- For those who are unsure which hospital to visit
- For those whose body and mind are suffering due to pain
- For those looking for a nearby clinic close to home
If any of the above applies to you, we invite you to visit Seoul Painfree Rehabilitation Medicine Clinic. We provide support for a wide range of pain conditions through accurate diagnosis, systematic treatment based on that diagnosis, and patient-centered treatment facilities.
Recently, a patient visited Seoul Painfree Rehabilitation Medicine Clinic complaining of shoulder pain.
When shoulder pain begins to interfere with daily life, many people tend to assume it is just simple muscle soreness and choose to wait it out. However, if the pain persists for a certain period or becomes noticeably worse in specific positions, other causes should be carefully considered. In particular, pain that worsens at night and difficulty lifting the arm overhead may be related to calcific tendinitis and rotator cuff injury, respectively, and therefore require special attention.
Today, we will take a closer look at these two conditions.
📌 Contents ▪ If the pain is worse at night: Calcific Tendinitis ▪ If you cannot lift your arm overhead: Rotator Cuff Injury ▪ How are they diagnosed and managed? ▪ Management using Chiropractic Care
If the pain is worse at night: Calcific Tendinitis
If your shoulder pain intensifies at night and you feel significant discomfort while lying down, inflammation caused by calcific tendinitis may be a possible cause. Calcific tendinitis is a condition in which calcium deposits build up in the shoulder tendons, most commonly in the supraspinatus tendon. In the early stages, it may present as mild pulling or a dull, heavy sensation. However, as the calcium deposits increase, they can irritate the surrounding tissues, causing the pain to worsen rapidly.
Many patients say the pain started suddenly even though they did not overuse the shoulder. In fact, calcific tendinitis can develop without any specific trauma. It often results from a combination of factors such as age-related degenerative changes after middle age, repeated minor injuries, and reduced blood flow.
One of the key characteristics of this condition is that the pain becomes more severe at night. This happens because the calcium deposits continuously irritate nearby tissues, worsening inflammation. If the pain increases when lying down or is severe enough to wake you from sleep, early diagnosis is strongly recommended.
If you can’t lift your arm overhead: Rotator Cuff Injury
If your shoulder felt fine before but you suddenly find that you can no longer raise your arm overhead, a rotator cuff injury should be considered.
The rotator cuff refers to four tendons that stabilize and move the shoulder. If even one of these tendons is damaged, basic movements such as lifting or raising the arm can become difficult. In particular, if you can lift your arm to the side to about shoulder level but experience significant pain or a heavy sensation when trying to raise it higher, a rotator cuff problem is highly likely.
Rotator cuff injuries can occur for various reasons, including repetitive use, sudden impact, or age-related degenerative changes.
In the early stages, the pain may feel like simple muscle soreness and is often easy to ignore. However, over time, muscle strength may decrease and range of motion can become limited, making daily activities increasingly uncomfortable.
How are they diagnosed and managed?
For an accurate diagnosis, imaging studies such as ultrasound or MRI are performed to identify the location and extent of the injury. Treatment varies depending on whether the condition involves simple inflammation, a minor micro-tear, a partial tear, or a full-thickness tear.
In cases of early-stage injury, medication and physical therapy can help reduce inflammation, along with exercises to strengthen the muscles surrounding the shoulder. If movement itself is difficult, manual therapy and rehabilitation exercises may be necessary to restore the joint’s range of motion. When pain is severe or functional impairment is significant, injection therapy may also be considered.
Partial tears often improve with non-surgical treatment alone. However, in cases of larger tears, surgery may need to be considered depending on the size and condition of the tear. Most importantly, starting appropriate treatment early can speed up recovery and reduce the risk of recurrence.
Management Using Chiropractic Care
Chiropractic treatment is a hands-on approach commonly used to restore balance and function in highly mobile joints such as the spine and shoulders. Before treatment, a thorough examination is conducted to identify areas with restricted movement and the extent of injury, after which a personalized treatment plan is established based on the patient’s condition.
This therapy may help improve lymphatic and blood circulation and is also expected to have a positive effect on reducing swelling caused by inflammation. In addition, it helps release tight fascia and restore restricted joint movement, which can contribute to overall pain relief.
In Korea, there is currently no official domestic system for obtaining a formal chiropractic degree, and as a result, there are relatively few practitioners with recognized qualifications. Therefore, it is uncommon for treatment to be provided directly by medical professionals who have completed accredited chiropractic education abroad.
At our clinic, chiropractic care is provided directly by qualified chiropractic medical professionals with proper credentials.
At Seoul Painfree Rehabilitation Medicine Clinic, we also offer same-day electromyography (EMG) testing for prompt evaluation. Based on the test results, we are able to provide not only chiropractic care, but also a wide range of treatments including extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT), various physical therapy modalities, medication management, as well as exercise and rehabilitation programs tailored to each patient’s condition.
In addition, our clinic offers extended evening hours on Wednesdays and Sunday appointments, allowing working professionals who find it difficult to visit during weekdays to receive care at their convenience.
If you are experiencing discomfort from pain in your shoulder or other areas of the body, please feel free to visit Seoul Painfree Rehabilitation Medicine Clinic at any time.
Thank you.
