Shoulder, elbow, and wrist pain is due to repetitive strain, injuries, or arthritis. This pain can restrict your daily activities.
Compressed nerves, such as the ulnar nerve at the elbow, can cause pain radiating to the wrist and hand, often accompanied by numbness or tingling.
Stay connected to the end of this post to learn about the pain in shoulder, elbow, and wrist areas.
Causes of Shoulder, Elbow, and Wrist Pain
Shoulder, elbow, and wrist pain can come from many sources, and understanding these can help you manage and prevent future problems.
Personally, I’ve had shoulder pain for years, mainly due to rotator cuff problems. This type of pain can come from acute trauma or repetitive use over time, a common scenario for many people.
Rotator cuff problems, tendinitis, and bursitis are the most common causes of right shoulder and arm pain.
Rotator cuff and shoulder arthritis are the most common causes of shoulder pain and discomfort and limited mobility.
The most common causes of shoulder pain are rotator cuff tears, which are 20%, and tendinitis and bursitis, which are 21%. Bursitis can cause severe pain but often responds well to physical therapy.
A shoulder injury can also aggravate these conditions.
Elbow Pain
Elbow pain is caused by tendinitis, which is the most common cause of pain in both the shoulder and elbow pain.
Calcific tendinitis, where calcium deposits form in or around the rotator cuff, can also contribute to significant pain. Addressing these early can prevent further complications.
Wrist pain
Wrist pain can be caused by many things, including repetitive strain injury, arthritis, fractures, and sprains. Some of the common causes are:
- Repetitive strain injury
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Arthritis
- Hand pain
- Fractures and sprains
Diagnosing Joint Pain
A thorough medical assessment is key to finding the root causes of joint discomfort and creating a treatment plan.
During a physical exam your range of motion will be tested to find the exact sore areas. In my experience these exams can uncover problems you didn’t know you had.
For joint pain, imaging modalities like MRI and CT scans are necessary. They give detailed views of the soft tissue around the joints, important for diagnosing conditions like rotator cuff tears or tendon injuries.
For example, an MRI once showed a small tear that was causing my shoulder pain.
Here’s how the process works:
- Physical exam to test range of motion and find sore areas.
- Imaging tests like MRI and CT scans for soft tissue analysis.
- Blood tests to check for rheumatoid arthritis markers.
- Specific tests to find the exact area of discomfort.
Thorough diagnostics is important not only to know what’s behind your joint pain but also to create a treatment plan for you.
Non-Surgical Options
Non-surgical options are the first line of defense against joint pain. These options reduce pain and improve function without surgery.
From physical therapy to home remedies, there are many ways to manage your pain.
Physical Therapy Techniques
Physical therapy is a non-surgical option for joint pain. This approach includes various techniques to reduce pain and improve movement function.
In my experience, regular physical therapy sessions helped improve my shoulder function and reduce the pain I was having.
In physical therapy, several techniques are used, such as cryotherapy (ice application), manual therapy, and specific strengthening exercises to target the compromised areas to improve joint integrity.
For example, a physical therapist might use ultrasound with therapeutic intent to increase blood flow and reduce discomfort related to shoulder problems.
Combining these into your pain management plan can improve outcomes. Research shows that exercise-based therapy for chronic shoulder pain is similar to corticosteroid injections and may even match results from decompression surgery.
Home Remedies and Exercises
Joint pain can be relieved through natural remedies and specific movements. Rest and cold packs are simple and effective home remedies for shoulder pain.
I found that stopping activity and cold therapy reduces inflammation and reduces my shoulder pain.
Exercises also play a big role in managing pain. For example, a triceps stretch targets the tension in the upper arm and shoulder area.
Crossover arm stretch is great for shoulder flexibility. Pendulum swings and doorway stretches help relax and mobilize the shoulder stretch.
Here are some stretches to try:
- Triceps Stretch– Tension in both upper arms and shoulders.
- Crossover Arm Stretch – IncrSwings shoulder flexibility.
- Pendulum Swings– Increases range of motioSwings relaxation in your shoulders.
- Pendulum Swings – Eases movement and stress aroundur shoulder with less tightness
Over-the-counter options like nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are another way to get relief from joint pain.
These medications reduce inflammatory response so you can do your normal activities without being limited by discomfort.
Surgical Options for Severe Pain
Although surgery can be scary, it’s often the most effective way to get long-term relief of pain.
One surgical option is partial joint denervation. This procedure cuts off the nerve pathways that transmit pain messages and allows joint function while reducing pain.
It’s an outpatient procedure that doesn’t require an overnight hospital stay and no post-op rehab, so it’s a great option for many.
Other options include total shoulder replacement, where the ball at the end of the arm bone is replaced with a synthetic stem and the socket in the shoulder blade is replaced with a plastic lining.
This is usually for patients with advanced osteoarthritis with bone on bone or those with fully functional rotator cuff tendons.
For those with severe elbow pain or who have a fully torn rotator cuff with weakness in the arm, reverse shoulder replacement or elbow replacement may be an option.
Though faced with tough decisions on surgery, patients often get relief from pain and can function better after surgery.
Joint Pain Prevention
I found out that even small changes can make a big difference. Here are some to consider:
- Using ergonomic devices like split keyboards and mice designed with ergonomics in mind can help achieve wrist neutrality and reduce strain.
- Proper form during exercise protects the shoulder from further damage.
- Staying hydrated throughout the day helps to lubricate your joints so movement is smoother.
Do these habits daily, and you’ll reduce the risk of getting pain in your joints.
When to Seek Medical Help
If you have swelling, redness, or bruising around the shoulder after an injury, you should go to the ER immediately.
When you have a fever with shoulder pain, it could be an infection that needs to be seen by a doctor.
Moreover, if shoulder pain doesn’t go away after 2 weeks despite home remedies, you should see a healthcare professional.
Watch out for other warning signs like numbness with the pain or increasing swelling.
Bottom Line
So there you have it. Issues in one area, like the neck, can manifest as pain in the shoulder, elbow, or wrist due to interconnected nerve pathways. Also, inflammation of the tendons due to repetitive movements can lead to conditions like rotator cuff tendinitis in the shoulder and tennis elbow.
