The Causes and Treatments for Supraspinatus Tendonitis
Supraspinatus tendonitis, which is also generally referred to as rotator cuff tendonitis, is one of the biggest forms of tendonitis seen by doctors. The rotator cuff is comprised of many tendons and it is the supraspinatus tendon, which connects the shoulder blade to the arm bone, and it is this tendon that is prone to tendonitis.
What often causes this problem are repetitive movements like the arm movements one makes when playing tennis and some other sports. Some sports can cause supraspinatus tendonitis but there are some sports that will probably cause the problem more than others will. Either way the pain can be abominable.
As far as sports related tendonitis is concerned, tennis players and baseball players tend to be most at risk, followed by swimmers, golfer, and etc. However, supraspinatus tendonitis doesn’t only affect those playing sports, because it is also a well known fact that certain occupations carry more risk than others, hence the reason why professions such as carpentry, painting and decorating, and etc. also result in many cases of this condition. Of course, the condition usually manifests itself in the shoulder of the arm which gets used the most.
How do you know if you have supraspinatus tendonitis?
Overall, the condition begins with a dull pain in the shoulder; however, it can also spread down the arm and even across the chest region. Any arm movements like extending it or lifting it will cause much pain. People that experience this problem also discover that sleeping is not easy because of the weight being placed on the arm or shoulder that will end up in much pain.
If you do not seek treatment, the problem will increasingly become worse and soon it will be impossible to move the arm without feeling agonizing pain. When it reaches this stage, people that have this condition try to not move their arm but this ends up causing the shoulder joint to become increasingly stiff.
As well as experiencing pain and stiffness, you may also get bruising and visible swelling around the affected area. There may also be redness around the shoulder area and in that case, it will be tender if touched.
Treatments
If the condition is allowed to progress to an advanced stage, there it is no other option but to seek professional medical treatment. In most cases, medication such as painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs will be prescribed in conjunction with physiotherapy, which of course will be necessary in order to restore movement. If the tendon has on the other hand been severely injured, surgery may be required.
If you play a sport or do a job that requires much repetitive arm movements, and you start experiencing a dull ache in your shoulder, do not ignore the pain thinking that it will go away. Know that rotator cuff tendonitis can result in much pain and because of that reason; you must get help as soon as possible.
Tom Nicholson spends his time helping carpal tunnel sufferers. You can click here to learn more about having asore wrist.