbing medicine wears off, the joint may be sore until the cortisone kicks in. Its important to ice the shoulder for a day or so after the shot.

Cortisone shots dont damage the shoulder, but most surgeons limit them to no more than a few a year in most cases of arthritis. Cortisone shots may increase the risk of infection if you undergo a total shoulder replacement soon after the shot. If you are considering the surgery, consider avoiding cortisone shots a few months prior.

The other medicine that can help with shoulder arthritis is synthetically manufactured hyaluronic acid. Its a naturally occurring lubricant in the human body. This liquid substance has been injected into arthritic knees for many years. This injection sometimes helps with the pain for up to two years, but it is unusual for it to take all the pain away for an extended period of time.

The current recommendation is not to have shoulder replacement surgery within three months of having a cortisone shot in the shoulder. If you are considering surgery, it is best to avoid cortisone shots until you have discussed it with your doctor.

Read Also: Is Celery Good For Arthritis

What Will Happen To Me

For most people shoulder pain settles down fairly quickly. This usually takes several weeks but can vary between people. At least one in two people with shoulder pain will have fully recovered within six months. Unfortunately shoulder pain can return, even in people who have fully recovered. It is not possible to predict which cases of shoulder pain will return.

Should I See A Doctor

You should talk to your doctor or other health professional if your pain is bothering you. They will ask you about your symptoms and examine the movement of your shoulder. In most cases tests such as x-rays, ultrasounds and blood tests are not helpful in finding out the cause of shoulder pain unless there has been an obvious injury or strain. Your doctor may check for any serious medical problems that could be causing your pain, but these are rare. You should see your doctor if:

• you have shoulder pain after a fall or accident
• your pain does not settle down or starts getting worse, especially if you have pain when you are resting your shoulder
• you have symptoms such as losing weight, fever or night sweats.

Also Check: How Can You Diagnose Arthritis

Shoulder Arthritis Due To Rotator Cuff Tear

Much like post-traumatic arthritis, rotator cuff arthropathy is an arthritic condition that results from injury to the shoulder. In this case, the specific injury is a tear to the rotator cuff, a group of four muscles and four tendons that surround, protect, and stabilize the shoulder. This injury will weaken the shoulder joint over time, promoting the development of arthritis.

Tests To Diagnose The Cause Of Shoulder Pain

Treatment will depend on the cause of your shoulder pain, so its important to identify whats causing your discomfort. In most cases, you should visit your healthcare provider to discuss the cause of your shoulder pain. They might use the following tests to help make a diagnosis:

• X-ray: If your healthcare provider suspects a fracture or arthritis, they may use an X-ray.
• Magnetic resonance imaging : MRI scans can be used to show damage to ligaments and other soft tissue.
• Computed tomography : CT scans provide a detailed look at the joint that can be helpful in diagnosing most shoulder pain issues.
• Electromyography : Electrical studies, including EMGs, can detect nerve damage.
• Arthroscopy: If your healthcare provider cant make a diagnosis based on the other tests, they may opt for exploratory surgery, known as an arthroscopy.

Don’t Miss: What Can I Take Over The Counter For Arthritis Pain

How Does The Shoulder Work

Your shoulders each have two joints, making them the most flexible parts of your body.

The main shoulder joint the glenohumeral is a ball-and-socket joint. Its called this because the top of the upper arm bone the humerus is shaped like a ball. This ball fits into the shoulder blade bone, which acts as the socket, giving your shoulder a wide range of movement.

But, the shoulder socket is very small, compared to other ball-and-socket joints, such as the hip. Its held together and controlled by a covering of muscles, which are secured to the bones by strong cords called tendons.

These muscles and tendons form a capsule around the joint and support its movements, but can make it more likely to dislocate than other joints.

Inside the capsule is the synovium, which produces fluid that lubricates the joint and keeps the cartilage healthy. The cartilage helps protect your bones from any impact and sits between the bones of your shoulder joints to stop them rubbing together.

Above the main shoulder joint theres a smaller joint where the top of the shoulder blade the acromion meets the collar bone.

This is known as the acromioclavicular joint. It helps the larger joint below to move through its full range, particularly when youre raising your arm, lifting or throwing.

Also Check: Can Popping Your Fingers Cause Arthritis