Guide To The Causes Of Shoulder Pain

Heart Attack

Most individuals understand that chest pain is the most common symptom of a heart attack. In this case, chest pain can present as pressure, pain, tightness, aching, or a squeezing sensation. However, many individuals may not realize that heart attacks can also cause shoulder pain. Other symptoms often accompany shoulder pain due to a heart attack. In addition, it can appear differently in women and men. Men will often deal with pain that spreads to their left shoulder and down their left arm. This is why men may clutch their arm during a heart attack. Women may deal with subtle shoulder pain during a heart attack. Unfortunately, they may deal with pain in either their left or right shoulder. Of course, patients need emergency medical attention for a heart attack.

Bone Spurs

Bone spurs are bumps of excess bone that appear on the ends of bones. In most cases, they occur in the joints, which is where two bones meet. Bone spurs can develop in many locations around the body, including the shoulders. Unfortunately, bone spurs in the shoulder can force the joints to rub together, which is what triggers the shoulder pain. Bone spurs in the shoulder may also irritate the rotor cuff tendons if they narrow the space in the joints. This can cause pain, of course, as well as muscle spasms and a loss of mobility.

Over time, untreated bone spurs may cause a rotator cuff injury or rotator cuff tear. Pain medication can relieve the shoulder pain from bone spurs. However, patients also need to rest their shoulders and engage in physical therapy. Steroid shots can also help. Patients who develop a rotator cuff injury often need additional treatments.