Shoulder Impingement Syndrome

Shoulder impingement can be caused by:

Bone spurs – these develop as you get older

Bursal tissue inflammation

Injury or overuse of the shoulder

Tendon becoming swollen, thickened or torn

Symptoms include:

Pain in the shoulder

Pain worse when you lift your arm, especially when you lift it above your head

Shoulder aches and pain at night which affects sleep

Weakness

Initial treatment includes anti-inflammatory medication, activity modification, physiotherapy or steroid injection.

For more severe cases of shoulder impingement, surgery may be recommended. Keyhole surgery to remove bone spurs or part of your acromion is usually performed. This surgery widens the space around your rotator cuff and minimises friction between your acromion and rotator cuff.

You should visit a shoulder specialist as soon as possible. They will have a discussion about your medical history, and carry out a range of tests including movement assessments.

An MRI may be needed to assess for other coexisting shoulder issues such as rotator cuff or labral tear.

Early assessment and appropriate treatment of the condition will give you the best chance of a quick recovery. Get in touch with our shoulder specialist in Singapore, Dr Dennis Ng to fix your shoulder impingement syndrome immediately.