Most of us are trying to cope with shoulder pain that occurs due to various reasons in daily life. Orthopedics and Traumatology Specialist Op.Dr.İbrahim Rızvanoğlu shared valuable information for Elmaelma.com readers about 5 important issues that we need to pay attention to in order to protect the health of the shoulder, which is the most mobile joint of the body, and to avoid any pain. Here is what you need to know about shoulder pain and issues that threaten shoulder health!
Causes of Shoulder Pain and Treatments;
-Muscle pain: It is the most common cause of shoulder pain, and it can be seen in individuals who use their arms and shoulders frequently without any trauma, or after sudden-reverse movements, as it may be due to falls or impacts. It can generally be treated with painkillers, muscle relaxants and creams.
-Labrum (Capsule) tears: There are fibrous tissues called labrum that surround the shoulder joint and prevent the shoulder head from coming out of its socket. It usually manifests itself with sudden onset sharp pains in individuals who are engaged in sports or when the shoulder is forced with an opposite movement. Labrum tears; Depending on the location and size of the tear, it may cause pain only or dislocation of the shoulder with pain. Small tears that do not cause shoulder dislocation and only cause pain can be corrected with medications or physical therapy. If the tear is large or causes dislocation, treatment is only possible with arthroscopic (closed) operations, and no results can be obtained with non-surgical treatments.
-Muscle compression: There is an obvious gap (space) in the middle of the outermost end of the collarbone (acromion) and the upper part of the arm bone (humeral head). The muscles that pass through the gap to the arm and move the shoulder pass. This space can sometimes be structurally narrow, and sometimes it can be narrowed by the thickening of the upper bone due to frequent use of the shoulder or strain. The stenosis causes pain and limitation of movement by putting pressure on the muscles. The joint distance should normally be 10 mm or more. Muscle compression in the middle of 6 mm-10 mm is diagnosed and treated with non-surgical tests.
This problem can be resolved with techniques such as pain relief creams and pills, injections into this space (subacromial injection), resting the shoulder and physical therapy. If this distance falls below 6 mm, surgical treatment is required. If muscle compression is not treated, over time, it causes the muscle to wear and tear by rubbing against the bone.
-Muscle tears: Tears in the muscles that move the shoulder can cause both pain and limitation of movement. Many times in young people it is due to trauma. In the middle and advanced age group, injury and weakening and subsequent tear may develop over time due to continuous use, even without trauma. We almost always treat these tears quickly with closed surgeries.
Arthroscopic (closed) surgeries: It is applied by opening 3 or 4 holes around the shoulder and entering with a camera and hand tools. With these operations, conditions such as muscle compression, muscle tear, intramuscular chronic edema and labrum (capsule) tear (shoulder dislocations) can be treated. The operation takes about 1 hour and the patient can be discharged after only 1 night in the hospital. Although the recovery period varies according to the patient and the disease, it varies between 3 weeks and 6 weeks.
-Frozen shoulder: It progresses with sudden onset limitation of movement, which often occurs spontaneously for no reason and manifests itself with adhesions (fibrosis) within the joint. Shoulder movements are completely restricted and the shoulder hardly moves. Adhesions are usually resolved in the middle of 1 year to 3 years and the process is completed when the shoulder regains its old movements. Nerve blockade (supra scapular border block) can be applied to people who want to speed up the process and have it painless.
-Nerve Blockage (supra scapular border block): It can be performed under local anesthesia (with regional anesthesia) in outpatient conditions. With a device called a stimulator; There is a border (supra scapular nerve) that passes behind the shoulder and regulates the pain, edema and movements of the shoulder. A pre-prepared drug mixture is applied on the border. Thanks to the drug, the feeling of pain and edema of the shoulder decreases and its movements increase. The blockage treatment, which can be applied in 15 minutes and one session is sufficient for the treatment, does not have any danger, risk or side effect.
