What are the Causes & Best Treatments of Left Shoulder Pain?

treatments

Shoulders are ball-and-socket joints. The body's most mobile joint, it possesses the ability to move in multiple directions. Left shoulder pain can be attributed to various factors, given the complexity of its anatomical structure.

What is Shoulder Pain? 

Your shoulder fuses with your humerus, scapula, and collarbone. The humerus fits into the rounded scapula socket. Each shoulder has a rotator cuff, a group of four muscles and tendons that protects the humerus and allows arm movement. 

The joint has ligaments that hold bone to bone and a fluid-filled sac that cushions the humerus head. A fall, accident, or overpainting could damage it. Shoulder pain can be caused by arthritis. Referred pain can come from other parts of your body. 

How Does Shoulder Pain Feel? 

Shoulder pain can be felt in motion or at rest, depending on the cause.

  • Weakness

  • Throbbing

  • Stiffness

  • Soreness

  • Injury-related severe shoulder pain can cause: 

  • Sudden ache

  • Stabbing pain

  • Limited arm movement

  • Swelling

  • Bruising

  • Chronic pain that worsens

  • Not sleeping or waking up due to discomfort.

If you have severe shoulder pain, see the best doctor for shoulder pain near me or the ER. 

Common Left Shoulder Pain Causes

As mentioned, left shoulder pain can indicate musculoskeletal, developmental, and neurological conditions as well as heart attacks.

Bursitis

Inflamed bursae cause shoulder bursitis. The bursa cushions joint-area tendons, bones, and muscles. Bursitis develops when shoulder, elbow, and hip bursae swell from repetitive motion. Direct trauma or infection can also cause bursae pain and swelling.

Shoulder Arthritis

Older people with shoulder pain often have osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. The former causes bone and cartilage wear. This causes stiffness, pain, and flexibility loss. Rheumatoid arthritis, on the other hand, is an autoimmune disorder in which the immune system attacks joint lining, causing chronic inflammation and pain.

Shoulder Dislocation 

A dislocated shoulder occurs when the bone leaves its socket. Upper arm bones are more likely to pop out of the socket because the shoulder joint has the most range of motion and the least stability. You are also highly susceptible to multiple dislocations after one.

Frozen Shoulder

Adhesive capsulitis, also known as frozen shoulder, results in stiffness and pain in the shoulder. This condition is characterized by the thickening and tightening of the shoulder capsule. This restricts mobility and intensifies discomfort Long-term shoulder immobility increases the risk of this condition. Consult with the frozen shoulder specialist near me

Injury to Rotator Cuff 

Rotator cuff muscles and tendons surround the shoulder. Rotator cuffs keep upper arm bones in sockets. However, wear and tear, repetitive overhead movements, heavy lifting, and accidents can severely injure these muscles. Rotator cuff pain usually starts as a dull ache and worsens quickly.

Treatment for Left Shoulder Pain

Left shoulder pain can be treated with different treatments like physical therapy, and surgery.

Rest and Cold Compress 

Most shoulder injury doctors in Dallas recommend resting and taking time off. Give your body time to heal and avoid intense activities that may worsen it. When you rest, your shoulders get stronger and more flexible. Simple resting practices include applying a cool pack to reduce swelling and pain. Professionals recommend applying an ice pack for a duration of 20 minutes and refraining from direct contact with the skin.

Physical Therapy 

Simple stretching, strengthening, acupuncture, chiropractic, tissue mobilization, and hydrotherapy can reduce pain, stiffness, and inflammation and are one of good treatments for rotator cuff tear. Chiropractic techniques that realign and readjust the skeleton can relieve pain, tightness, and tension. Physiotherapists also analyze your home and recommend lifestyle changes to improve your health.

Gentle Stretches 

Regular stretching activates joints and muscles, building strength and flexibility. However, before exercising, you should warm up, maintain good form, and avoid stretching that may strain your muscles and joints. Common exercises for alleviating left shoulder pain include pendulum and overhead shoulder stretches. Get your physiotherapist to recommend these stretches that get harder.

Change Activity  

It's not always possible to stop living due to this condition. Therefore, to maintain daily functioning, you must modify activities to fit your current state. You may need to avoid lifting heavy objects, wear shoes with good posture and alignment, and make your environment more illness-friendly.

Rehabilitation & Prevention 

A successful recovery means overcoming the condition and preventing future injuries. Here comes rehabilitation and prevention. Orthopedic doctor for shoulder pain in Dallas recommends repetitive stretching and strengthening exercises after recovery to build strength and long-term health. Additionally, eating healthy, not smoking, and improving your posture and form can have long-term benefits.

Does Shoulder Pain Indicate a Heart Attack? 

Shoulder pain alone does not indicate a heart attack. Nevertheless, the muscles can sustain significant damage due to factors such as wear and tear, repetitive overhead movements, heavy lifting, and accidents. The pain typically initiates as a mild throbbing sensation and rapidly intensifies. Following are the few symptoms:

  • Chest pain

  • Left-sided pain (back, stomach, arms, jaw, neck).

  • Dyspnea—breathing problems

  • dizzy or faint

  • Sweating

  • Nausea

When to See a Doctor for Shoulder Pain

Call an emergency immediately if you have shoulder pain and other heart attack symptoms like chest pain, tightness in your chest, jaw pain, sweating, and difficulty breathing. If you have shoulder pain and any of these issues, see a doctor immediately because the shoulder injury may be serious.

  • Your shoulder looks disfigured. 

  • You cannot move your arm or shoulder. 

  • The pain is severe or worsening. 

  • Swelling occurs suddenly. 

  • Your shoulder is red, warm, or tender. 

  • You used your shoulder, but it's getting harder. 

Conclusion 

Your shoulders allow you to move your arms in many ways and are heavily used. Because you use them so much, you can easily hurt one or both. As long as the symptoms don't worsen, most shoulder injuries, especially overuse injuries, can be treated at home. However, left shoulder pain or dislocations and fractures require medical attention. Shoulder pain doesn't always indicate a problem. Sometimes it indicates a heart attack.

Dr. Rao K. Ali M.D.

Dr. Rao Ali, a board-certified pain management physician, leads the clinic, which specializes in nonsurgical treatment. The physician has experience in the emergency room as well as training in pain management and rehabilitation. As a personal physician, he works with each patient to develop a treatment plan that will minimize or eliminate their pain. Providing expert diagnosis and treatment of a wide range of conditions, Pain Management In Dallas, PA provides a comprehensive range of services. These services include neck pain, back pain, hip and knee pain, fibromyalgia, neuropathy, complex regional pain syndrome, headaches, migraines, and many others.