Among the many types of pain that people experience on a daily basis, shoulder pain is very common. Sometimes people might be able to trace the source of their shoulder pain, but other times they may just think they can and they’ve actually got the real culprit wrong. It’s only when they seek professional chiropractic treatment for shoulder pain that they may learn the truth.

If you’re experiencing strong shoulder pain and/or any kind of chronic pain, you should seek help from a medical professional to learn the exact cause. The following are the most common causes of shoulder pain.

1. Rotator Cuff Tendinitis

This is the most common cause of shoulder pain. The main symptom of this disorder is swollen tendons in your rotator cuffs, which are critical for the free and easy movement of your shoulder joint. Another name for this problem is also “impingement syndrome.” It’s not an acute problem that just suddenly appears. You’d likely feel its effects slowly growing over time.

If you participate in regular activities where you move your shoulder sharply and quickly, and/or you regularly sleep on your shoulder, you might increase your chances of developing rotator cuff tendinitis. It can be solved by managing the pain and reducing swelling to allow natural healing to occur.

2. Bone Spurs

These are projections of bone that occur along the edges of your bones, and are just about as nasty as they sound, and they are another common cause of lasting and serious pain in the shoulder. The bone spurs themselves don’t immediately cause pain and sometimes can grow well into position before pain begins.

Besides occuring in the shoulder, bone spurs are also common in the knee, spine, and hip. Those who have osteoarthritis are more likely to experience bone spurs and the resulting pain they can inflict.

3. Bursitis

Bursitis is inflammation of the bursa which is a fluid-filled sac that you find in many of your joints and is designed to protect it and allow continued, smooth movement. This condition can be painful, but the good news is that it is treated easily enough with application of ice, and some painkillers or anti-inflammatories to reduce swelling and allow the bursa to heal itself.

The best way to avoid bursitis is to ensure your shoulder is well rested and supported before and after any hard physical activity. Certain exercises can also help relieve symptoms and work to prevent it from taking hold.

4. Broken Shoulder Bone and Shoulder Dislocation

Finally, if you’ve ever broken your shoulder bone or dislocated your shoulder in sporting events or through another accident, then you’re more likely to experience discomfort and pain there that lasts in the longer term. If breaks are not properly treated, or are followed by equally rigorous exercise without proper protection and support, then existing symptoms and related problems can be exacerbated.

Therefore, if you’ve experienced such injuries in the recent past, or if you can trace shoulder pain back to those times after you had such an injury, then it’s another way your body is telling you to take it easy on the shoulder!

5. Arthritis

Those who suffer from arthritis are likely to experience higher levels of shoulder pain. As with many other joints, your shoulder contains cartilage and arthritis is simply damage to that cartilage, which ultimately causes painful swelling and deep, enduring pain. If arthritis is the primary cause of your shoulder pain, you’ll likely notice lasting pain in your shoulder joint, as well as serious stiffness and an inability to move the shoulder through its usual motion range.