Shoulder pain explained
Voltaren Emulgel helps with the relief of localized traumatic inflammation and pain such as shoulder pain. Shoulders are particularly prone to injury, sprains and strains and painful stiffness called frozen shoulder. Here we look at the common causes of pain in the shoulders and how to treat shoulder pain.
Symptoms of shoulder pain
The characteristics of shoulder pain vary, depending on the cause of the problem[89] and they can be felt in different ways.
You may feel shoulder pain all the time, or only when you move your shoulder, and the pain might be temporary or continue (requiring medical diagnosis and treatment).[49]
01
With tendonitis (inflammation of the tendons) and bursitis (where fluid builds up in the sac of fluid that cushions the shoulder joint, called the bursa) there is usually a slow onset of discomfort and you may have difficulty sleeping on the affected shoulder.[89]
02
Frozen shoulder can cause pain, stiffness and restricted movement of the shoulder.[89]
03
How shoulder pain can affect you
Your shoulders provide the flexibility to lift and move your arms freely. So when they are in pain, you may find everyday activities like combing your hair and getting dressed difficult.[49] Painful shoulders will also make it uncomfortable to play sports, lift heavy boxes or reaching above your head.
Why do we experience shoulder pain?
There are many reasons why you might experience shoulder pain. For example, it can be caused by inflammation of the tendons (bursitis, tendonitis) or a torn tendon, which can lead to pain and discomfort in your shoulder.[49]
Bursitis, tendonitis and tears
Shoulder pain can be caused by bursitis (inflammation of the ‘cushions’ (bursa) between the bones and overlying soft tissues) or tendonitis (the wearing down of the tendon that occurs slowly over time due to overuse).[49] Pain may occur when a tendon tears because of injury or long-term overuse; it becomes more common as we get older as our tendons weaken with age.[49]
Painful shoulder conditions
Shoulder impingement syndrome – where the tendons in the muscle become trapped and repeatedly scrape against the bone above – can cause pain.[50]Some people also suffer from ‘frozen shoulder’, a painful stiffness that occurs when the flexible tissue that surrounds the shoulder joint becomes inflamed.[51]
Stretch your shoulders
This simple stretch52 helps to ease pain and prevent future symptoms:
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