7 May 2021 Author : António Mendes Omalgia affects people of all age groups, from young people to the elderly. Often it limits activities of routine daily living, in addition to others, for example in sports. Shoulder pain thus have significant losses in quality of life and in people perception of their well-being. Causes and diagnosis Omalgia may be due to: A shoulder problem itself; A problem in the cervical spine. It may appear suddenly , as it happens, for example, after a fall. It may also appear with a more chronic and indolent form , but that progressively disrupts the simplest activities of our daily life. To arrive at the correct diagnosis and to establish an adequate therapeutic plan several contributions are needed: The correct evaluation of the clinical history; A careful physical examination; Imaging exams, such as radiography, MRI or others. Shoulder pain treatment In most cases, resolution of the omalgia does not require surgical treatment. With appropriate conservative treatment it is possible to resolve about 80%-90% of patients complaints, allowing: Pain relief; The recovery of mobility; The recovery of the functional capacity of the shoulder. In conservative treatment, physiotherapy assumes a predominant role. With the new biological therapies, namely with the use of growth factors, administered judiciously, it is possible to postpone or even avoid a surgical intervention. Whenever conservative treatment does not provide satisfactory relief from the patient complaints, a resolution by surgery may be considered. Currently, the versatility of arthroscopic (minimally invasive) surgery on the shoulder, such as on the knee, allows us to offer the same standard of quality and results comparable to those of the most classic open approaches, adding advantages such as: Less pain and discomfort for the patient in the postoperative period; Better cosmetic result (scars barely visible). Arthroscopic surgery is particularly indicated for the t reatment of some of the most common pathologies , such as: Injuries to the tendons of the rotator cuff; Subacromial conflict; Instability of the shoulder or acromioclavicular joint. Shoulder arthroscopy is also an asset in the treatment of some fractures that can be treated with a less invasive approach. Shoulder orthopedics in the Hospital da Luz network The Hospital da Luz network orthopedics team has training and experience in arthroscopic shoulder surger y and is prepared to diagnose and define the best therapeutic approach in orthopedic shoulder pathologies. In most of our hospitals, a specialized orthopedic consultation for shoulder patholog y is available, by a differentiated clinical team that has all the resources necessary for the correct diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of shoulder problems. Meet the orthopedics team from Hospital da Luz network. The content published in the Health Guide is intended for the general public and is provided for informational and educational purposes only. It does not replace individual medical assessment, diagnosis, or personalized clinical advice from a qualified healthcare professional. The content is produced or reviewed by physicians and other healthcare professionals at Hospital da Luz and is based on the knowledge available at the time of publication or the most recent update, as indicated at the beginning of each item.
