Orthopedic surgeon Dr. Mark Galland talks about causes of shoulder pain in the absence of other symptoms.
“Shoulder pain, in the absence of any other symptoms, is most commonly caused by a rotator cuff tear or tendonitis, bursitis, or osteoarthritis,” says Dr. Galland, orthopedic surgeon, sports medicine specialist and physician at Orthopaedic Specialists of North Carolina.
The Rotator Cuff
The rotator cuff is composed of four muscles and their tendons that form a “cuff” around the shoulder joint, enabling a wide range of motion from the shoulder.
These muscles not only facilitate movement but also provide essential stability to the shoulder.
They act as dynamic stabilizers, supporting larger, inherently stronger muscles like the deltoids and latissimus dorsi during upper body activities, particularly that of strength training and throwing.
Tendonitis
Tendons join muscle to bone. Tendons are vulnerable to inflammation when overused.
In the case of shoulder pain, the tendons involve the rotator cuff. Pain from rotator cuff tendonitis is notorious for “referring” or “radiating.
In other words, you may feel pain at the side of your upper arm, just below the shoulder, even though the origin of the problem is higher up within the shoulder joint.
Bursitis
This is nflammation of the bursa, sac-like structures in the shoulder joint.
A bursa is fluid-filled and cushions a joint. The pain may feel achy or sharp and often worsens with movement or pressure.
However, bursitis pain can actually come and go, especially with activity levels, repetitive motion or if the underlying cause isn’t consistently addressed or treated.
Osteoarthritis
This is inflammation and wearing down of the cartilage that provides shock absorption between bones.
“When the shoulder pain is accompanied by numbness or tingling into the arm or hand, this strongly indicates a pinched nerve in the neck.
“Sometimes shoulder problems in and of themselves can cause numbness to occur, but it is more often indicative of a problem in the neck.”
Cancer Can Cause Shoulder Pain
A rare cause of shoulder pain when there aren’t any other symptoms is a tumor of the lung.
The lungs sit beneath the shoulder nerves. If the tumor is pressing on one of these nerves, pain can result.
But you must realize that this is very rare, especially if it’s not accompanied by other symptoms such as persistent cough, shortness of breath, undue fatigue or unexplained weight loss.
Dr. Galland has authored many book chapters and papers in sports medicine. His advice and consultation have been sought by world-class athletes in track and field and Major League Baseball.
Lorra Garrick is a former personal trainer certified by the American Council on Exercise. At Bally Total Fitness she trained clients of all ages for fat loss, muscle building, fitness and improved health.
