common causes of shoulder pain

Common Causes of Shoulder Pain

31 Jul 2019 Shoulder Surgery , , , , , ,

If you are suffering from shoulder pain caused by osteoarthritis or injury, it is possible to restore your mobility and quality of life.  Learn more about shoulder pain and some of the shoulder treatment options available at Arkansas Surgical Hospital.

A version of this article featuring Dr. Brent Lawrence appeared in the August 2019 issue of the Arkansas Senior Resource Directory.

The Parts of Your Shoulder

Your shoulder joint has three bones: the scapula (shoulder blade), the clavicle (collarbone), and the humerus (upper arm bone).  Your shoulder also contains muscles, tendons, ligaments, and cartilage that provide strength, stability, and flexibility.  Damage to these parts of your shoulder can lead to persistent pain and stiffness.

Common Causes of Shoulder Pain

Most shoulder problems fall into four major categories: tendon inflammation (including rotator cuff tears), instability, arthritis, or fractures.

Tendon Inflammation & Rotator Cuff Tears

Tendon inflammation commonly occurs due to bursitis, tendinitis, or shoulder impingement.

  • Bursitis: The bursa, a small fluid-filled sac located above the shoulder joint, acts as a cushion between the bones and the overlying soft tissue.  This helps reduce friction as you move your shoulder.  Sometimes, injury or excessive use of your shoulder can lead to swelling of the bursae between the rotator cuff and the acromion (part of the shoulder blade).  This results in a condition known as bursitis.
  • Tendinitis: Bursitis commonly occurs in association with tendinitis.  Tendinitis is a result of inflammation in the rotator cuff tendons and may be acute or chronic in nature.
    • Acute injuries of the shoulder can be caused by excessive throwing or other repetitive overhead activities.
    • Chronic injuries of the shoulder occur over time and are degenerative in nature.
  • Impingement: Shoulder impingement occurs when you lift your arm over your head or away from your body and the acromion impinges on the bursa and the rotator cuff tendons beneath.

Rotator cuff tears may develop from acute injury or degenerative changes in the shoulder due to advancing age, long-term overuse, wear and tear, or sudden injury.

Shoulder Instability

Shoulder instability occurs when the ball or head of the proximal humerus is forced out of the shoulder socket.  This may be partial (subluxation) or complete (dislocation) and may be caused by acute trauma or degenerative processes.  Some people are even born with general laxity in their shoulders and other joints.  Damage to the ligaments, tendons, and muscles around the shoulder may lead to recurring dislocations and even arthritis.

Arthritis

Arthritis is a common term used to refer to inflammation in a joint.  There are many types of arthritis, but the most common type of arthritis in the shoulder is osteoarthritis (also known as “wear and tear” arthritis).  Other types of arthritis may be related to rotator cuff tears, inflammation, or history of trauma.

Osteoarthritis develops slowly over time and results from cartilage being worn down to bone, causing increased friction and inflammation in the shoulder.  Symptoms of osteoarthritis of the shoulder include stiffness, swelling, pain, limited motion, and weakness.

Fractures

Fractures occur when bones around the shoulder are broken.  In older patients, this usually results from a fall.  In younger patients, it is usually the result of high-energy trauma such as a motor vehicle accident or a sports injury.  Fractures result in severe pain, swelling, and bruising around the shoulder.

Diagnosing Shoulder Pain

Consult an orthopedic surgeon for diagnosis of your shoulder problems.  An orthopedic surgeon will evaluate your medical history and your daily activities.  He or she will also physically examine you, which may include x-rays, ultrasounds, or an MRI.

Your surgeon will also ask you to describe your shoulder pain.  If the pain travels down your arm to your elbow or fingertips, for example, it may indicate that a disease is responsible for your discomfort.  Diseases that can cause shoulder pain include disorders of the spine, liver disease, heart disease, and diabetes.

Shoulder Surgery

The large majority of patients with shoulder pain will respond to simple, non-surgical treatment methods.  However, depending on your injury or condition, you may require shoulder surgery.

Examples of non-surgical treatments for shoulder pain include NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), physical therapy, and steroid injections.  Once non-surgical options have failed and your activities remain painful or limited, your orthopedic surgeon may recommend shoulder surgery.

Surgery may be performed with a shoulder scope for conditions such as impingement, rotator cuff tears, or instability.  In the case of arthritis, you may require shoulder replacement.  Shoulder replacement surgery has excellent success rates, and new surgical techniques have made it even more effective at eliminating your shoulder pain, improving your mobility, and restoring your quality of life.

Recovery from Shoulder Surgery

Full recovery from shoulder surgery is a long process.  Your specific recovery protocol will vary depending on your orthopedic surgeon, but here is a general outline of what to expect:

  • While you are recovering in the hospital from your shoulder surgery, you will be given IV antibiotics to prevent infection and medications to relieve your pain.
  • For the first two weeks you are home, you will need to be assisted 24 hours a day by a family member, friend, or other caregiver.
  • Physical therapy will usually start around week four and will focus on improving your shoulder’s range of motion.  Then, once your tissues have had time to heal, you will advance to strengthening exercises.
  • You will be confined to a sling for about the first six weeks after surgery.
  • Your mobility should continue to improve over the first three to six months after surgery.

Living with Shoulder Pain

There are many treatment options for shoulder pain.  To learn more about different solutions, contact Arkansas Surgical Hospital at (877) 918-7020 for help making an appointment with one of our specialists.

Urgent Care vs. ER

What’s the Difference Between Urgent Care and the Emergency Room?

18 Jun 2019 ASH Information, Patient Information ,

When you’re in pain from a serious injury or illness, it can be difficult to know for sure whether you need to go to the emergency room or if you can be treated at an urgent care center.  To help clarify, here are some differences between the two facilities.

Emergency Rooms vs. Urgent Care

As the name implies, emergency rooms are for medical emergencies that need immediate, life-saving attention.  Urgent care centers, on the other hand, are for matters that are serious, but not life- or limb-threatening.

Besides the severity of the conditions treated at each facility, there are several other differences between the two:

Wait Times

Most urgent care clinics can get you in and out within an hour, whether you walk in or call ahead to make an appointment.  At an emergency room, however, you could be waiting for hours if there are people with more severe injuries or illnesses that need to be treated.

Services

Urgent care centers are equipped to handle more than a typical primary care physician’s office.  For example, if you’ve sprained your wrist but your primary care physician’s office is closed, urgent care is a great option.  If you have a severe broken bone that has punctured the skin, however, the emergency room is more appropriate.

Urgent care clinics can also perform services like physicals, EKGs, X-rays, lab work, and vaccinations.  Keep in mind that while urgent care clinics provide these services, they do not function like a primary care physician’s office and should not be used as a substitute for the regular care provided by your primary care physician.

Costs

Going to the emergency room costs much more than going to urgent care.  While both urgent care and ER visits can be covered by insurance, keep in mind that if you go to an out-of-network facility or if you are treated by an out-of-network doctor, you may have to pay the full price of the visit out of your own pocket.  Since the cost of urgent care is much lower, it will not be as damaging to your finances.

When to Go to the Emergency Room

If you’re suffering from a life-threatening condition, call 9-1-1 or go to the emergency room.  Such conditions could include:

  • Heart attack symptoms: chest pain; squeezing sensations in the chest; pain in the neck, jaw, or arm on the left side of your body
  • Stroke symptoms: sudden numbness on one side of your body; slurred speech; vertigo; vision problems
  • Difficulty breathing, including severe wheezing or shortness of breath
  • Head trauma
  • Uncontrolled bleeding
  • Severe abdominal pain
  • Extremely high fever
  • Poisoning
  • Major burns
  • Loss of consciousness

When to Go to Urgent Care

Go to an urgent care facility if you experience the following:

  • Minor broken bones
  • Sprains and strains
  • Cold and flu symptoms: coughing, sore throat, fatigue, fever
  • Cuts that have stopped bleeding but may require stitches
  • Eye or ear infections
  • Vomiting and diarrhea
  • Minor burns
  • Minor allergic reactions

ASH Urgent Care

In addition to the services listed above, ASH Urgent Care also performs hydration therapy, drug testing, immunizations, and a variety of occupational health services.  If you are in need of urgent care in North Little Rock, call ASH Urgent Care at (501) 918-0814.  Or, go directly to ASH Urgent Care at 7339 North Hills Boulevard, Suite 100.

Press Release: Arkansas Surgical Hospital resumes normal activities

2 Jun 2019 ASH Information

June 2, 2019

North Little Rock, Arkansas – Arkansas Surgical Hospital resumes normal activities.

Arkansas Surgical Hospital (ASH) announced today that they would return to normal operations beginning immediately. This includes all elective surgeries, pain management procedures, and scheduled diagnostic appointments.

“We would like to thank Arkansas Heart Hospital, MEMS, as well as the patients and families who were transferred last Friday for their patience and cooperation”, said Carrie Helm, CEO. “We knew that we were sending them to a facility that would provide the same level of quality they expect from Arkansas Surgical Hospital.”

Press Release: Arkansas Surgical Hospital (ASH) prepares to transfer patients.

31 May 2019 ASH Information

May 31, 2019

North Little Rock, Arkansas – Arkansas Surgical Hospital (ASH) prepares to transfer patients.

This afternoon Arkansas Surgical Hospital learned that wastewater manholes already underwater were beginning to back up and could possibly enter the facility as flood waters increase. In an abundance of caution, and in the interest of patient and staff safety, the immediate decision was made to transfer patients to Arkansas Heart Hospital. Heart Hospital and MEMS are cooperating in the process.

Carrie Helm, CEO said “We are working with Engineers and other officials in an effort to intercept and block the backup into the hospital. Plans are being formulated and we are optimistic that they will be successful. We do not believe that the flood waters are a risk to our hospital.”

“Depending upon the success of these efforts, we will make the decision on Sunday, June 2 whether or not we will cancel elective surgeries for Monday, June 3 and Tuesday, June 4”, said Helm. “We are also working with staff that could be impacted by the flooding in order to address any potential staffing issues. At this time, no staffing issues have been identified.”

Additional updates and information will be issued through Facebook and on the hospital’s website: ArkSurgicalHospital.com.

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