Shoulder joint of the left hand: diagnosis and treatment

Pain is one of the symptoms of a disease, an unpleasant sensation with which the body signals the development of a pathological process. When pain appears in the left shoulder joint, there can be various reasons - pain can occur immediately after an injury or some time after it, as a result of the development of an infectious lesion of organs or tissues, or an inflammatory process. The pain can be aching, sharp, constant or intermittent. Depending on the pain syndrome, certain symptoms, changes in blood counts, the disease is diagnosed based on ultrasound, CT, and MRI studies.

In the therapeutic department of the Yusupov Hospital, joint diseases are diagnosed using modern medical equipment. Rheumatologists use modern techniques and innovative drugs to restore joint function. Treatment of diseases of the right and left shoulder joint is carried out with the help of hormonal therapy, physiotherapeutic procedures, massage, drug therapy, and in severe cases, surgical assistance is provided. Rehabilitation of patients is carried out in the rehabilitation center of the hospital.

Causes of pain in the shoulder joint of the left arm

The shoulder joint is the most mobile joint in the body; improper treatment of the joints leads to injury and the development of degenerative processes in the tissues of the joints and tendons. Pain may appear when the left arm is moved to the side, and intensifies when the arm is raised upward against the background of general well-being. Over time, the pain may intensify or, on the contrary, subside; the phase of joint blocking begins. The patient cannot move his arm, raise or move his arm to the side. With cervical osteochondrosis, severe pain in the left arm can occur due to the formation of an intervertebral hernia. The pain takes over the entire length of the arm when turning the head to the side.

Pain in the arm joint when lifting up often occurs due to calcium deposition - calcification of the articular ligaments occurs. The pain intensifies and becomes constant if there are salt deposits in the tendons under the scapula and collarbone. Movement of the left hand becomes difficult due to calcium deposits, and the patient experiences severe pain. This disorder is often detected in people over 35 years of age during an x-ray. A common occurrence is joint pain in athletes. It is most often felt by heavyweight athletes, bodybuilders, gymnasts, and acrobats. A large load on the ligaments, muscles, and joints leads to various injuries: tendon rupture, muscle tears, and joint capsule stress.

Sharp pain in the left shoulder can be a symptom of a heart attack. Very often, shoulder pain bothers people who perform monotonous work on a conveyor belt, on a machine and other workplaces, when monotonous movements throughout the day are performed with the left or right hand. Pain in the shoulder joint of the left arm may be a symptom of the onset of glenohumeral periarthritis. Humeral periarthritis is characterized by severe pain when rotating the arm, when placing the arm behind the back. Over time, the patient has great difficulty raising his arm up. As his condition worsens, he cannot raise his arm up, has difficulty putting on clothes, or combing his hair.

Arthrosis of the left shoulder joint also causes severe pain in the shoulder; movement of the diseased joint is accompanied by a crunching sound. Arthrosis is most often diagnosed after 40 years of age; the disease affects people who experience great physical exertion and engage in heavy physical labor - blacksmiths, builders, loaders and other specialists. Arthrosis also affects athletes - shot putters, weightlifters, tennis players, athletes whose joints are constantly under heavy load and are exposed to impacts.

Inflammation of the left shoulder joint often develops with rheumatoid arthritis, and very rarely with gout. Arthritis first affects the knee joints, joints of the hands, feet, and lastly the inflammatory process affects the shoulder joints. Another distinctive feature of the disease is the limitation of the joint in the morning; during the day, the stiffness disappears, joint movement is restored, and the pain subsides. Arthritis may be accompanied by fever, chills, and deterioration in general condition.

How does pain manifest when raising your arm?

The pain syndrome that occurs with periarthritis of the shoulder joint (a whole complex of diseases that differ in their causes and clinical manifestations, but have a common relation to the periarticular apparatus of the shoulder) completely depends on the underlying pathology that provokes it. Therefore, pain when raising the arm in terms of strength and nature of manifestation can be:

• strong (which may indicate a shoulder injury, pinched nerve endings or inflammation of muscle tendons);
• acute (which may indicate damage to the shoulder joint due to sudden overload, for example, when lifting heavy objects);
• sharp (which may indicate a sudden load on the shoulder joint or an infection present in the articular nerve endings);
• burning (which may indicate the presence of an inflammatory process in the joint, as, for example, with osteochondrosis);
• aching (which may indicate serious internal disorders, such as angina pectoris and other heart pathologies);
• permanent (which may indicate a shoulder injury resulting in damage to the humerus);
• dull (which may indicate tendonitis);
• pulsating (which may indicate post-traumatic muscle strain of the shoulder muscles);
• long-term (which may indicate critical damage to the humerus due to dislocation).

Pain in bones, muscles, joints and forearm

Pain in the left shoulder joint and forearm often occurs with diseases of the heart, liver, spine, after a stroke, heart attack, with hepatitis, pneumonia, cervical osteochondrosis, tumors of tissues and organs of the chest, and with other diseases. Pain may indicate dysfunction of the bones, pathological changes in the tendons:

• The elbow is pressed to the side, the arm turns outwards with the inner side - severe pain indicates a pathological process in the infraspinal tendon.
• Severe pain in the left shoulder joint and forearm when moving the upper limb to the side or forward indicates damage to the supraspinal tendon.
• The elbow is pressed to the side, the arm is turned with the outer side towards the body. Pain in the shoulder with this position of the arm indicates a pathological process in the subscapularis tendon.

Treatment for shoulder pain when raising your arm up

Considering the complex structure of the shoulder joint and the many diseases that can manifest as painful raising of the arm up, it is impossible to independently determine the cause of the discomfort.

When you are in such a situation, first of all, you need to consult with a therapist who, depending on the expected diagnosis, will refer you to a specialized specialist, for example, a rheumatologist. To accurately determine the pathology, he will prescribe a series of laboratory and instrumental studies (blood tests, X-rays, ultrasound, MRI and others), based on the specific situation. Only after a diagnosis has been established will the doctor prescribe adequate comprehensive treatment.

Often, treating pain in the right or left shoulder when raising the arm is similar to getting rid of pain during any action with the arm, since they are caused by the same reasons or diseases.

Treatment methods

What treatment methods are used for shoulder pain when raising the arm?

The specific treatment is prescribed by the doctor, which depends on your pathology and individual situation. In the table below I have listed the therapy methods that are often used for shoulder pain:

(if the table is not completely visible, scroll to the right)

Diagnosis and treatment of the disease

The shoulder joint has the most complex anatomical structure among all the joints of the human body. Diagnosis of the disease for pain in the shoulder joint begins with an examination by a doctor, a number of special tests are performed, and the doctor determines external changes in the joint area. Then he prescribes a series of studies:

• Blood chemistry.
• General analysis of urine and blood.
• X-ray of the affected joint.
• MRI – magnetic resonance therapy of the shoulder joint.
• Ultrasound of the joint.

When pain in joints and bones develops, it is important to accurately determine the cause of the disease. The blood is examined for infections, autoimmune diseases, diseases of the digestive tract, and the sugar level is determined. If a malignant tumor is suspected, tumor marker tests are performed. If pain appears after surgery, the doctor prescribes an ultrasound of the shoulder joint and painkillers. Treatment of pain in the left shoulder joint begins with fixing the arm to reduce the load on the joint, tendons, and muscles.

If the pain is caused by muscle spasm, complex treatment is prescribed - muscle relaxants + anti-inflammatory drugs. For joint inflammation, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, hormonal therapy, various anti-inflammatory ointments, and gels for external use are prescribed. To reduce pain, relieve inflammation, improve joint condition, and restore motor activity, physiotherapy methods, massage, and special physical therapy exercises are used.

Mud compresses, balneotherapy, ozone therapy, laser therapy, and hydropathy are useful for diseases of the shoulder joint. To find out what disease causes pain in the shoulder joint, you can consult the following doctors: traumatologist, orthopedist, rheumatologist, neurologist. In some cases, consultation with an oncologist is required. Consultations with all these specialists can be obtained at the Yusupov Hospital. In the therapeutic clinic of the Yusupov Hospital you can undergo diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the shoulder joint. You can make an appointment with a doctor by phone.

Diagnostics

To determine the reasons why the arm does not rise up, various diagnostic methods are used. Diagnosis begins with examination of the patient, palpation of the painful area and collection of anamnesis. Based on the data obtained about the nature of the pain, clinical picture, lifestyle and concomitant diseases of the patient, the doctor makes a preliminary diagnosis. During further examinations, this diagnosis is clarified or refuted. The full range of diagnostic measures includes:

1. Laboratory diagnostics - blood tests (biochemical, general, C-reactive protein). With their help, it is possible to identify the presence of inflammation, autoimmune reactions, and metabolic disorders.
2. X-ray, which gives an idea of ​​the condition of bones and cartilage. The degree of cartilage wear is assessed by the size of the gaps between the heads of the mating bones.
3. Ultrasound is an ultrasound examination that allows you to identify excess synovial fluid in the joint cavity, foci of inflammatory processes, neoplasms and abscesses.
4. Computed tomography (CT), which allows you to assess the condition of cartilage and bone tissue in osteoarthritis, osteochondrosis, injuries of bones and joints.
5. MRI is magnetic resonance imaging, which makes it possible to visualize the condition of osseous, cartilage and soft tissues by layer-by-layer scanning.
6. Puncture of the shoulder joint to take synovial fluid for analysis.
7. Arthroscopy, which involves introducing a miniature video camera into the joint cavity through a tiny incision.

The use of these methods provides comprehensive information about the reasons why the shoulder hurts when raising the arm. Depending on the identified diseases, the patient is treated by specialized specialists: traumatologists, orthopedists, rheumatologists, neurologists.

Treatment methods

To treat shoulder neuralgia, patients are prescribed anti-inflammatory and warming ointments (for example, Finalgon). To enhance the positive effects of ointments, it is imperative to take strengthening B vitamins.

It will not be superfluous to carry out general physical therapy. For these purposes, a person can be prescribed electrophoresis and ultrasound, which help relieve tissue swelling.

Exercise therapy, weights, and acupuncture are other proven options for treating shoulder impingement. In extremely severe cases, the patient may be offered a fixing bandage, which completely eliminates the mobility of the arm.

Please note that the treatment gives a positive result only in initial and moderate severity. Chronic problems with the shoulder joint cannot be treated and the patient can only eliminate and minimize pain syndromes.

Treatment of frozen shoulder syndrome

To get rid of the condition when the hand cannot be raised, experts recommend:

• undergo a course of physiotherapy;
• massotherapy;
• kinesiotherapy;
• to relieve pain - drug therapy.

It is important! Without proper treatment, the limb may atrophy. That is why it is worth contacting specialists as quickly as possible to help restore the functions of the injured shoulder.

Start treatment by making an appointment at Medical, where a team of experts works. You can make an appointment by phone: +7 (495) 212-08-81

How to avoid shoulder pain. Prevention

Pain in the shoulder joint can either characterize an already begun disease or be its precursor. Therefore, it is important to follow some preventive measures:

• Watch your posture. Staying in an uncomfortable position for a long time, carrying bags on one shoulder, uneven distribution of load in the shoulder girdle area - all these are causes of poor posture, leading to pain in the shoulder joint of the arm. Use anatomically comfortable chairs, select the height of your desk, wear a backpack rather than a bag or alternate shoulders while carrying, sleep on a comfortable low pillow.
• Avoid strenuous physical activity. Take a break every 15-20 minutes during long, monotonous work with a load on the shoulder girdle. If you play sports, be sure to warm up before exercising.
• Do exercises. Perform a series of exercises daily to strengthen the shoulder joint, muscles and tendons of the shoulder girdle. Try to perform the entire set of exercises for both your left and right hands so that the load is the same.
• Dress appropriately for the weather. Hypothermia often causes inflammation of the joints and the development of dangerous diseases.
• Wear comfortable shoes. Wearing high-heeled shoes leads to impaired gait and increased fatigue, which affects the position of the spine and shoulder girdle.
• Watch your figure. Excess weight puts uneven stress on the skeleton, causing one joint to wear out more than the other. The result is constant pain in the left/right joint and the development of concomitant diseases.
• Eat right. The body must receive all vitamins and nutrients through food. To do this, adjust your diet in such a way as to minimize the consumption of fatty foods, spicy, salty and sweet foods, as they cause salt deposits. At the same time, include more products that promote the renewal of bone and cartilage tissue - milk, cottage cheese, jellied meat, jelly, jelly, meat and fish broths, etc.

Pain in the shoulder joint is not fatal and, with proper treatment, can be easily relieved by a specialist. But here it is important for the patient to seek help as early as possible, and for the specialist to correctly diagnose the disease. In this case, a quick and effective cure is guaranteed.

Pain by severity

A person can feel pain of varying intensity:

• Aching (also called somatic) - they appear rarely, it is difficult to establish the exact localization, and can last for days. Most often it occurs in bones and joints, causing a person a lot of inconvenience and discomfort.
• Acute - occurs unexpectedly and with high intensity, and can pass just as quickly. It is the first sign that brachial neuralgia is developing.
• Chronic – constant inflammation of tendons and joints causes the formation of chronic pain.

Rehabilitation and recovery

As part of high-quality rehabilitation measures, physical therapy is carried out. It allows you to restore damaged muscle tissue, reduce pain or completely get rid of it when the shoulder joint is pinched.

Patients should engage in therapeutic exercises only under the supervision of a physician in order to achieve the desired result.

It is worth noting that recovery will be positive only with the right combination of exercise therapy, medications and following all the recommendations of the attending physician!

Principles of treatment

Treatment involves the use of conservative therapy and physiotherapy. If conservative treatment does not bring the desired results, surgical intervention is prescribed.

Medications are used to relieve pain and stop the inflammatory process, and restore cartilage tissue.

Effective methods for treating shoulder pain are:

• magnetic therapy;
• phonophoresis;
• electrophoresis;
• UHF;
• manual therapy;
• acupuncture;
• massage;
• therapeutic exercises;
• kinesiotherapy;
• balneology;
• ozokerite;
• cryotherapy.

Lifestyle

Patients with shoulder neuralgia must necessarily lead an active lifestyle, which allows them to activate metabolic processes in the body. Eat only natural and healthy foods.

Try to give up bad habits and spend more time outdoors. Stressful situations should be kept to a minimum! This will generally strengthen your immune system and get rid of shoulder pain.

You can make an appointment with a neurologist for a fee in one of the following ways:

• calling the clinic,
• order a call back,
• leave a request for an appointment using a convenient form on the website