Q:  What are causes of shoulder pain?  How can it be helped?

A:  Generally, complaints of shoulder pain stem from problems with the bones and the rotator cuff, a group of muscles, ligaments and tendons that surround and help protect the bones. The rotator cuff keeps the shoulder's ball and socket joint in place, and should it become injured, the full shoulder functioning needed for your normal work or sports activities can become extremely difficult and painful.

The rotator cuff is responsible for helping you reach, throw, push, pull and lift. Without it, your shoulder would lose more than half its motion and strength.

Another cause of shoulder pain, regardless of your age, is arthritis. Arthritis is wear and tear that causes the cartilage surface on the ends of the bones at the joints to wear down and come into painful, direct contact with each other. This occurs in rheumatoid and degenerative arthritis, tears to your rotator cuff tendons, or shoulder fractures or breaks.

Athletes frequently suffer shoulder problems. Those engaged in sports that require overhead throwing, such as baseball, football and swimming, are particularly susceptible. Frequently, the result is damage to a tendon or bursa (a fluid-filled sac around the joint which lessens the potentially negative effect of friction). When the bursa becomes inflamed, the result is tendonitis or bursitis. Many athletes ignore the initial pain and try to play through it, which often aggravates the injury and causes additional problems and time away from activity.

We'll diagnose the specific cause of your problem, and help you relieve the pain.  Treatments range from anti-inflammatory medications, exercises and therapy to help strengthen the muscles, or could involve surgery.