Shoulder Injuries Diagnosis

There are numerous types of shoulder injuries and multiple causes for each type. A shoulder injury can be the result of multiple factors including accident, overuse, aging and disease. Because of the many varieties of shoulder injuries, you should see a doctor for a diagnosis and treatment plan.

Kinds of Shoulder Injuries

• The most common shoulder injuries include bursitis, sprains, tears, dislocations, separations, arthritis, tendinitis and rotator cuffs. In all shoulder injuries the usual process of diagnosis is three steps, involving a detailed medical history, physical examination and tests.

Medical History

• A medical history is fundamental. If your doctor knows that you play sports or engage in some type of activity that might strain your shoulder, this will indicate what type of tests to perform and what to look for on a physical exam. If, on the other hand, you lead a sedentary lifestyle, the doctor will attempt to identify other potential causes of the injury.

Symptoms

• Symptoms are still the surest indicator of shoulder injury. Symptoms vary depending on the type of injury. If your shoulder is dislocated, the dislocated bone can bend forward, backward or downward, and the dislocated part will appear out of proportion. When there is separation of bones the shoulder pain or tenderness is accompanied by a bump. In the case of tendinitis and bursitis, there is slow and gradual increase in pain in the upper shoulder or upper third of the arm and difficulty in sleeping on that side. With rotator cuff injury there is pain all over the deltoid muscle. This pain can become severely aggravated by actions such as dressing. With a frozen shoulder there is unbearable pain, resulting in difficulty doing even basic things. The surest sign of a fracture is the swelling, redness and bruises that accompany it.

Physical Exam

• A physical examination will provide an assessment of pain, location and limits of movement and extent of dislocation. Assessment may involve observing you move the shoulder or engage in simple activities. It may also involve several medical tests.

Tests for Diagnosis

• Medical tests are often required to properly diagnose a shoulder injury. These tests usually consist of x-rays, arthrogram, ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging scan. With x-ray, a low level of radiation is passed on the body to help locate the nature of injury. An x-ray is useful for diagnosing only some kinds of shoulder injuries, such as fractures.

  An arthrogram is an image that can be seen after a contrast fluid is applied to the shoulder joint in structures such as rotator cuff or some injuries.

  An ultrasound is a procedure in which a hand held scanner is held on the skin and passed all over the area of the injury. The image of the interior of the shoulder is reflected on computer screen. This enables the orthopedic surgeon or doctor to get a fairly clear idea of what could have gone wrong with the shoulder. This is particularly useful in diagnosing shoulder cuff injuries.

  MRI or magnetic resonance imaging is considered the most advanced diagnostic aid in shoulder injuries. This gives a more detailed, cross sectional set of images of the injury.