From the Guidelines
You have a condition where calcium has built up in the tendons of your shoulder, known as calcific tendinitis, and a small bone spur at the bottom of your shoulder joint, which can cause pain and limit movement. This means you have calcium deposits in your rotator cuff tendons and a small amount of bone growth at the bottom of your shoulder socket, which is referred to as minimal inferior glenoid osteophyte formation. In simpler terms, these conditions often cause shoulder pain, especially when raising your arm or sleeping on the affected side.
Key Points to Consider
- The natural history of this condition is gradually increasing load-related localized pain coinciding with increased activity, as noted in the study by 1.
- Treatment typically includes:
- Rest
- Anti-inflammatory medications
- Physical therapy exercises to maintain range of motion
- Possibly corticosteroid injections if pain is severe, although these should be used with caution, as mentioned in the study by 1.
- Apply ice for 15-20 minutes several times daily to reduce inflammation.
- If symptoms persist beyond 4-6 weeks of conservative treatment, your doctor might recommend further interventions.
Underlying Causes
These conditions often develop from repetitive shoulder movements, aging, or minor injuries that cause inflammation, leading to calcium deposition in the tendons and bone growth at stress points in the joint, as discussed in the context of overuse tendinopathies by 1.
From the Research
Rotator Cuff Calcification Tendinitis
- Rotator cuff calcification tendinitis is a shoulder disorder characterized by the presence of calcium deposits in the rotator cuff tendon 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
- It is a relatively common condition, affecting 7%-17% of individuals with shoulder pain 2.
- The condition can be asymptomatic or cause significant shoulder pain and disability 3, 4.
Symptoms and Diagnosis
- The symptoms of rotator cuff calcification tendinitis can include severe shoulder pain, especially at night, and limited range of motion 3, 4.
- The condition can be diagnosed using imaging studies such as conventional radiography, ultrasound, or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) 3, 4, 5.
Treatment Options
- Treatment options for rotator cuff calcification tendinitis include conservative management, such as rest, physical therapy, and oral nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
- Minimally invasive techniques, such as extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT), ultrasound-guided needling (UGN), and ultrasound-guided percutaneous irrigation of calcific tendinopathy (US-PICT), have also been shown to be effective 2, 3, 4, 6.
- Surgical intervention, such as arthroscopic removal of the calcific deposits, may be necessary in some cases, especially for patients who do not respond to conservative treatment 2, 3, 5, 6.
Minimal Inferior Glenoid Osteophytic Formation
- There is limited information available on minimal inferior glenoid osteophytic formation in the context of rotator cuff calcification tendinitis.
- However, it is possible that the presence of osteophytes (bone spurs) in the glenoid (shoulder socket) could contribute to shoulder pain and limited range of motion 3.