All about shoulder pain

Symptoms of shoulder pain

Shoulder pain can present itself in many forms, depending on the cause and the structure affected. The most common symptoms include:

Localized pain in the front, side or back of the shoulder
Limitation of movement (difficulty lifting arm, combing hair, fastening bra, etc.)
Nocturnal pain that interferes with sleep
Feeling of weakness in the arm or loss of strength
Clicking or feeling of instability in the joint
Radiating pain to the neck, scapula, or arm
Inflammation or joint stiffness

These symptoms can appear suddenly (due to injury or overexertion) or progressively, and in many cases worsen over time if not treated correctly.

Causes of shoulder pain

The shoulder is a very mobile but also vulnerable joint. Pain may be due to muscular, tendon, joint or even neurological causes. The most frequent causes of shoulder pain are:

Rotator cuff tendinopathy (supraspinatus, infraspinatus, subscapularis and teres minor)
Partial or total rotator cuff tendon rupture of the rotator cuff
Subacromial bursitis (inflammation of the bursa that cushions movement)
Subacromial impingement syndrome
Adhesive capsulitis (frozen shoulder)
Glenohumeral instability or recurrent dislocations
Shoulder or acromioclavicular osteoarthritis
Biceps tendinitis
Fractures or traumatic injuries
Referred pain from the cervical spine, heart or diaphragm

An accurate diagnosis is key to choosing the most appropriate treatment and avoiding complications.

Types of shoulder pain

Shoulder Arthrosis

Shoulder osteoarthritis is a degenerative disease of the joint that joins the humeral head and the glenoid cavity of the shoulder blade. It occurs “through wear and tear” whereby the degenerative disease triggers a loss of the cartilage covering the articular surfaces, so that the joint space progressively disappears.

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Rotator Cuff Syndrome

The rotator cuff is formed by the tendons of the supraspinatus, infraspinatus, subscapularis and teres minor muscles in their insertion in the different bones that are part of the shoulder joint. Their correct functioning allows performing the wide and complex range of movements that the shoulder is capable of executing. Inadequate postures, trauma or the mere passage of time can lead to its wear and tear, producing the condition commonly known as rotator cuff syndrome. This condition can range from minor alterations in the form of tendinitis to partial or total tendon rupture. Depending on the degree of deterioration, pain and functional impairment will vary.

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Shoulder bursitis

One of the most common pathologies at the level of the shoulder joint is the dreaded bursitis.

Before delving a little deeper into the injury, we can define the bursa as a structure, which is a kind of small sacs filled with synovial fluid placed strategically between different structures (one fixed and the other mobile or both mobile) in order to avoid excessive friction between them.

The suffix -itis is added when the bursa becomes inflamed by some cause external to it, which generates an increase of fluid formation within it and the increase in volume of the bursa. This growth of the structure can compromise the proper functioning of the sliding of adjacent structures and excessive pressure on the bursa causing pain by receptors in the walls of the bursa.

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Frozen shoulder

Frozen shoulder, also known and named as adhesive capsulitis or retractile capsulitis, is a pathology that affects the shoulder joint.

It could be defined as “freezing of the joint capsule “. Its main characteristic is pain and limitation of movement.

For more information click here.

Treatments for shoulder pain

At MIVI Salud we apply a multidisciplinary and personalized approach to effectively treat shoulder pain. We combine medical expertise with the most advanced therapies in physiotherapy and interventional pain management. The most common treatments include:

Conservative treatment

Relative rest and modification of activities
Anti-inflammatory or analgesic medication
Postural education and ergonomics
Application of cold or heat according to the stage of the lesion

Specialized physiotherapy

Manual therapy to improve mobility and reduce stiffness
Therapeutic exerciserotator cuff strengthening and movement reeducation
Dry needling for myofascial trigger points
Electrotherapy, tecartherapy or laser to reduce inflammation and speed recovery
Stretching and functional retraining adapted to the patient

3. Interventional pain treatments

Ultrasound-guided infiltrations (anti-inflammatories or hyaluronic acid)
Nerve blocks to relieve chronic pain
Radiofrequency in cases of persistent or refractory pain
Minimally invasive treatments to avoid surgery when possible

Recover your mobility with MIVI Salud

At MIVI Salud we understand that shoulder pain can limit you in your daily life. That is why we offer you a specialized diagnosis, a treatment adapted to you and a comprehensive support so that you can get back to moving without pain and with confidence..

🩺 Do you have a sore shoulder? Don’t wait any longer.

Book your medical or physical therapy assessment and start your recovery today.

Here begins your life without pain

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Carla Peker

2 days ago

Estoy muy contenta con el Dr. Jean Clave de esta Unidad del dolor. No sólo sé involucra muchísimo en tu caso, sino que también intenta los mejores tratamientos para el dolor neuropatíco pelvico crónico. Tiene conocimiento en nervios pélvicos, como el genitofemoral, que es muy importante ya que no es un nervio muy conocido y está involucrado en muchos de los dolores pélvicos. Estoy eternamente agradecida porque siempre está dispuesto a ayudarme. Confío en él. También al Dr. Morales por recomendarme con el Dr. Jean para que lleve mi caso de dolor pélvico. No es fácil encontrar profesionales que reconozcan sus limitaciones y te deriven con el mejor profesional. Estoy agradecida a los dos doctores.

Juani Acacio

3 days ago

El doctor excepcional y rita es encantadora

JL AB

4 days ago

Estupenda atención. Después de mucho tiempo con dolores el doctor Duca y su equipo han conseguido que desaparezcan

Eli RC

4 days ago

Encantada con cada uno de los profesionales que me ha atendido ( fisioterapia, recepcion y osteopatía). Recomiendo esta clinica por su profesionalidad, trato e individualización de cada caso, siempre preocupados por que la persona mejore.

Rubén López

6 days ago

Profesionalidad y buen trato. Gracias tanto a la persona del mostrador (Ana) como al Dr. Arredondo

María José Martínez Castaño

6 days ago

Lucía Pacheco Suárez

7 days ago

Para mí son 100% los mejores profesionales. Llevo desde que abrieron en Alameda 16, de ahí su nombre, cuando empecé los que ahora son los grandes titulados estaban en práctica y me han tratado cuello, espalda, rodillas, brazos , todo tipo de dolencias y son mi familia, trato cariñoso, profesional y preocupación por el bienestar del paciente. Yo soy crónica y siempre junto a ellos no tengo nada malo qué decir. Se convierten en parte de tu vida. Los quiero mucho a todos incondicionalmente. No es solo fisioterapia, es psicología de acompañamiento y amor, mucho amor. Todos llegamos diciendo que es un spa sin agua.

Lluvia Castro

1 week ago

El Dr. Parri, es un hombre encantador, un médico sincero. Me siento muy agradecida por su trato humano, y cariñoso. Su vocación de servicio y gentileza es absolutamente maravilloso.

Esmeralda Hernández

2 weeks ago

Buenos días. Hice Fisioterapia y Magnetoterapia por casi dos meses. La verdad, me he sentido muy a gusto. Son todos muy cariñosos y amables, desde Paula la secretaria. Fui atendida principalmente por Juan, un chico joven,serio y responsable. La verdad me tuvo bastante paciencia jiji. En general había un buen rollo entre todos. Incluso los pacientes llegábamos a compartir entre nosotros mismos. Quizás podrían mejorar en No coincidir tantos pacientes a la misma hora y con el mismo Fisio, ya que en mi opinión resta un poco la calidad del tratamiento. Gracias por todo, recomendado 100x 100.

Susana Navarro torres

2 weeks ago

Le doy 5 estrellas porque no se le puede dar más, me han tratado en la unidad del dolor y son maravillosos, muchisima amabilidad y excelentes profesionales, hacen que te sientas súper seguros en sus manos. Muchísimas gracias por todo