Shoulder Pain: Causes & Cures, Part 1 of 2
The shoulder is a magical thing. It is versatile, rugged, precise, and powerful. It allows us the ability to perform daily tasks, even those as mundane as brushing our teeth, holding a chil,d or picking up an object. Unfortunately, because we use it so much, it is often prone to injury or pain. Whether it’s an old sports injury or a buildup of arthritis, most people have experienced shoulder pain.
Today, we are going to add some positivity to the greater dialogue surrounding shoulder joints. Mostly though, we are going to take a look at the causes behind that creaky shoulder and offer up some remedies and preventative to-dos.
Get to Know Your Shoulder
The shoulder joint is one of the most complex joints in the body, and this curious combination of bones, tendons, and muscles is certainly unique. For starters, the shoulder is one of the only joints in the body without a socket, or much of any “bony connection” at all.
It is the most mobile joint in your body, and it relies heavily on the eight stabilizing muscles that surround it. But all that mobility can create a lot of problems. Especially when mixed with poor form, repetitive motions, or a lack of rest. The more than 8 million annual shoulder-related doctor visits represent a cacophony of injuries, stresses, and restrictions.
What are the most common shoulder patients we see at HP2? This week, we will cover the Top Three.
COMMON SHOULDER CONDITIONS
Torn Cartilage
Cartilage is the connective tissue found on the ends of the bones that make up the free-moving joints of your skeleton. And, though it is relatively rugged it is far from indestructible.
Sometimes injuries can lead to a tear in the cartilage surrounding the rim of the shoulder joint. There’s no one type of injury that’s likelier to cause a cartilage tear. Repetitive motions falls, and direct impacts can all cause a tear. Symptoms include pain at the joint, a catching sensation when moving the shoulder, swelling, or localized discomfort.
Arthritis
Suffering from stiffness and pain? It could be arthritis. No joint is safe from this debilitating condition, and that includes your shoulder.
Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are the two most common types. Very briefly, osteoarthritis causes the cartilage of the suffering joint to break down, while rheumatoid arthritis is an immune system disease that specifically targets the lining of your joints. Both are bad news.
Torn Rotator Cuff
The rotator cuff is a foundational building block of the shoulder that’s made up of muscles and tendons. Not only does it insulate the shoulder from injury, but it also allows us to lift our arms over the head. I’d say that’s pretty important.
It is a heavily used soft tissue and it assumes a lot of risk for injury. You can tear it through long-term, repetitive use, but can also sustain a localized injury too. A torn rotator cuff may limit a shoulder’s ability to lift things or cause a crackling sound when moved.
REMEDIES
So how can we help? Let’s talk about possible treatments to get you back to full function.
Sometimes therapy is the only non-surgical way to alleviate shoulder pain or recover from any long-term injury. The exercises, stretches, and specialized manual therapy techniques entirely dependent on the injury being treated. The pros typically rely on a combination of loosening tight muscles and strengthening weak ones to ease discomfort and strengthen weak, injury-prone muscles.
Recovering from an injury or navigating a life with shoulder pain can be incredibly frustrating. Sometimes it can be hard to take the time to rest and recover. It is incredibly easy to revert to lifting heavy things because it is easier than putting in the rest. However, recovery is necessary for healing.
The simplest way to look at it is this: our bodies are made up of red tissue and white tissue. Red tissue is red because of the blood supply to it or within it. Other tissues that are white, like ligaments, meniscus, and joint surfaces do not have the abundant blood supply in our body like red tissue does.
Therefore, at HP2, we use therapies such as Platelet Rich Plasma and other cellular options to inject those tissues that cannot heal correctly due to the lack of good blood supply, i.e., the white tissue. From there, we also offer rehabilitative efforts to work in partnership with the cell-based care we deliver.
Over time, when pain becomes dominant in our body, we compensate and break down in other areas that lead to weakness and loss of skill of the affected joint. HP2’s physical therapists are trained to know how to protect the joint we are trying to heal, while providing challenge to it so it can perform again at normal levels.
We would love the opportunity to visit with you or your loved one about any physical limitations or pain, and work with you to build a treatment plan to get you back to full function, health and life.
The shoulder is a magical thing. It is versatile, rugged, precise and powerful. It allows us the ability to perform daily tasks, even those as mundane as brushing our teeth, holding a child or picking up an object. Unfortunately, because we use it so much, it is often prone to injury or pain. Whether it’s an old sports injury or a buildup of arthritis, most people have experienced shoulder pain.
Today, we are going to add some positivity to the greater dialogue surrounding shoulder joints. Mostly though, we’re going to take a look at the causes behind that creaky shoulder and offer up some remedies and preventative to-dos.
Get to Know Your Shoulder
The shoulder joint is one of the most complex joints in the body, and this curious combination of bones, tendons and muscles is certainly unique. For starters, the shoulder is one of the only joints in the body without a socket, or much of any “bony connection” at all.
It is the most mobile joint in your body, and it relies heavily on the eight stabilizing muscles that surround it. But all that mobility can create a lot of problems. Especially when mixed with poor form, repetitive motions or a lack of rest. The more than 8 million annual shoulder-related doctor visits represent a cacophony of injuries, stresses and restrictions.
What are the most common shoulder patients we see at HP2? Last week, we talked about the Top Three. Today, we will finish out the heavy hitters list with four more.
Bursitis
Cartilage is not the only thing cushioning the muscles, there are also tendons and bones that surround the shoulder joint. Bursae, or bursa sacs, are small, fluid-filled sacs that serve a critical role in the day-to-day functionality of our hip, knee, and shoulder joints.
Bursitis happens when those sacs become inflamed due to repetitive motion or trauma. Bursitis can cause stiffness and swelling in the affected area, and may be painful to the touch.
Bone Spurs
Joint damage from osteoarthritis can lead to the formation of bony projections where the bones meet each other. Those are called bone spurs and they can lead to debilitating pain in some cases.
Bone spurs can develop for years without any symptoms and without any need for treatment, but in the most severe cases they can reduce your range of motion and cause significant pain and swelling.
Frozen Shoulder
Frozen shoulder has nothing to do with the temperature and everything to do with a lack of mobility.
Your upper arm bone, shoulder blade, and collarbone connect to make up the foundation of what we refer to as our shoulder. But as we’ve already established, there’s so much more to this complicated joint than that! Surrounding all those bones is an envelope of tissue that’s often referred to as the shoulder capsule.
Sometimes, for a variety of different reasons, that shoulder capsule can become tighter over time. And sometimes still, the shoulder capsule can become so tight that it locks up altogether. The result is referred to as frozen shoulder, and it can last anywhere between 6 to 9 months. Don’t worry though, your range of motion does tend to return eventually.
Dislocation
A dislocation can happen if your shoulder is pulled the wrong way or rotated awkwardly enough to allow the top part of your arm to pop out of the socket that’s holding it in place.
Your shoulder doesn’t necessarily have to be fully dislocated to feel the pain either. A slight slippage, or subluxation, can be painful and can often reoccur in the same joint. Either way, you will want to make a visiting a doctor priority number one.
REMEDIES
So how can we help? Let’s talk about possible treatments to get you back to full function.
Sometimes therapy is the only non-surgical way to alleviate shoulder pain or recover from any long-term injury. The exercises, stretches and specialized manual therapy techniques entirely dependent on the injury being treated. The pros typically rely on a combination of loosening tight muscles and strengthening weak ones to ease discomfort and strengthen weak, injury-prone muscles.
Recovering from an injury or navigating a life with shoulder pain can be incredibly frustrating. Sometimes it can be hard to take the time to rest and recover. It is incredibly easy to revert to lifting heavy things because it is easier than putting in the rest. However, recovery is necessary for healing.
The simplest way to look at it is this: our bodies are made up of red tissue and white tissue. Red tissue is red because of the blood supply to it or within it. Other tissues that are white, like ligaments, meniscus and joint surfaces do not have the abundant blood supply in our body like red tissue does.
Therefore, at HP2 we use therapies such as Platelet Rich Plasma and other cellular options to inject those tissues that cannot heal correctly due to the lack of good blood supply, i.e., the white tissue. From there, we also offer rehabilitative efforts to work in partnership with the cell-based care we deliver.
Over time, when pain becomes dominant in our body, we compensate and break down in other areas that lead to weakness and loss of skill of the affected joint.
We would love the opportunity to visit with you or your loved one about any physical limitations or pain, and work with you to build a treatment plan to get you back to full function, health and life.
Common Causes of Knee Pain
The knee is one of the largest joints in the body and knee pain is a common complaint across all age groups. It may be due to a diverse range of causes including sudden injury, overuse injury or an underlying medical condition.
The location and severity of knee pain varies depending on the root cause. The thigh bone (femur) and lower leg bones (fibula and tibia) compose the knee joint. Structures found in or around the knee joint include discs (menisci), cartilage, ligaments, tendons and muscles. Signs and symptoms that may accompany knee pain include swelling, stiffness, redness, warmth, weakness, instability, popping or crunching noises, fever and decreased range of motion (inability to fully extend or flex the knee).
What are the most common knee patients we see at HP2? This week, we’ll cover the Top Five.
COMMON KNEE CONDITIONS
Osteoarthritis
Knee osteoarthritis is a common medical condition. The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates the disorder affects more than 33 percent of individuals over the age of 65. It is a degenerative joint disease characterized by the deterioration of cartilage, overgrowth of bone at the margins (osteophytes) and increased bone density (subchondral sclerosis). Some common risk factors for the development of knee osteoarthritis include female sex, obesity, older age and previous knee injury.
Meniscus Tear
Unfortunately, meniscus tears are quite common in the knee as well, and can be quite debilitating. The meniscus helps to stabilize the joint but also provides cushion between the bones of the knee. Common symptoms are pain, swelling, popping, locking or catching. These symptoms can all lead to loss of motion in the knee that impact your day-to-day function.
Knee Sprain
Knee sprains are injury to the ligaments that help to hold the bones of the knee together. These include the anterior cruciate ligament, posterior cruciate ligament, medial collateral ligament and the lateral collateral ligament. Ligaments can become torn or overstretched. When this occurs, the knee becomes highly unstable impeding a person’s ability to walk, climb stairs or even get up comfortably from a chair.
Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome
Patellofemoral pain syndrome, also known as runner’s knee, is a common cause of knee pain among runners. It can also strike those engaging in activities requiring repetitive knee bending such as biking, climbing and jumping. Symptoms may include pain behind or around the kneecap (patella), pain while bending the knee, pain that worsens when walking downstairs or downhill, knee swelling or popping or grinding sensations in the knee.
Chondromalacia Patella
Chondromalacia patella refers to the softening and breakdown of the cartilage on the underside of the kneecap or patella. It is one of the common causes of knee pain, especially in women. Chondromalacia patella is caused by misalignment, or improper tracking, of the patella as it slides over the thigh bone (femur). The most common symptom is a dull, aching pain in the front of the knee behind the kneecap, which can be exacerbated by prolonged sitting.
REMEDIES
So how can we help? Let’s talk about possible treatments to get you back to full function.
The simplest way to look at it is this: our bodies are made up of red tissue and white tissue. Red tissue is red because of the blood supply to it or within it. Other tissues that are white, like ligaments, meniscus and joint surfaces do not have the abundant blood supply in our body like red tissue does.
Therefore, at HP2 Regeneration Centers, we use therapies such as Platelet Rich Plasma and other cellular options to inject those tissues that cannot heal correctly due to the lack of good blood supply, i.e., the white tissue. From there, we also offer rehabilitative efforts to work in partnership with the cell-based care we deliver.
Over time, when pain becomes dominant in our body, we compensate and break down in other areas that lead to weakness and loss of skill of the affected joint.
We would love the opportunity to visit with you or your loved one about any physical limitations or pain, and work with you to build a treatment plan to get you back to full function, health and life.
Common Causes of Knee Pain
The knee is one of the largest joints in the body and knee pain is a common complaint across all age groups. It may be due to a diverse range of causes including sudden injury, overuse injury or an underlying medical condition.
The location and severity of knee pain varies depending on the root cause. The thigh bone (femur) and lower leg bones (fibula and tibia) compose the knee joint. Structures found in or around the knee joint include discs (menisci), cartilage, ligaments, tendons and muscles. Signs and symptoms that may accompany knee pain include swelling, stiffness, redness, warmth, weakness, instability, popping or crunching noises, fever and decreased range of motion (inability to fully extend or flex the knee).
What are the most common knee patients we see at HP2? Last week, we covered the Top Five; this week we finish out the list with four more.
COMMON KNEE CONDITIONS
Bursitis
Bursitis refers to inflammation of a fluid filled sac (bursa) located near the knee joint. A bursa reduces friction and serves as a cushion to reduce pressure between bones and tendons and muscles near joints. Causes of knee bursitis include frequent kneeling, a direct blow to the knee, bacterial infection of a bursa, and complications from other conditions such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, or gout in the knee.
Patellar Tendonitis
Patellar tendonitis is an overuse injury affecting the patellar tendon, which sits just below the patella (kneecap) and attaches the kneecap to the shinbone. It is also referred to as jumper’s knee. Activities requiring frequent jumping and landing place excessive stress on the patellar tendon. The stress results in tiny tears in the tendon. It commonly affects athletes involved in sports such as basketball, volleyball, soccer, football, track and field, tennis, gymnastics, and skiing. The condition can also be the result of aging.
Iliotibial Band Syndrome
Iliotibial band syndrome (ITBS) occurs when the iliotibial band (the ligament that runs down the outside of the thigh from the hip to the shin) is tight or inflamed. It is one of the most common overuse injuries among runners. It can also be associated with activities such as cycling, hiking, or weight-lifting. Iliotibial band syndrome is the most common cause of lateral, or side, knee pain. It is caused by excessive friction of the iliotibial band on the side of the knee.
Osteochondritis Dissecans
Osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) refers to a joint condition in which bone below the cartilage of a joint dies due to lack of blood flow. The dead bone and cartilage break loose causing pain and decreased joint movement. The condition can occur in any joint, but it most commonly affects the knee joint. Osteochondritis dissecans occurs most often in children and adolescents, especially those high active in sports. The exact cause of OCD is unknown, but scientists suspect it might result from repetitive trauma to bone over time.
REMEDIES
So how can we help? Let’s talk about possible treatments to get you back to full function.
The simplest way to look at it is this: our bodies are made up of red tissue and white tissue. Red tissue is red because of the blood supply to it or within it. Other tissues that are white, like ligaments, meniscus and joint surfaces do not have the abundant blood supply in our body like red tissue does.
Therefore, at HP2, we use therapies such as Platelet Rich Plasma and other cellular options to inject those tissues that cannot heal correctly due to the lack of good blood supply, i.e., the white tissue. From there, we also offer rehabilitative efforts to work in partnership with the cell-based care we deliver.
Over time, when pain becomes dominant in our body, we compensate and break down in other areas that lead to weakness and loss of skill of the affected joint.
We would love the opportunity to visit with you or your loved one about any physical limitations or pain, and work with you to build a treatment plan to get you back to full function, health and life.
Eating for Healthy Joints
At HP2, we are all about helping people live their best, fully-functioning, pain-free lives. We offer regenerative medicine and solutions to help you do that. But the other side of that is making healthy choices that help your body get and stay healthy. Part of that is what we eat and how it affects our bodies but more specifically our joints.
A joint is where two or more bones come together. They can be rigid like in our skull, or moveable, like our knees. Joints are essentially pockets filled with a liquid known as synovial fluid, which cushions and nourishes your cartilage, allowing the bones to move over and around one another.
As a result of factors like age, genetics and diet, cartilage can break down and synovial fluid can become clogged, causing inflammation and joint pain. Fortunately, you can help to slow down the effects of these factors by including more of these 14 joint-healthy foods into your diet. We will cover the first seven of those today.
Cherries
While cherries are delicious, it’s not the fruits themselves that are beneficial for joint health. Cherries get their deep red color from anthocyanins, natural plant chemicals that have been shown to reduce inflammation.
As an alternative option to eating the fruit, you can drink cherry juice. Referencing a 2012 study done by the Oregon Health & Science University, Health.com indicates that drinking two cups of tart cherry juice daily reduced inflammation in the body, helping ease OA [osteoarthritis] symptoms.
Red Peppers
Vitamin C is a crucial nutrient for joint health, and red peppers are chock-full of it! While all bell peppers contain the vitamin, the red variety is an especially good source. Why is vitamin C so important for your joints? Because it “helps your body make collagen, which is part of your cartilage, tendons, and ligaments that cushion your joints and hold them together,” according to WebMD.
Vitamin C has also been found to reduce pain, as does capsaicin, which red peppers offer a small amount of, along with vitamins A and K, and phytonutrients that act as antioxidants.
Fatty Fish
Fatty fish—such as salmon, mackerel, and sardines—are especially beneficial for joint health due to being rich sources of omega-3 fatty acids, “which help reduce joint pain and stiffness by suppressing the production of enzymes that erode cartilage and proteins that regulate inflammation,” says Brian D. Golden, M.D., clinical associate professor of rheumatology at NYU Langone Medical Center, in speaking with Men’s Fitness.
Salmon, in particular, is also an excellent source of calcium and vitamin D, which help to maintain bone strength. And while buying it fresh is generally best, for the purposes of your joints it doesn’t matter whether you get salmon from a can or not.
Turmeric
Turmeric is all the rage these days, and for good reason. When it comes to joint health, this superfood contains curcumin, which is a potent anti-inflammatory ingredient.
In fact, WebMD cites, “One study found that a curcumin extract worked as well as ibuprofen at easing knee aches and pains.” A staple ingredient in curries, the Food Network indicates it can also be used in “soups, smoothies and vegetable dishes.”
Nuts
Like fatty fish, nuts are excellent sources of inflammation-fighting omega-3 fatty acids. Almonds, for instance, also contain vitamin E and manganese. Vitamin E is an antioxidant that protects the body from damage while manganese helps glucosamine work quicker and more effectively as it repairs joints.
It is important to note, however, that nuts tend to be quite high in fat, so be sure to limit your consumption to about a handful per day. Try eating them on their own as a snack or added to salads and oatmeal.
Chia Seeds
Is there anything these small but mighty seeds aren’t beneficial for? In addition to being excellent sources of omega-3 fatty acids—which are beneficial for reducing joint pain and inflammation—they also contain essential amino acids the body needs to repair muscle, ligaments, tendons, and cartilage.
And that is not all! Chia seeds are also rich in nutrients like fiber and protein. Try adding them to smoothies, oatmeal, baked goods or pasta sauces for a beneficial boost to your joint health!
Leafy Greens
When it comes to joint health, it’s important to eat your greens! Spinach, kale, collard green or bok choy—the choice is yours! They are all moderately high in essential nutrients like vitamin C, calcium and selenium.
As mentioned previously, Vitamin C is beneficial as it helps to cushion the joints by maintaining cartilage function. Selenium, on the other hand, is believed to help joints due to its antioxidant properties that protect against damage and play a critical role in producing new cells.
Check back next week for Part 2 on Foods for Healthy Joints.
Source: activebeat.com
