Want to know if your shoulder pain is serious? Here’s one way to tell.
My name is Dr. David Geier – orthopedic surgeon, sports medicine specialist, and anti-aging and regenerative medicine expert. I help you feel, look and perform your best, regardless of age or injury.
If you’re experiencing shoulder pain, the first thing to do is rule out any serious causes. Here are a few things that should be considered before assuming that it’s just minor discomfort:
You can’t lift your arm above your head without pain or feeling like it’s going to slip out of the socket. This symptoms usually follows some sort of traumatic injury and not just pain that comes on over time. But if it feels like the “ball” is sliding in and out of the “socket,” it can definitely be a good idea to see an orthopedic surgeon and have the injury checked out.
If your shoulder pain is severe, it can be difficult to lift your arm above your head. If you try to do so and experience significant pain, then this is a sign that it’s time to see a doctor or surgeon.
Other signs of serious injury include:
- Shooting pain that radiates down into your arm
- Weakness in one or both arms
- Your shoulder feels painful, weak, and achy even when it’s not being used.
- You have numbness or tingling in your arm.
- If you experience numbness or tingling in your arm, it may be a sign of nerve compression from a herniated disc or some other cervical spine condition or injury.
If you have any of these symptoms, it’s important to see a doctor right away.
Shoulder pain can be caused by a number of different injuries, including arthritis or a rotator cuff tear. Fortunately, the most common cause of shoulder pain is impingement – an inflammation or irritation of the rotator cuff tendons around your shoulder.
If you think you may have a serious injury, visit a doctor. Doctors are trained to diagnose injuries and can help determine if yours is serious or not. They will also be able to give advice on how best to treat it so that it heals quickly!
We are looking for 5 patients with shoulder pain who want to get significantly better in the next 30 days, without cortisone shots, physical therapy, or surgery. Click this link and enter the term ‘Interested’ in the description box to learn more.
This post is meant for educational and informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice.