Shoulder arm syndrome

The Shoulder arm syndrome - a disease with many faces and many possible backgrounds is often also called Neck-shoulder-arm syndrome designated. Other terms for this disease are: cervicobrachial syndrome, cervicobrachialgia, cervicobrachial syndrome and cervicobrachial syndrome.

What is shoulder arm syndrome?

The Shoulder arm syndrome is also referred to in medicine as Cervicobrachialgia or Lower cervical syndrome. The term shoulder-arm syndrome is often found alongside the expression shoulder-arm syndrome Neck-shoulder-arm syndrome.

The term shoulder-arm syndrome encompasses complaints related to these body parts. Often there are neck complaints that radiate and lead to pain in the arms and shoulders. There may also be a tingling sensation or numbness in the hands or limited lateral head movements.

In the shoulder-arm syndrome, muscle hardening is often present in the muscle cords that run on both sides of the spine.

Since the symptoms of shoulder-arm syndrome can vary greatly from person to person, thorough examinations are required for diagnosis - also in order to be able to rule out any other diseases as the cause of the symptoms.

causes

Just like the symptoms of the Shoulder arm syndrome, possible causes of shoulder-arm syndrome are also diverse. In many cases the cause of the shoulder-arm syndrome lies in complaints of the cervical spine: Here, for example, individual vertebrae can become blocked, which then radiate painfully.

Such complaints of the cervical spine can be caused by jerky movements or drafts. Incorrect strain on the spine, such as frequent one-sided carrying of loads, can also increase the risk of developing shoulder-arm syndrome.

Other possible causal impairments of the vertebrae for shoulder-arm syndrome are changes in the spine due to aging processes or, for example, herniated discs. Vertebral impairments due to inflammatory diseases (e.g. rheumatism), osteoporosis, tumors or external forces (e.g. accidents) can also be responsible for the shoulder-arm syndrome.

Symptoms, ailments & signs

The shoulder-arm syndrome encompasses a wide variety of complaints with different causes. Therefore, numerous symptoms can indicate this condition. Common signs of shoulder-arm syndrome are back pain, shoulder pain, pain in the upper arm and muscle tension. In individual cases, the pain also occurs in the back of the head.

Shoulder-arm syndrome can be acute or chronic. They can occur locally or radiate into the entire arm and into the hand. Parasitic sensations can occur in the hands. The mobility of the head can be restricted. This can lead to bad posture. Pain from shoulder-arm syndrome can start slowly or suddenly.

Usually they occur on one side. If the nervous impairment is severe as a result of the disease, fingertips can fall asleep and show numbness. In addition, they can lose strength when grasping. If the spine is affected, reactions of the autonomic nervous system such as the drooping of the upper eyelid and the restriction of reflexes are common.

Symptoms may get worse over time. Sufferers wake up in sleep due to pain when they turn on the affected shoulder area. Circling the shoulder and spreading the upper arm are only possible to a limited extent and with pain. A typical sign of a shoulder-arm syndrome is a sharp pain when reaching for the wallet in the back pocket.Classic counter-reactions from bad posture, muscle tension and pain develop in everyday life.

Complications

Shoulder-arm syndrome can cause severe pain and numbness in the arms and hands. If such symptoms occur, cervicobrachialgia should be treated promptly with physiotherapy. This is the only way to resolve the underlying muscle hardening. Relief of the pain can be attempted with a red light or a pain ointment containing ibuprofen in order to avoid inability to work. However, pain ointments are not suitable for long-term treatment.

A complication of shoulder-arm syndrome can arise if pinched nerves or vertebral blockages are not recognized during treatment. Both can be very painful. Heat treatments, physiotherapy and drug treatment of pain must go hand in hand here in order not to complicate the situation further. Among other things, a shoulder-arm syndrome can develop as a result of whiplash. In this context, chronic shoulder pain can appear as a complication.

Degenerative changes or tumors in the shoulder joint area can also be a cause of shoulder-arm pain. Herniated discs, bone changes due to osteoporosis and a tumor in the shoulder area can lead to considerable complications if they are not recognized in time. If necessary, surgery is inevitable.

To avoid complications, the causes of cervicobrachial syndrome should always be investigated. Work-related muscle tension can be just as triggering for the cause of shoulder-arm syndrome as other circumstances. As a result of constant work on the PC, in the worst case, pain-related disability can result from the shoulder-arm syndrome.

When should you go to the doctor?

Medical treatment is always necessary for shoulder-arm syndrome, as this disease cannot heal itself. The affected person is always dependent on treatment by a doctor to prevent further complications. A doctor should be consulted if the person concerned suffers from severe pain in the shoulders, arms or back. The pain is permanent and does not go away on its own. They can also spread to the neighboring regions and cause complaints there too.

It is not uncommon for numbness to indicate the shoulder-arm syndrome and should be examined by a doctor. A doctor should also be visited if there is tension in the muscles or if the muscles appear very weak. The shoulder-arm syndrome can be diagnosed and treated by a general practitioner or an orthopedic surgeon. Special complications usually do not occur and this disease is completely cured.

Treatment & Therapy

Depending on the severity and course of the Shoulder arm syndrome there are different treatment methods. Acute pain caused by shoulder-arm syndrome that has not yet occurred frequently can, for example, first be combated with painkillers.

Depending on the diagnosed cause, painkillers can also be used, which have an additional anti-inflammatory effect. If, in connection with the shoulder-arm syndrome, there is more pain due to muscle tension, active ingredients are sometimes used to relax the muscles again. A long-term use of painkillers is sometimes warned, however, as corresponding dependencies can develop. Instead of painkillers, long-acting local anesthetics (local anesthetics) are used in chronic shoulder-arm syndrome - this can prevent pain nerves from transmitting pain signals.

Consistent physiotherapy is mentioned as a particularly important component in the fight against the shoulder-arm syndrome: Strengthened supporting muscles can help to compensate for impairments in the spine. Treatment with cold or warm air has also proven to be pain-relieving: While some patients find warm air more effective, other patients prefer cold air.

Other possible treatment methods for shoulder-arm syndrome are, for example, acupuncture or chiropractic therapy (manual treatment). And, depending on the cause of the shoulder-arm syndrome, additional relaxation procedures or psychological discussions can also be used successfully.

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prevention

An important aspect of preventing the Shoulder arm syndrome First of all, regular strengthening of the back muscles that support the spine. It is also advisable to avoid one-sided strain on the spine (for example when carrying heavy shopping bags on only one shoulder). As far as possible, it is also important to avoid negative stress, which can lead to muscle hardening and tension.

The shoulder-arm syndrome - associated with pain, which, however, can be counteracted in a pain-relieving way after a specific diagnosis, with specific treatment steps and appropriate prevention.

Aftercare

Once shoulder-arm syndrome has developed, this area of ​​the body always remains a weak point. There is no permanent healing. It is therefore important for the patient to keep an eye on the shoulder-arm area during aftercare. On the one hand, he should ensure that he does not unilaterally tense his muscles in this area for an unnecessarily long time.

To do this, he can, for example, take breaks from working on the PC and stretch the shoulder area. Corresponding stretching exercises have already been shown to the patient during physiotherapy treatment, but they are also taught in courses such as yoga or Pilates. Such gentle sports are well suited to strengthening the muscles in the shoulder-arm area and at the same time keeping them supple and flexible.

This is a prerequisite for preventing the shoulder-arm syndrome from developing again. Once the area has become overloaded, the patient can use the self-help options already mentioned. Treatment with a red light lamp or putting on a hot water bottle will alleviate the first symptoms.

A hot pad of mixed healing earth can also relieve the tension in the painful areas. If the patient is able, he should repeatedly afford physiotherapy treatments and massages. In combination with exercise and mindfulness, it can prevent the symptoms from recurring.

You can do that yourself

This term encompasses various diseases that lead to the head, neck, shoulder and arm no longer being able to move completely. In order to define exactly which underlying disease is present, it is essential to see an orthopedic surgeon. He will determine whether the shoulder-arm syndrome is the result of a cervical spine problem or whether the patient is prone to poor posture, has "twisted" himself or was sitting on a train. The shoulder-arm syndrome may be caused by other diseases, such as tumors or rheumatism.

Depending on the findings, the doctor will determine the therapy. In addition, the patient can also ensure that the neck muscles are relaxed. On the one hand, gentle massages are an option, but also gymnastic exercises that release tension. Patients can find various films on the Internet that show neck exercises and are easy to follow. Jacobson's progressive muscle relaxation also helps against stubborn muscle tension. In addition, warming pads can loosen tense muscles. A hot water bottle is just as effective here as a warming patch with activated charcoal, which is placed on and gives off even heat for hours. A cherry stone pillow heated in the microwave can also provide relief for acute symptoms.

Since shoulder-arm syndrome usually brings pain and numbness with it, patients tend to react with bad posture. Therefore, you should absolutely keep physiotherapy appointments, because an outsider can better recognize and correct these bad postures.