Calcific Tendinitis
Pain that keeps you up at night. It is not just a muscle ache.
Calcium deposits form in the shoulder tendons and cause inflammation and pain. Movement becomes limited, and in most cases the pain is bad enough to prevent sleep.
Common causes
01
Degeneration of the tendon
02
Overuse of the shoulder
03
Poor blood supply around the tendon
The causes vary; the most common are degenerative and inflammatory. It usually appears between 50 and 80, but it is now frequent in younger people too, from poor posture and heavy smartphone use.
Stages
Signs to watch for
- A heavy feeling in the shoulder, then pain
- Sudden rather than gradual pain
- Pain so severe it is hard to sleep
How we diagnose
X-ray
The basic first test. Further tests may be added for a definite diagnosis.
Ultrasound
Examines the joint while it moves, so problems that appear only in certain positions can be found. Inflamed areas can be treated with guided injections at the same time.
How we treat it
The right treatment for your symptoms improves pain and restores joint function. In the painful phase we use injections and medication; for chronic calcific tendinitis, shockwave therapy.
Extracorporeal shockwave therapy
Used across orthopedics, physical therapy and sports medicine, shockwave therapy aids recovery without surgery or painkillers and suits many conditions that cause acute or chronic pain.
Manual & exercise therapy
A specialist physical therapist uses hands-on techniques based on anatomy, such as relaxation methods and joint mobilization, to reduce pain and improve function.
Arthroscopy
Through a minimal incision under about 5 mm, an arthroscope with a tiny camera and special instruments is inserted into the joint. It shows areas that are hard to see on X-ray, allowing accurate diagnosis and treatment at the same time.
When surgery is consideredSurgery is considered if there is no improvement with non-surgical treatment, if the deposit is very large, or if there is also impingement or a rotator cuff tear.