Shoulder Pain: Clinical Meaning

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis, caused by the gradual breakdown of cartilage in joints. It primarily affects the knees, hips, hands, and spine, causing pain, stiffness, and reduced range of motion.

Tension-Type Headache

Tension-type headache is the most common headache disorder, causing a dull, pressing, bilateral head pain described as a tight band. Stress, poor posture, and sleep deprivation are common triggers; it responds to simple analgesics.

Polymyalgia Rheumatica

Polymyalgia rheumatica affects people over 50, causing severe aching and stiffness of the shoulders, hips, and neck that is worse in the morning. ESR and CRP are markedly elevated; it responds dramatically to corticosteroids.

Frozen Shoulder (Adhesive Capsulitis)

Frozen shoulder is characterized by progressive pain and stiffness of the shoulder joint, eventually leading to severe restriction of movement. It goes through freezing, frozen, and thawing phases; physiotherapy, corticosteroid injections, and distension arthrography are treatments.

Rotator Cuff Tear

Rotator cuff tears involve damage to the muscles and tendons stabilizing the shoulder, causing shoulder pain, weakness, and restricted movement. They can be acute (traumatic) or chronic (degenerative); physiotherapy or surgical repair depending on severity.

Ectopic Pregnancy

An ectopic pregnancy occurs when a fertilised egg implants outside the uterus, most commonly in a fallopian tube. It cannot develop normally and is a medical emergency — if the tube ruptures, life-threatening internal bleeding can occur.