a women holding her shoulder who is needing treatment

What Causes Shoulder Pain?

Shoulder pain is a type of musculoskeletal problem common in adults. Every fourth adult person gets affected at some stage, which is more prevalent in people over 45.

With shoulder pain, simple tasks like brushing your hair, picking things, and any shoulder and arm movement become difficult and painful. Shoulder pain accounts for around 20 % of chronic pain cases.

The pathological study of shoulder pain indicates various reasons, including rotator cuff, acromioclavicular joint, pain originating from the neck, tightness of soft tissues around the shoulder, and arthritis.

Repetitive movements, degeneration of tissues, or sports-related injuries are major causes of musculoskeletal pain. As a result, conditions arise, such as adhesive capsulitis or frozen shoulder, torn rotator cuff, and chronic tendonitis in the shoulder.

In some cases, due to fractures or torn tendons, surgery is needed. But physical therapy and TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) are more often recommended. This TCM approaches complement surgery and other orthopedic treatment very well.

In milder cases or when pain is due to inflammation, TCM can be an alternative treatment to restore the shoulder's mobility and minimize pain and inflammation. In this article, we will look at the causes and cures of shoulder pain through the lens of TCM.

How Does Chinese Medicine Diagnose Shoulder Pain?

We usually go to a physician to diagnose the condition and symptoms of shoulder pain.

The physician uses different medical techniques and equipment to diagnose, like an x-ray. In case of injury and fracture, it is necessary to get emergency treatment.

TCM also has a method and theory for diagnosing health problems. According to the TCM theory, the flow of blood and Qi (life force energy) in the body is the decisive factor in measuring health.

When the flow of Qi and blood is disrupted, or there is a blockage, stagnation causes pain. This stagnation of Qi and blood flow typically happens due to injury. Still, sometimes other pathogenic factors like cold, dampness, and wind can also contribute to stagnation and pain.

TCM looks at shoulder pain from a broader perspective; instead of focusing on just reducing pain, it studies the root cause of the problem.

For instance, if you go to an acupuncturist for shoulder pain, they will deeply study the full picture: all the other symptoms and signals of the body that might be related to the current pain are considered.

An acupuncturist concentrates on the intensity and nature of pain, how pain gets worse, how it reduces, and how the shoulder's movement is. A TCM practitioner indeed uses a holistic approach to diagnose.

TCM differentiates shoulder pain as:

Wind-Cold: severe shoulder pain that worsens when the body is exposed to cold, windy weather.
Cold-Damp: shoulder becomes painful, swollen, and heavy in rainy weather
Damp-Phlegm: shoulder muscles feel stuck and painful and difficult to move
Qi Stagnation: emotional factor disturbs the flow of Qi, and the shoulder develops pain and numbness
Blood Stagnation: disruption of blood flow in the shoulder aggravates a stabbing pain.

After studying the causes of shoulder pain through TCM's holistic approach, the practitioner treats the pain through different TCM methods such as Chinese herbs, acupuncture, gua sha, or cupping. These TCM techniques help regulate the flow of Qi and blood, reduce inflammation and pain, and improve movement.

a women wearing glasses, standing outdoors holding her shoulders

What Is Frozen Shoulder?

Before moving to TCM treatment methods such as acupuncture, let's discuss a significant shoulder condition that is slightly different but severe from previously discussed symptoms of shoulder pain; frozen shoulder. Adhesive capsulitis or frozen shoulder is a condition where the stiffness and restrictive movement becomes unbearably painful.

The restrictive movement and stiffness do not allow simple daily tasks. Frozen shoulder often happens without any associated injury. Patients between the ages of 40 to 60 are most affected by this condition. It is more predominant in women than men.

The inflammation occurs in the smooth tissues around the shoulder capsule in a frozen shoulder. As a result, a thickness and tightness around the shoulder joint cause pain and restriction of motion. Furthermore, a shoulder injury involving a rotator or long-term immobility can also become a reason behind a frozen shoulder.

Stages Of Frozen Shoulder

Three gradual stages lead to frozen shoulder; it usually does not happen overnight. These three stages can last a couple of months:

Freezing Stage: a gradual build-up towards more pain. It can get worse with movement. As the pain worsens, the movement of the shoulder becomes limited. More pain is experienced at night.
Frozen Stage: at this Stage, pain may lessen, but the movement becomes more restrictive, and the shoulder gets stiffer. The limited range of motion makes it difficult to perform simple tasks that require the movement of the shoulder.
Thawing Stage: it is a recovery stage if you start the treatment. The stiffness and movement improve, and you experience a reduction in pain. Complete recovery may take more than six months.

an image that shows acupuncture needles being inserted into the skin

TCM Approaches To Treating Frozen Shoulder

TCM practitioners diagnose the causes and symptoms behind the shoulder pain. Depending on them, different TCM methods are applied separately or in combination to cure shoulder pain and frozen shoulder.

Depending on the cause, symptoms, and duration as diagnosed by the TCM practitioner, the following methods are used to treat frozen shoulder. The main TCM approaches and procedures are followed:

Acupuncture And Shoulder Pain

A frozen shoulder has a minimal range of motion. TCM can help treat frozen shoulders; joint movement is necessary to create enhanced flexibility. But the pain is always too severe, and any chance of motion and flexibility becomes rare.

A TCM practitioner has a specific method to treat this problem, called acupuncture. It is designed to minimize the pain and help the motion, leading you toward recovery.

Several prestigious institutes have studied the effectiveness of acupuncture in treating frozen shoulders. The acupuncturist uses specific acupoints to treat the frozen shoulder.

During the session, these acupoints help ease the pain and improve mobility. Sometimes, electrostimulations are also combined with acupuncture. In the session, the patient feels relief from pain, and the practitioner can exercise joint movement and manipulation.

While the pain is minimal, other TCM techniques, such as acupressure, therapeutic massage, joint movement, and gua sha, are applied. These complementary techniques, combined with acupuncture, have been proven effective in most cases. The range of motion increases, and the road to recovery opens.

If you have any further doubts or questions regarding this subject or another treatment, contact one of our experienced Acupuncturists or Registered Massage Therapists here at West End Wellness Clinic. You can either give us a call or make an appointment.

Disclaimer: Please remember this article is for informational purposes only and should not replace professional medical advice. Please consult a healthcare provider or someone with the correct qualifications before starting any new exercise or treatment program.