Shoulder Elbow And Hand Pain
The shoulder is a ball-and-socket joint that has the greatest range of motion of any joint in the human body. While stability is a seemingly normal function of any muscle group, because of the shoulders great range of motion, these muscles can experience an immense amount of stress, leaving you in pain. Living with shoulder pain is a frustrating condition where symptoms can become disabling.
The shoulder, elbow, and hand must be mobile enough to allow for actions such as lifting, pushing, and pulling. Compromising these basic movements can affect your daily routine and cause greater injury. At FIRST Rehab we believe in restoring the range of motion through exercise while strengthening the muscles to prevent further injury.
If you are experiencing shoulder, elbow, or hand pain, please contact us our office for your initial evaluation so that we can further assist you Individually.
Shoulder, Elbow And Hand Pain Issues:
- Frozen Shoulder
Frozen Shoulder
Tendinitis / Shoulder Impingement
Dislocated Shoulder
Rotator Cuff Tear
Tennis Elbow/Golfers Elbow
Wrist or Hand Fracture
Carpal Tunnel
Contact Us for more information or to schedule your appointment today.
How Is Radial Tunnel Syndrome Diagnosed
There are no formal imaging tests that can diagnose radial tunnel syndrome, which makes diagnosing this condition somewhat difficult. Even so, your doctor may order an X-ray, MRI or electromyography test, just to rule out other potential injuries or conditions.
Before examining your elbow and forearm, your doctor will ask you about your specific pain, your medical history and your symptoms. Then theyll try to find the exact point where the nerve is being compressed inside your radial tunnel by feeling around the outside of your elbow and applying light pressure. There are also two specific tests that your doctor may use to diagnose this condition, which include:
- Physical exam: Your doctor will ask you to turn your palm from a palm down position to a palm up position against resistance. If you experience pain in your forearm, its likely a sign of radial tunnel syndrome. The second part of this test requires you to keep your middle finger straight against resistance. If its painful to do so, its also a sign of radial tunnel syndrome.
- Rule of nine test: During this test, with your arm facing up and your elbow slightly flexed, your doctor will separate your elbow into nine equally sized areas, in three rows. Then theyll lightly apply pressure to each spot, asking you whether you feel pain, discomfort, or nothing at all. If you feel pain on the outermost spots of the top two rows, its likely a sign of radial tunnel syndrome.
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Test : Turning Your Head
Turn your head to the side that is not painful and hold it there for a few seconds. You shouldnt notice any restricted movement or pain. Next, turn your head in the opposite direction and hold for a few seconds. If you experience restricted movement or an element of pain radiating down your arm, then you have a positive result for this test.
If you have gone through each test and reached the end, you are likely suffering from a trapped or pinched nerve. The next step is to gain a comprehensive diagnosis from a medical practitioner.
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To Protect Your Shoulders:
- Avoid activities that require you to reach overhead for long periods.
- Don’t move your shoulder repeatedly for a prolonged period .
- Do range-of-motion exercises to maintain strength and flexibility.
- Use good posture.
- Don’t grip tools or pens too tightly.
- Don’t clench your fists.
- Avoid repeated hand and finger motions.
- Don’t lean on your elbows, and avoid bumping them.
- Use a forearm band during physical activity.
Rotator Cuff Tendinitis And Impingement Syndrome
Four muscles make up the rotator cuff. These muscles move the shoulder away from the side of the body and turn it inward and outward. Rotator cuff tendinitis occurs when shoulder injury or overuse causes tendons to become irritated or inflamed. Impingement occurs when the tendons are pinched between structures that are involved in shoulder motion. Symptoms include sudden, severe pain in the upper shoulder or upper third of the arm aching in the shoulder region difficulty sleeping on the shoulder or pain when lifting the arm overhead.
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Acute Shoulder Pain Or Arm Pain Treatment
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Simple treatments like hot or cold packs, physical activity, exercise and physical therapy.
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Pain medications like anti-inflammatories and anti-spasm medications to provide pain relief.
If pain is long lasting , debilitating and has not been responding to treatments an assessment should be made by a pain management specialist, who can assess and treat most types of chronic pain.
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Visit The Irise Spine And Joint Institute Today For Arm Pain Treatment
Do you frequently use your arm for physical activity and find yourself suffering from pain? Do you have pain anyway despite not pushing your arm too hard? The only way to properly diagnose upper right arm pain from shoulder to hand is by consulting a trained specialist. Our orthopedic specialists at the Florida Spine and Joint Institute can help. Contact us today for more information about pain in the upper arm between the elbow and shoulder or to schedule an initial appointment.
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When To See A Doctor
Shoulder and elbow pain can either be the result of a sudden fall or injury or come on slowly from wear and tear on the joints. The cause of the pain or injury will determine when you should see an orthopedic doctor and when home remedies for shoulder or elbow pain are appropriate.
If you have any of the following symptoms, schedule an appointment to see an orthopedic doctor as soon as possible.
- Limited range of motion for example, you cannot lift your arm above your head or cannot bend or straighten your elbow
- Dull or achy pain when you move your elbow or shoulder
- Pain when using your elbow or shoulder
- Pain in the elbow or shoulder when you are at rest
- Difficulty sleeping because of shoulder or elbow pain
- Numbness or tingling in your arm or shoulder
- Weakness that gets increasingly worse
- Ongoing or worsening pain that develops over time
For many injuries, early treatment and intervention will help avoid more extensive damage. It could also improve the trajectory for healing.
Warning Signs Of More Serious Arm & Shoulder Problems
In some instances, shoulder pain and arm pain can indicate more serious problems. These problems might include cancer, fractures, infection, severe nerve compression and ankylosis spondylitis.
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If there is cancer in the bones of the spine, this usually means metastases .
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Fractures of the spine can be caused by a direct hit, fall, accident but sometimes can occur without trauma, called spontaneous fractures. Spontaneous fractures, usually can occur in elderly people with osteoporosis or those who may be taking steroid medications that weaken the bone.
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Infections of the spine tend to occur if patients have a weakened immune system from any cause or medical condition. Sometimes infections of the spine can occur if there is an infection elsewhere in the body. People with spinal infections usually feel unwell and can have sweats and a fever.
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Nerve compression, called myelopathy, where there is a dangerous compression of the spinal cord in the neck. Myelopathy could cause symptoms that might include, weakness or problems with coordination in the arms, hands, legs, or even feet.
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Ankylosing spondylitis is progressive arthritis of the spine and can cause widespread inflammation, pain and stiffness throughout the spine.
Seek urgent and specialist medical advice if:
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These Three Issues Could Be Causing Your Back Shoulder And Elbow Pain:
- Pain that radiates from their shoulder to their hand.
- Numbness or tingling in various areas of the affected arm.
- Weakness in muscle response.
Additionally, some patients may experience pain in the upper back that has been referred from the shoulder.
Who Is A Candidate For Arthroscopic Tenodesis
For mild to moderate biceps tendonitis, arthroscopic or open shoulder surgery is an option if your pain interferes with daily activities and does not respond to rest and over-the-counter pain relievers. Patients typically start considering surgery when symptoms stop them from working, exercising, or sleeping comfortably.
The most common symptoms of biceps tendonitis include:
- Audible popping or clicking near the shoulder
- A bulge in the biceps, known as a Popeye deformity, caused by the tendon no longer being able to keep the biceps muscle tight
- Cramping of the biceps muscle with use of the arm
- Difficulty turning the hand palm up or palm down
- Dull ache that radiates from the upper arm to the elbow
- Sudden, sharp pain in the upper arm
As we age, our tendons stiffen, making us more susceptible to tendonitis. You may be at increased risk of biceps tendonitis if you perform repetitive motions long term. We often see patients who do a lot of overhead lifting at work, as well as athletes particularly swimmers, tennis players, weightlifters, and baseball players.
Smoking reduces nutrient supply to the tendons, increasing the likelihood of injury and reducing proper healing. Certain corticosteroid medications can increase the risk for tendonitis because they deplete collagen. Also, these medications can mask pain symptoms, leading to additional overuse.
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Medical History And Physical Examination
After discussing your symptoms and medical history, your doctor will examine your shoulder. They will check to see whether it is tender in any area or whether there is a deformity. To measure the range of motion of your shoulder, your doctor will have you move your arm in several different directions. They will also test your arm strength.
Your doctor will check for other problems with your shoulder joint. They may also examine your neck to make sure that the pain is not coming from a pinched nerve, and to rule out other conditions, such as arthritis.
Your doctor will test your range of motion by having you move your arm in different directions.
Reproduced with permission from JF Sarwark, ed: Essentials of Musculoskeletal Care, ed 4. Rosemont, IL, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, 2010.
Basics Of Bursitis And Tendinitis
Bursitis and tendinitis are conditions that are also known as soft tissue rheumatic syndromes. A syndrome is a group of signs and symptoms that occur together and indicate a particular problem. This type of syndrome produces pain, swelling, or inflammation in the tissues and structures around a joint, such as the tendons, ligaments, bursae, and muscles.
Because the structures affected by soft tissue rheumatic syndromes are near joints, pain in these areas may be mistaken for arthritis. The difference between arthritis and bursitis and tendinits is the source of the inflamation. Arthritis is inflammation in the joint itself, whereas bursitis, tendinitis and other soft tissue rheumatic syndromes involve inflammation in the tissues and structures around a joint.
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Shoulder And Elbow Pain
Shoulders and elbows are prone to pain. Due to certain activities and conditions, these body parts may suffer from mild to severe pain. The pain may be caused by an injury, a strenuous activity, or an underlying condition. Some shoulder and elbow pain are not a cause of concern and just normally go away after a few days of self-care and rest.
Symptoms You May Not Realize Are Caused By A Rotator Cuff Tear
Do you feel pain in your shoulder when doing simple activities, such as getting dressed or combing your hair? Chances are you may have a rotator cuff tear. In this post, Otis R. Drew, MD, will walk you through the causes and symptoms of rotator cuff tears and explain what you can do about them.
The rotator cuff is a group of muscles and tendons that help strengthen and stabilize your shoulder joint. They hold the head of your humerus in the shoulder socket, enabling you to turn and lift your arms. Injuries or damage to these tissues can cause discomfort, pain, and other complications.
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What Is Shoulder Pain That Radiates Down The Arm
Published on: 1st July 2019
Have you ever experienced an ache or pinching sensation in your arm that wont go away?
If so, youre not alone. Persistent arm pain is one of the more common complaints we see here at Chris Bailey Orthopaedics.
Given that we specialise in knees and shoulders, you may find that slightly strange. But then pain is a slippery customer. Just because you feel discomfort in one part of your body doesnt mean the problem originated there. It may be referred, as doctors put it, from somewhere else.
And so it is with arm pain. Quite often, we find that ongoing discomfort in the arm is actually caused by the shoulder. Which can cause confusion during the examination. Why are you focusing on my shoulder? people ask. Youre six inches too high! We can understand the frustration.
What Causes Tennis Elbow
Tennis elbow is a term used to describe an overuse ailment in which the tendons in the forearm become inflamed, making it hard to elevate and move the arm. Tennis is the most prevalent cause, although it can also be induced by other sports and hobbies such as softball, baseball, raking leaves, and even excessive computer typing.
The muscle ligament to the lateral epicondyle can be strained by any activity, like repetitive grasping. The most prevalent age range for this ailment is between 30 and 60 years old, while it can affect people of any age group. Although the name suggests that this illness is limited to the elbow, discomfort can be felt across the brachial plexus, such as the shoulder.
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Tailored Shoulder & Elbow Treatment
When using RICE and home remedies, such as exercise, medicines to reduce pain and swelling, are not enough, we design individualized treatment plans tailored to each patients needs and goals, and we maximize use of non-surgical options before considering surgery. When surgery is necessary, our orthopaedic surgeons offer innovative and advanced operative therapies to repair shoulder and elbow conditions, including both minimally invasive and open surgery options. We strive to help patients regain full function and return to their daily activities as soon as possible.
What Is Tennis Elbow
Tennis elbow is a colloquial term referring to an overuse injury that results in inflammation of the tendons in the forearm, making it difficult to lift and move the arm. While it is commonly caused by the sport of tennis, it can also be caused by other sports and activities, including softball, baseball, raking leaves, and even excessive typing on a computer.
Any activity, such as gripping or repeated grasping, can strain the tendon attachment to the lateral epicondyle. The most common age group to develop this condition is between 30-60 years of age, although it can occur in younger and older patients.
Although the name of this condition implies specificity to the elbow however, pain may be felt throughout the entire upper extremity including the shoulder!
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Pain In Your Shoulder And Neck 5 Signs That The Neck Could Be The Problem
Most patients who come to my clinic attend because of pain in their shoulder or arm. Sadly, shoulder pain isnt limited to the shoulder and it is quite common for shoulder conditions to cause pain to radiate up to the neck or down the arm toward the elbow. Some patients have both shoulder and neck pain and it can be challenging for patients, phyios, GPs and surgeons to work out if the problem is in the shoulder or the neck, or both. There are some tips that can help to identify if the neck is the problem.
Pain Outside Of The Shoulder
Several issues can cause pain on the outside of the shoulder. The most common cause is a tear in the rotator cuff, which helps lift and rotate your arm.
Rotator Cuff Problem
Four rotator cuff muscles move your shoulder, including the deltoid muscle. There are three main types of rotator cuff problems:
Rotator cuff problems cause pain, especially with activities like reaching or throwing. The deep, aching shoulder pain tends to worsen or flare up at night. It can easily wake you up from sleep or make it difficult to fall asleep.
Rotator cuff problems can be associated with a limited active range of motion. Since its hard to voluntarily move your injured or inflamed muscle, your shoulder may feel stiff.
But if someone does the work for you by lifting your arm , your shoulder will likely move normally.
Research suggests that high blood pressure, as well as other heart disease risk factors are associated with rotator cuff pain and inflammation.
Frozen Shoulder
Also called adhesive capsulitis, frozen shoulder is a common condition that leads to joint stiffness and pain, which can be constant. There is also a decrease in both active and passive range of motion.
Calcific Tendonitis
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