60 Percent of Shoulder Pain Complaints are Caused by Shoulder Impingement

Orthopedics and Traumatology Specialist provided warnings regarding shoulder impingement syndrom that is commonly confused with cervical disc hernia, nerve entrapment and cramps. Said stated, “60 percent of patients who apply institutions with shoulder pain are diagnosed with shoulder impingement syndrome. In this disease, you feel pain even when taking off your shirt. Early diagnosis is vital”.

The incidence of shoulder impingement syndrome, which is especially encountered in athletes engaged in overhead activities, has begun to increase. Stating that household cleaning and hygiene has gained more importance with the increase in time spent at home in this period, alongside with the long hours spent at a desk, have triggered an increase in shoulder impingement cases, Yeditepe University Hospitals Orthopedics and Traumatology Specialist pointed out that 40 to 60 percent of those who applied with shoulder pain were diagnosed with shoulder impingement syndrome. “Although it can be perceived as nerve compression when it comes to compression, this is the compression of the tendons in our shoulder,” said and talked about the reasons that may reveal the problem: “Especially in the current period, we have come across this situation frequently as a result of many people insensibly doing sports at home. In addition, it can be seen in those who are engaged in professions that have to carry a load on their shoulders, such as parents who carry their babies in their arms and cameramen.”

Stating that the most obvious complaint for shoulder impingement is the pain experienced when raising the shoulder forward or to the side, said, “For example, if you have pain when you reach out to get something from the shelf or take off your clothes, it is beneficial for you to consult a specialist.”

It can also be a sign of another disease.

Noting that not all pain is a shoulder impingement syndrome, and that pain can indicate different diseases, said, “Pain can also be a sign of diseases such as tumors, bone spurs, tendon tears. Especially in left shoulder pain, problems that may arise from the heart should also be kept in mind. Sometimes neck pain can be confused with shoulder pain. At this point, the character of the pain is important in the differential diagnosis. Pain can be triggered by movement in shoulder impingement syndrome. The patient is very comfortable using his shoulder, but when he lifts it forward and to the side, he feels very serious pain, and sometimes this pain can be experienced at night, so that he can wake up from sleep.”

Movements should be done without straining the body.

Reminding that moving is extremely important for general body health, but the body should not be forced while doing this, continued his words as follows: “Neither moving too much nor being still. This is a very fine line. You need to draw a good boundary by knowing your body, because if the person does not move due to pain, especially in shoulder impingement, this may cause frozen shoulder disease, which can have much more serious consequences in the future”.

Early treatment approach is changing

Saying that early diagnosis of the disease is important for both the patient and the physician, Yeditepe University Hospitals Orthopedic Specialist  gave the following information on the subject: “If we catch them early, we can perform treatment without surgery. In cases that have reached a very advanced stage, the solution can be provided with surgery. These operations, which we perform with closed arthroscopic surgery, are also very important in terms of patient comfort. They can return to daily life in a much shorter time, and they can start to move painlessly and at an early stage”.