The most likely reason your arm hurts when you rotate it is due to a problem with your rotator cuff, often rotator cuff tendinitis or other related conditions.
Understanding Rotator Cuff Issues
The rotator cuff is a group of muscles and tendons that surround your shoulder joint, keeping your upper arm bone firmly within your shoulder socket. These muscles and tendons enable a wide range of motion in your arm, including rotation. When these structures become irritated, inflamed, or damaged, pain with rotation is a common symptom.
Common Causes of Painful Arm Rotation:
- Rotator Cuff Tendinitis/Tendinopathy: This occurs when the rotator cuff tendons become inflamed or irritated, often due to repetitive overhead activities like reaching, lifting, or throwing. Overuse can lead to micro-tears in the tendons, causing pain when you rotate your arm.
- Rotator Cuff Tear: This involves a tear in one or more of the rotator cuff tendons. Tears can range from partial to full thickness. A rotator cuff tear can happen suddenly due to an injury, or gradually over time due to wear and tear.
- Shoulder Impingement: This occurs when the rotator cuff tendons become compressed as they pass through a narrow space in the shoulder. This compression can lead to inflammation and pain, especially during overhead activities or arm rotation.
- Bursitis: Bursae are fluid-filled sacs that cushion the bones, tendons, and muscles near your joints. Inflammation of the bursa (bursitis) in the shoulder can cause pain, especially with movement like rotation.
- Arthritis: Although less common as a primary cause of pain specifically on rotation, arthritis in the shoulder joint can contribute to pain and stiffness that is worsened by rotation.
Symptoms You May Experience:
- Pain when rotating your arm, especially when lifting it overhead or reaching behind your back.
- Pain that may radiate down your arm.
- Weakness in your arm.
- Clicking or popping sensation in your shoulder.
- Stiffness in your shoulder.
- Pain that worsens at night.
What to Do About Arm Pain with Rotation
It's important to seek professional medical advice if your arm pain is severe, persistent, or interferes with your daily activities. A doctor can properly diagnose the cause of your pain and recommend the appropriate treatment.
Possible Treatments Include:
- Rest: Avoid activities that aggravate your pain.
- Ice: Apply ice packs to your shoulder for 15-20 minutes at a time, several times a day.
- Pain relievers: Over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen or naproxen can help reduce pain and inflammation.
- Physical therapy: A physical therapist can teach you exercises to strengthen your rotator cuff muscles and improve your range of motion.
- Injections: Corticosteroid injections may be used to reduce inflammation and pain.
- Surgery: In some cases, surgery may be necessary to repair a torn rotator cuff tendon.
In summary, pain when rotating your arm is often related to a rotator cuff issue, but the specific cause requires a medical assessment. Following medical advice and appropriate treatment can help alleviate the pain and restore function to your arm.
