Most shoulder pain involves the muscles, tendons and ligaments around the shoulder, and is usually brought on by over-use. In some cases, the shoulder itself may be unstable, or even dislocate. In other cases, the shoulder becomes frozen, with adhesions that restrict movement. Or you may have inflammation of the rotator cuff, the group of muscles and tendons which holds the shoulder in place. If the rotator cuff is involved, the pain is usually in the front or outside of the shoulder; it’s worse when you raise your arm or lift something above your head, and the pain may wake you up at night.
Shoulder injuries may be treated with physical therapy, exercises, and stretching, or you may be given anti-inflammatory medication, heat and cold therapy, shoulder manipulation, fluid injections, electrical stimulation, or surgery. |
