A warm or hot sensation in the shoulder can be concerning. This feeling often indicates an issue within the shoulder’s complex network of tissues, muscles, and joints. Understanding the potential causes helps clarify the situation and guides appropriate action.
Decoding the Sensation
A hot sensation in the shoulder points to a localized inflammatory response. When tissues are injured or irritated, the immune system initiates healing by increasing blood flow to the affected site. This surge in blood volume contributes to warmth, and can also lead to redness and swelling.
Chemical messengers like histamine, prostaglandins, and cytokines are released by damaged cells and immune cells. These substances widen blood vessels, allowing fluids and immune components to reach the site. Nerve irritation can also contribute to unusual sensations, including a burning feeling.
Common Reasons for a Hot Shoulder
Various conditions can cause a shoulder to feel hot, often stemming from irritation or damage to its structures. Tendinitis, inflammation of a tendon, is a frequent culprit. This can involve the rotator cuff tendons, which stabilize the shoulder joint and enable arm movement. Overuse, repetitive motions, or sudden injury can inflame these tendons, causing pain, swelling, and warmth. Biceps tendinitis, affecting the tendon connecting the biceps muscle to the shoulder, also causes pain and tenderness, sometimes with warmth.
Bursitis is another common cause, characterized by inflammation of the bursae. These small fluid-filled sacs cushion bones and connective tissues, reducing friction within the joint. When the shoulder bursa becomes irritated due to injury, overuse, or infection, it can swell and cause pain, tenderness, and warmth. This inflammation can lead to shoulder impingement, where swollen tissues get pinched between bones.
Arthritis, a condition involving joint inflammation, frequently causes warmth in the shoulder. Osteoarthritis, a degenerative joint disease, occurs when cartilage cushioning bone ends wears down. This degeneration leads to friction, inflammation, and a burning sensation within the joint. Rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune disease, involves the body’s immune system attacking joint linings. This systemic inflammation can affect both shoulders, causing pain, stiffness, swelling, and warmth.
Muscle strains, from overstretching or tearing muscle fibers, can cause localized pain and a burning sensation. This often happens with sudden movements or unaccustomed physical activity. Nerve impingement or radiculopathy, where a nerve is compressed or irritated, can manifest as a burning, tingling, or numb sensation radiating into the shoulder. This compression can originate from neck issues like herniated discs or bone spurs, affecting nerves supplying the shoulder.
When Medical Help is Needed
While a hot sensation in the shoulder can resolve on its own, certain signs indicate medical attention is necessary. If warmth accompanies severe or persistent pain that does not improve with rest, seek professional evaluation. Also, seek medical care if you experience significant loss of motion or an inability to move your arm, as this suggests a more serious injury.
Other warning signs include visible swelling, spreading redness, or warmth with a fever or chills, which might indicate infection. Numbness, tingling, or weakness in the arm or hand accompanying shoulder warmth could point to nerve involvement. If these symptoms are present or if pain disrupts sleep, consult a healthcare professional for diagnosis and treatment.
Immediate Relief and Home Strategies
For immediate comfort and temporary management of a hot shoulder, several home strategies are helpful. Resting the affected shoulder and avoiding activities that aggravate pain is a primary step. Applying ice for 15 to 20 minutes at a time, several times a day, can reduce inflammation and numb pain. Place a thin cloth between the ice pack and skin to prevent ice burns.
Over-the-counter pain relievers, such as NSAIDs like ibuprofen or naproxen, can manage pain and reduce inflammation. Gentle stretching exercises, if pain allows, help maintain range of motion and prevent stiffness. Stop any exercise that increases pain.
These measures provide temporary relief and are not a substitute for professional medical advice, especially if symptoms persist or worsen.