The rotator cuff is a group of muscles and tendons that surround the shoulder joint, providing stability and helping to lift the arm. A rotator cuff injury can cause pain and weakness in the shoulder. There are several different types of rotator cuff injuries, ranging from mild to severe. The most common type of injury is tendonitis, which is inflammation of the tendons. Other rotator cuff injuries include rotator cuff tears. Other problems around the rotator cuff tendons include shoulder bursitis. Rotator cuff  injury is sometimes associated with golf players because of the repetitive ..read more

Side view of normal anatomy of the shoulder. (Click to enlarge) Shoulder bursitis or subacromial bursitis is a common condition affecting the shoulder that falls under the umbrella term Subacromial Shoulder Pain. Bursas are normal structures, and we have them all over our body where tendons glide under other structures such as skin or bone. The subacromial bursa is a normal structure that sits on top of the rotator cuff tendons, under the acromion, and helps the rotator cuff tendons to glide under the acromion bone. Bursitis describes the inflammation of a bursa. Is subacromial bursitis th ..read more

What is shoulder impingement? Shoulder impingement, or shoulder impingement syndrome, is a very common cause of shoulder pain, where the supraspinatus tendon (one of the rotator cuff tendons) inside your shoulder joint rubs or catches on nearby tissue (bursa) and bone (acromion) as you lift your arm. Side view of normal anatomy of the shoulder. (Click to enlarge) Shoulder impingement is an old term that gave the impression that all pain in this region was caused by the rotator cuff tendon and bursa being pinched between the humeral head and acromion and we now realise that this is an oversi ..read more

What is the shoulder blade? Shoulder blade pain is common. The medical name for the shoulder blade is the scapula. The scapula is a bone that sits at the back of the chest and forms two joints: the shoulder joint (between the humerus and the scapula) and the acromioclavicular joint (between the clavicle and the scapula). The shoulder joint socket (glenoid), and the acromion, are parts of the scapula. The shoulder blade has many muscles attached to it. The 4 rotator cuff muscles cover the front, top and back of the shoulder blade. The shoulder blade is attached to the trunk by several muscles ..read more

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is pressure on a nerve in your wrist, known as the median nerve. The carpal tunnel is a narrow passageway surrounded by bones and ligaments on the palm side of your hand. The median nerve provides sensation (ability to feel) to your thumb, index and middle fingers, and part of the ring finger. It supplies the impulse to some of the muscles going to the thumb. Carpal tunnel syndrome can occur in one or both of your hands and is a common condition. When the median nerve is compressed, the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome include tingling in the thumb, index and m ..read more

We often get asked questions about pain medication after shoulder surgery. The rehabilitation time and the pain relief needed depends on the shoulder surgery you have had. In all upper limb surgery including procedures under general anaesthetic and awake shoulder surgery, we use regional nerve blocks, where local anaesthetic is injected along the nerves that supply the arm. After surgery with a regional anaesthetic block there should be minimal or no pain. However, as the block wears off after around 24 hours, you will need pain management, so we will send you home with the required tablet pa ..read more

Olecranon bursitis showing swelling at tip of the elbow. Before we answer the question “Can I drain my own elbow bursitis?” we need to explain what olecranon bursitis is. Olecranon bursitis is a condition caused by acute or chronic inflammation of the olecranon bursa, which is a thin fluid filled sac that lies under the skin at the tip of the elbow. It helps to reduce friction as the olecranon (tip of the elbow) and triceps tendon glide under the skin as the elbow straightens and bends. When olecranon bursitis occurs, the bursa lining becomes inflamed and thickened, and the cells of the li ..read more

Shoulder pain remedies Shoulder joint pain or injury is a common problem that can affect all age groups but identifying the best pain relief for shoulder injury can be difficult for some. The pain may involve the bone, cartilage, ligaments, shoulder muscles, nerves, or rotator cuff tendons. It is important however, to not always think of pain as having a structural cause. Some causes of pain may be due to inflammation, poor biomechanics, neurogenic causes, and there may be associated psychological drivers. Shoulder joint pain can occur due to a number of conditions including rotator cuff tendo ..read more

Unfortunately for many, sleep disturbance is a common symptom for those suffering with shoulder pain. We know that sleep is key to good health and the tossing and turning that can be caused by shoulder pain, can lead to lower energy, daytime exhaustion, and low mood. Shoulder pain can cause some patients to have to change their preferred sleeping positions and this can sometimes lead to difficulty falling asleep, poor sleep, and even neck pain and other discomfort from sleeping in an unusual position. Several shoulder conditions are well known for causing sleep disturbance; these include froze ..read more

Recovery after shoulder dislocation and shoulder dislocation surgery WHAT IS A SHOULDER DISLOCATION? A shoulder dislocation is when the ball of the arm bone (humeral head) pops out of the shoulder socket (glenoid). In some cases, the surrounding tissues supporting the shoulder joint may also be overstretched or torn.  The shoulder is one of the easiest joints to dislocate because the ball sits on a flat socket. This makes the arm extremely mobile and able to move in many directions, but also means it is not very stable. HOW DOES A SHOULDER DISLOCATION HAPPEN? You can dislocate your shou ..read more