Shoulder Pain

Inflammation of the tendons in the shoulder, typically caused by overuse or repetitive motions.

Bursitis refers to the inflammation of the bursa, a soft tissue that provides cushioning between bones, tendons, and muscles near the shoulder joints. A healthy bursa facilitates smooth movement of muscles and tendons against each other during activity. Symptoms of bursitis resemble those of tendinitis and may be caused by it. When the bursa becomes inflamed, it can result in significant pain as tendons or muscles glide over the affected area.

A shoulder sprain involves injury to the rotator cuff muscle or ligament within the shoulder joint. Minor sprains may occur due to overuse or excessive stretching, while more severe cases can result in ligament tears. Small sprains may not be immediately evident, but a complete tear typically causes persistent, sharp pain and weakness. Traumatic events like car accidents or falls onto an outstretched arm often cause this injury. X-rays cannot detect this type of injury; an MRI is necessary to assess its severity.

Shoulder Girdle Syndrome, also known as brachial neuritis, is a neurological disorder characterised by sudden and severe pain in the upper arm and shoulder. Following the pain, weakness may develop in the muscles of the shoulder, arm, forearm, or hand, lasting from days to a few weeks.

The condition likely involves damage or inflammation to the brachial plexus, a network of nerves extending from the spine through the neck, into each armpit, and down the arms. Damage to these nerves results in muscle weakness.

Parsonage-Turner Syndrome is often misdiagnosed as cervical radiculopathy or cervical spondylosis. Although relatively uncommon, its underlying cause remains unidentified based on current research.

 Shoulder movement relies on the smooth gliding function of tendons and muscles over the shoulder joint. Impingement occurs when tendons are compressed by surrounding structures, such as bone spurs, resulting in pain described as sharp, transient, and episodic during shoulder movements. Patients may also experience weakness and restricted shoulder mobility.

The most common cause of impingement is the overgrowth of bony spurs on the acromion and its related joint, often due to shoulder overuse. This narrows the path of the supraspinatus tendon gliding through the sub-acromial space. Initially, this may cause tendinitis from constant irritation, potentially progressing to tendon tears and edematous swelling.