Signs Your Shoulder Pain Needs Medical Attention

Whether you’re a sports player, weekend warrior, or you woke up one morning with a sore shoulder, shoulder pain can disrupt your life. What’s more? It’s hard to know when it’s pain from overworked muscles or the sign of something more serious.

At OasisMD in San Diego and Encinitas, California, orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist Dr. Becca Rodriguez Regner specializes in diagnosing and treating shoulder pain. 

Sometimes your shoulder pain resolves with a little rest, ice, and elevation, and you can manage your discomfort with over-the-counter (OTC) pain medications.

Other times, it doesn’t seem to improve, or it comes and goes, making identifying the underlying cause of your shoulder pain a challenge. Sometimes an accurate diagnosis and effective treatment plan requires physical examinations, X-rays, and advanced imaging techniques. 

So when should you see medication attention? Read on to find out!

Sign #1 — You have symptoms of frozen shoulder

Frozen shoulder, or adhesive capsulitis, makes it feel like your shoulder is stuck in a block of ice or like you’re trying to move it through thick glue. This condition results when scar tissue develops over time, reducing your range of motion and causing pain with movement. 

Symptoms of frozen shoulder include:

• Limited ability to move your shoulder
• Pain that increases over time
• Difficulty reaching for objects above your head
• Difficulty getting dressed
• Increased stiffness in the joint  

Sign #2 — You have symptoms of a rotator cuff injury

Repetitive motions can cause rotator cuff injuries. These injuries involve damage to all or any of the ligaments and muscles that make up your shoulder joint, and causes can include sports, like tennis, swimming, and baseball, and occupations or hobbies, like painting.   

Symptoms of a rotator cuff injuries include:

• Sudden tearing sensation followed by severe pain
• Muscle spasms in the shoulder
• Pain that worsens at night and interferes with sleep
• Pain with or inability moving your arm out to the side
• Deep ache in the shoulder or upper arm
• Tenderness in the affected area

Sign #3 — You have symptoms of arthritis

Osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis can cause significant shoulder pain. As the cartilage that cushions your shoulder bones wears away from aging, overuse, or genetics, the bones rub against each other, causing pain every time you move your shoulder.

Symptoms of shoulder arthritis include:

• Chronic pain in the front, back, or side of your shoulder
• Pain that persists when you aren’t using your shoulder
• Pain that worsens after use
• Stiffness in the shoulder joint that causes loss of range of motion
• Clicking, cracking, or grinding in the joint

Sign #4 — You have any of these symptoms

The common shoulder conditions above may not exactly describe your shoulder pain. That doesn’t mean you don’t need medical attention. 

If you’re experiencing any of the following symptoms, schedule an appointment with Dr. Chao or Dr. Gargulinski:

• You can’t carry items
• You can’t move your arm or the shoulder joint
• You have pain that wakes or keeps you up at night
• Your shoulder hurts even when its at rest
• Your shoulder is discolored
• The skin on your shoulder is red or hot to the touch
• You have shoulder pain that lasts more than a week

In addition, if you experience shoulder pain accompanied by tightness in your chest or difficulty breathing, it could be a heart attack. In this case, call 911, or go to the nearest emergency room. 

If you’re experiencing shoulder pain, the orthopedic and sports medicine specialists at OasisMD can help. Contact our San Diego, Temecula, or Encinitas, California office, or book a consultation online today!