Pain in the shoulder joint of the left hand. What to do if the left shoulder hurts?

The human body is unique. Each organ, joint and even cell perform certain functions. If something fails, pain occurs. With such symptoms, the body signals an ailment. The resulting discomfort, it protects the injured area of ​​the body from excessive damage. That is why these signs can not be ignored. They should be treated very carefully. What pathologies can the pain in the shoulder joint of the left hand indicate? Let's get it right.

Causes of pathology

The shoulder is a rather complex joint of the human body. It is endowed with maximum functionality. The presence of a particular pathology in it not only disrupts the joint, but also leads to swelling, inflammation and destruction of the joint bag, and sometimes violates the integrity of the tendons. The shoulder joint can work for a long time even in this case. But time comes, and it fails. A person experiences severe pain in the shoulder joint.

The causes of this pathology can lie in developing ailments:

1. Tendonitis. Or inflammation of the joint tendons. The reason for this pathology lies in intense stress. During severe physical exertion, tendons interact very closely with the surface of the joint. As a result, a person experiences irritation and pain.
2. Biceps tendinitis. Pathology manifests itself in the flexor muscle, which is localized in the upper region of the shoulder. With this ailment, the patient experiences constant pain. When probing a damaged place or any movement, sensations intensify. If the ligaments of the shoulder joint are completely torn, a spherical swelling is visually noticeable.
3. Bursitis. Such a disease often accompanies tendonitis. Pathology also occurs after prolonged overvoltage. But bursitis leads to swelling of the joint.
4. Salt deposits. As a result of this pathology, the ligaments of the joint become stiff. Often, salt deposits are localized under the scapula and collarbone. It is observed in persons older than 30 years. Pain discomfort appears suddenly. In its manifestation, it is strong enough. Any position of the hand does not reduce it. It becomes difficult for a person to take a limb even 30 centimeters from the body.
5. Violation of the formation of articulation at the genetic level.
6. Joint injury. Young people, especially athletes, sometimes experience a dislocation that causes pain in the shoulder joint. The causes of pathology in elderly people are usually associated with degenerative processes.
7. Neoplasms.
8. Overstretching of the ligaments of the shoulder. Often the phenomenon occurs in bodybuilders. The joint in pathology becomes unstable. Most exercises cause difficulties for the athlete. Sometimes even a cartilage ring tear is diagnosed.
9. Shoulder-shoulder periarthrosis. Pain in the shoulder joint of the left hand or right is the main symptom of the disease. Over time, discomfort intensifies. And leads to the fact that the patient can not sleep at night. The nature of the pain is quite diverse - from a blunt manifestation to a strong burning one.
10. Tendon rupture.
11. Hernia, protrusion of the cervical spine discs.
12. Neurogenic pathology. A phenomenon in which the sensitivity of the upper limbs, neck is disturbed.
13. Arthritis, arthrosis.
14. Illnesses of internal organs (heart, liver, lungs and others).

Serious pathologies of internal organs

Very often, pain in the shoulder joint of the left hand is perceived as a manifestation of osteochondrosis. However, sometimes such discomfort signals about various pathologies of the internal organs:

1. Angina pectoris. With the disease, the pain radiates to the shoulder, neck, arm. Typical symptoms of the classic picture are constricting, pressing pain in the sternum, shortness of breath after exercise. But sometimes the disease is different. The patient only feels pain in the shoulder joint of the left hand and neck. In this case, discomfort may not be felt in the hand, tingling in the heart is not observed. Only an ECG will detect ischemia.
2. Myocardial infarction. Classical symptoms, such as difficulty breathing, the occurrence of intolerable burning pains in the sternum, unfortunately, are not always found. Very often a burning sensation in the shoulders and neck signals about the pathology. As a rule, it is the left shoulder joint that bothers. The disease is accompanied by anxiety of the patient, shortness of breath, the appearance of perspiration on the forehead.

Joint fracture

This phenomenon is a fairly common injury. Fracture of the shoulder joint can affect any department:

• the head of the bone;
• body of the shoulder;
• condylar region.

Frequent sources of pathology are: falling on the arm, strong blows or sports injuries. Quite characteristic symptoms indicate a fracture of the shoulder joint:

• painful discomfort in the area of ​​localization of the injury;
• bruising, swelling;
• deformation of the shoulder, sometimes shortening of the arm may be observed;
• possible violation of the sensitivity of the hand, fingers;
• limitation of limb mobility;
• while feeling the damaged area, sometimes a crunch is heard.

Pathology treatment

With this symptom, hardly anyone will self-medicate. But still it is worth recalling that a doctor treats such pathologies. The patient will be prescribed painkillers, anti-inflammatory and calcium-containing drugs.

For mild fractures not accompanied by displacement, a plaster cast may be prescribed. Sometimes it is enough to put a splint or bandage on the shoulder joint. Duration of wearing varies depending on the pathology. As a rule, it is from one month to one and a half.

In case of serious injuries, the patient may need surgical intervention with fixing screws, special plates, knitting needles, rods.

After the joint of the fracture, the patient is prescribed physiotherapy and physiotherapy procedures to restore the functioning of the limb.

Crick

The shoulder joint consists of the scapula, collarbone and shoulder bone. Its integrity is maintained thanks to the muscles and joint bag, as well as tendons and ligaments. Stretching the shoulder joint leads to a whole family of pathological changes.

The patient may experience various degrees of damage:

1. Rupture of the shoulder joint. With this pathology, the ligaments are completely broken, all fibers are damaged.
2. Sprain. With this phenomenon, partial damage to the fibers is observed.

The following symptoms may indicate this pathology:

• the occurrence of pain;
• discomfort is felt even in a calm position;
• feeling of weakness in the shoulder;
• the mobility of the joint is limited - it is impossible to raise and take the limb to the side;
• the joint swells and may increase in size;
• the presence of bruising and bruising;
• shoulder deformity;
• when moving, you can hear crackling and crunching;
• tingling, numbness in the joint.

Treatment methods

After diagnosis, the doctor will recommend special measures.

As a rule, they include:

1. Cold compress. This procedure is valid on the first day. However, be aware that exposure to cold should not last more than 20 minutes.
2. Joint fixation. It is recommended that the joint load be limited as much as possible. This will reduce pain and inflammation. In addition, the doctor may recommend a special brace for the shoulder joint or orthopedic splint. The fixture provides fixation in the desired position of the joint. As a rule, the bandage is worn for several weeks.
3. Getting rid of pain. To eliminate discomfort, the doctor will recommend non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs that are used for injuries of the musculoskeletal system. Often prescribed medications "Ibuprofen", "Ketorolac", "Naproxen."
4. Outdoor facilities. For severe pain, ointment is recommended. The pain in the shoulder joint is significantly reduced after exposure to drugs with analgesic properties. The most effective ointments or creams: "Diclofenac", "Indomethacin", "Ibuprofen", "Voltaren". The tool must be applied with a thin layer of 2-3 times a day on the damaged area.

The question of surgical intervention is raised only if drug treatment was ineffective. Sometimes operations are done by athletes. Such an intervention allows you to fully restore shoulder mobility and muscle strength.

Osteochondrosis pain

Such a pathology occurs in people who are in the same position for a long time. Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine causes a disturbance in the functioning of the autonomic nervous system and blood circulation. Often, discomfort is localized in the neck. However, pain in the muscles of the shoulder joint is often felt.

Such symptoms are provoked by bone growths that occur on the lateral surfaces of the vertebrae. They, traumatizing the nerve endings, cause pain in the patient.

Pathology treatment

It is very important to consult a specialist in a timely manner. Since treatment is a rather difficult task, an integrated approach is needed:

1. Drug treatment. Initially, patients are prescribed anti-inflammatory drugs, such as Indomethacin, Diclofenac, Ibuprofen. If the pain lasts long enough, additional pain medication may be recommended: Pentalgin, Tramadol. Antidepressants may also be prescribed in the complex: Fluoxetine, Amitriptyline. In addition, chondroprotectors are prescribed to patients: Teraflex, Chondroxide, Structum.
2. Physical education classes. An obligatory component of treatment is gymnastics. Exercises contribute to the restoration of damaged discs, significantly improve the mobility of the cervical spine, strengthen muscle tissue.
3. Rehabilitation measures. After stopping the pain, patients are prescribed various procedures: magnetotherapy, massage, laser therapy, mud therapy, electrophoresis, traction traction, swimming in the pool.

Types of arthritis

Often this pathology provokes pain. In the shoulder area, 3 forms of pathology can be diagnosed:

1. Osteoarthritis. Such a disease develops as a result of degenerative age-related changes in the tissues. Cartilage does not protect the articular surface from friction. A similar pathology is characteristic of elderly people.
2. Rheumatoid arthritis. The ailment is systemic. The inflammatory process covers the synovial membrane of the joint. Pathology affects people of any age.
3. Post-traumatic arthritis. The disease develops against the background of injuries - displacement, cracks or muscle rupture. Refers to varieties of osteoarthritis.

It is shoulder pain that is the first and main sign of arthritis. During movement, it increases. A change in weather also affects the well-being of the patient. The patient feels a decrease in the amplitude of mobility of the hand. Sometimes during movement characteristic click is heard. In the later stages, the joint hurts with such intensity that a person cannot sleep at night.

Methods of combating pathology

How to treat a shoulder joint for arthritis? Initially, doctors use physiotherapeutic procedures, accompanied by medication, and physical education. The complex of therapy includes:

• warming compresses;
• the use of special additives, such as Chondroitin;
• the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
• a set of exercises.

Patients are advised to exclude sudden movements that cause pain and often rest fully.

In case of ineffectiveness of such therapy, surgeons resort to surgical intervention. In this case, either a complete replacement of the damaged joint with a prosthesis or partial is considered.

The development of arthrosis

This is a chronic ailment. With arthrosis of the shoulder joint, the patient's condition slowly worsens. Articular cartilage and surrounding tissue are degraded. The joint surface loses smoothness. In places, it is covered with osteophytes or salt spikes.

The development of arthrosis is slow. The first symptom indicating the development of the disease is shoulder pain. Periodically, discomfort subsides. Physical labor leads to an exacerbation of pathology. The joint swells. The surrounding tissues turn red, become hot. Sometimes a crunch is heard during movement.

Treatment methods

With arthrosis, the patient is recommended the following drug therapy:

1. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. As a rule, a light remedy is initially prescribed, such as Paracetamol. If it is not possible to achieve a beneficial effect, the patient is recommended stronger drugs: Naproxen, Ibuprofen, Diclofenac, Indomethacin, Nimesulide. These funds allow you to stop the pain syndrome.
2. Intra-articular block. With a severe course of the disease, special preparations are introduced into the joint cavity. Often used hormonal drugs "Hydrocortisone", "Prednisolone", "Kenalog." They provide a good anti-inflammatory effect.
3. Chondroprotectors. They help repair joint tissues. The most preferred drugs: Teraflex, Arthra, Arthro-Active.

In addition to drug therapy, the patient is recommended physiotherapeutic procedures, gymnastics.