Sometimes, knowing what condition could be the cause of your shoulder pain can be a puzzle. Could it be a strain? Could you have just slept wrong? Maybe you’re starting to get arthritis, but you think you can hold off on treatment a while longer. But what if it’s something more serious, or your persistent inflammation just isn’t getting any better?
Here, we’ll look at the pain of arthritis versus the pain caused by shoulder bursitis. While a number of conditions can mimic one another, shoulder bursitis and arthritis are extremely common. Either of these conditions could impact you, so it’s important to recognize you might need treatment. After all, there are ways to manage pain or even eradicate symptoms completely with the right diagnosis, treatment plan, and doctor.
Arthritis versus Bursitis of the Shoulder – What’s the Difference?
While arthritis causes chronic, progressive joint pain and stiffness, bursitis is typically more acute, causing sharp pain due to inflammation. Arthritis feels like a deep ache and is sometimes accompanied with grinding sensations; while bursitis presents as sharp, localized pain often tied to specific movements. Both require an accurate diagnosis for proper treatment.
Arthritis of the Shoulder
Shoulder arthritis is characterized by the breakdown of cartilage in the shoulder joint, consequently giving rise to symptoms including pain, stiffness, and limited mobility. Over time, there may be periods when bones may rub against each other, causing increased discomfort and, over time, impairing joint function. The disease, which arises from wear and tear, injury, or inflammation, makes daily activities and sleeping quite difficult, especially when one lies on the side that is affected.
What It Feels Like:
A deep, aching pain with stiffness and possibly a sensation of grinding or clicking in the joint. Pain typically worsens with movement and can linger during rest, affecting sleep.
Shoulder Bursitis
In each shoulder, a tiny, fluid-filled sac called a bursa reduces friction between tissues during movement. When this sac becomes inflamed, shoulder bursitis develops, causing pain, swelling, and tenderness that can make lifting or overhead motions difficult. Unlike arthritis, which progresses over time, shoulder bursitis often appears suddenly due to repetitive movements, injury, or prolonged pressure on the joint. Prompt treatment can help prevent chronic issues or further complications. Learn more about shoulder bursitis here.
What It Feels Like:
A sharp or burning pain that intensifies with movement or pressure, accompanied by swelling and tenderness. Pain may appear suddenly and can limit specific activities like reaching overhead.
The takeaways are that arthritis can interfere with daily activities through various mechanisms; bursitis typically appears suddenly due to repetitive motion or excess pressure, making their differentiation key for successful treatment and joint health maintenance. Early identification and intervention can significantly improve results of either condition.
Making a Diagnosis for Shoulder Arthritis
Diagnosis of shoulder arthritis is based on history, physical examination, and radiographic studies. Physicians examine symptoms, range of motion, and areas of tenderness. X-rays are used most commonly in diagnosing problems within the joints, especially joint space narrowing or bone spurs that commonly occur due to arthritis. MRIs may be ordered to assess the condition of the cartilage and to rule out other problems. This comprehensive approach ensures an accurate diagnosis and helps to determine the best treatment.
Treatment Options
Non-Surgical Treatments:
Conservative management reduces pain and improves function with rest, activity changes, NSAIDs, ice, corticosteroid injections, physical therapy, and exercises. Rheumatoid arthritis may need more specialized medications. Supplements like glucosamine or chondroitin should only be used with a doctor’s guidance due to potential interactions.
Surgical Treatments:
Surgical options include arthroscopy, joint resurfacing, hemiarthroplasty, total shoulder replacement, and reverse shoulder replacement.
- Arthroscopy: An outpatient procedure using a small camera to assess damage. The surgeon removes loose fragments, cleans the joint, and reshapes cartilage during a chondroplasty.
- Joint Resurfacing: Performed on younger, active patients with minimal to moderate cartilage erosion and intact rotator cuffs, this procedure involves placing a prosthetic cap on the humeral head.
- Hemiarthroplasty: Suitable for patients with severe cartilage damage of the humeral head but minimal glenoid damage and an intact rotator cuff, replacing the humeral head with a prosthetic metal ball.
- Total Shoulder Replacement: Replaces both the humeral head and glenoid for advanced arthritis with no significant rotator cuff damage. Custom-fit prosthetics restore stability and range of motion.
- Reverse Shoulder Replacement: Used for severe osteoarthritis with a non-functioning rotator cuff. The ball and socket configuration are reversed, allowing the deltoid and parascapular muscles to lift the arm. This procedure may involve a short hospital stay.
Surgical procedures are typically outpatient or involve short hospital stays depending on complexity and patient needs. Following treatment, rehabilitation starts which includes home exercises and physical therapy.
Making a Diagnosis of Shoulder Bursitis
Diagnosing shoulder bursitis requires looking through medical history, undergoing a physical examination and possible imaging. The doctor will question his patient about their symptoms and activities that increase or decrease discomfort. Physical examination looks for tenderness, swelling, and special tests that indicate bursitis. Imaging may include X-rays or ultrasounds to rule out other conditions or confirm inflammation of the bursa. This is a very effective way of diagnosis, where one is assured of the right diagnosis and, thus, the right treatment.
Treatment Options
Management typically focuses on optimizing shoulder function, preserving range of motion, enhancing strength, and alleviating pain, often through conservative measures. This can include medication adjustments, cortisone or PRP injections, and physical therapy, with recovery commonly achieved within 6-8 weeks. If conservative approaches prove ineffective, surgical intervention may be considered as a final option.
Orthopedic Treatment in Illinois
As an established orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Chams has a proven track record of helping his patients get back to doing what they love. With over 20 years of experience and multiple clinics throughout Illinois, Dr. Chams will formulate the right treatment plan to get you back to your daily routine in no time. For more information, please contact us online today or give us a call at: (847) 247-4000.
FAQS
Mild cases of shoulder bursitis can improve with time and rest. Reducing repetitive motions and applying ice can go a long way. However, recovery time varies, and without proper management, symptoms can persist or worsen. If the pain doesn’t improve or becomes severe, seeking advice from a healthcare provider is recommended to ensure appropriate treatment and recovery.
It’s easy to not know the root cause of your shoulder pain. Everything from frozen shoulder to arthritis to rotator cuff tears might mimic shoulder bursitis, which is why an appropriate diagnosis can lead to better treatment outcomes for your pain.
As with any pain in the shoulder, a board-certified orthopedic physician, such as Dr. Chams, is the appropriate choice if you suspect you have shoulder bursitis or are being referred for the condition.
An orthopedic doctor is the best choice for shoulder arthritis. The right treatment from a skilled physician can help with mobility and pain management of your shoulder arthritis, so your choice of doctor matters. Dr. Roger Chams is a renowned orthopedist that specializes in shoulder disorders.
Consulting an orthopedic specialist for shoulder bursitis ensures accurate diagnosis and access to treatments like imaging, injections, or surgery if needed. Orthopedic doctors can create a comprehensive plan that may include physical therapy as part of a multidisciplinary approach, offering better recovery outcomes than relying on physical therapy alone.
Surgery for shoulder pain from arthritis or bursitis is considered when non-surgical treatments like therapy, rest, and medications fail. Shoulder replacement can address severe arthritis, while arthroscopic procedures may relieve persistent bursitis by addressing contributing structures in the shoulder.. Consult an orthopedic specialist to determine the best treatment for your condition.
For shoulder pain, it’s advisable to consult an orthopedic specialist, like Dr. Roger Chams. He can accurately diagnose and treat various causes of shoulder pain, such as rotator cuff injuries, arthritis, or bursitis.
An arthritic shoulder causes deep, aching pain, stiffness, and reduced range of motion, often worsening with activity. Symptoms may include grinding or clicking sounds during movement and difficulty with daily tasks. Pain can persist at rest, disrupt sleep, and worsen over time.
Shoulder inflammation often presents as pain, swelling, and warmth, with a limited range of motion of the affected area. Your discomfort may worsen with movement or activity, while some individuals experience a sensation of joint stiffness or tenderness.
In certain cases, there may also be redness over the shoulder joint.
An inflamed shoulder bursa may cause a dull, aching pain at the top or outside of the shoulder, which will usually intensify with movement or pressure. Additional symptoms can include tenderness, swelling, and warmth over the affected area, along with a reduced range of motion.
Shoulder arthritis causes deep, aching pain, stiffness, and a gradual loss of motion due to joint degeneration. On the flip side, bursitis often presents as sudden, sharp pain outside the joint, with swelling and tenderness from inflammation of the bursa.
