Calcific tendinitis of the shoulder occurs when calcium deposits form on the tendon of the shoulder.... In these cases, the tissues around the area where the deposit is formed may become inflamed and you may feel severe pain in the shoulder. This condition is not very common and the exact cause of its occurrence is not known. What is meant by calcific tendonitis? Shoulder pain is one of the common problems that about one third of people get this disease.. but this condition is not very common in the shoulder.. In fact, it can be said that calcium deposition in the shoulder affects less than 10% of people. When this disease occurs, you feel a lot of pain.... This condition occurs when calcium deposits, i.e. pieces of bone, form in the rotator cuff tendon. The size of these calcium deposits can vary from a few millimeters to a few centimeters....Deposits more than one centimeter cause a lot of pain....It is thought that calcium causes pressure in the tendon, which eventually leads to severe pain..The rotator cuff and acromion are reduced and finally affect the normal function of the rotator cuff muscles. What is the cause of this condition?.. The exact cause of this disease has not been determined, this condition mostly occurs after a shoulder tear or as a result of wear.... Age and the aging process also play a role in its occurrence.... Usually, people between 40 and 60 years of age get this disease more often, and women are slightly more affected than men... Certain hormonal problems, including thyroid diseases, and metabolic conditions such as diabetes are risk factors. What are the symptoms? Symptoms in each person can be different depending on the stage of deposition.. but all patients with this disease experience pain.... Among the common symptoms of this disease, the following can be mentioned: - Severe and acute pain in the shoulder that returns to the elbow. - Sudden or gradual onset of pain occurs following the accumulation of calcium deposits. - Increasing pain when raising the arm, especially when raising the head. - Pain that gets worse at night, this condition can affect your ability to sleep or wake up. - You feel weakness in your arm. - You feel pain when removing any device. What are the stages of calcific tendonitis formation? The four steps to form it are as follows: ### Pre-creation step At this stage, the calcification part begins to undergo cellular changes that expose the tissue to the risk of calcium deposits. Usually, the patient does not have any symptoms or pain at this stage.. so you do not know if this complication is happening or not. ### step to create it Then the calcium is removed from the cells and turns into plaster like calcium deposits.... After calcification, the pain-free rest phase begins. ### Attraction stage This stage is painful, after rest, the absorption stage begins....calcium deposits turn into a toothpaste-like but softer substance, which eventually leads to increased pressure, swelling in the tendon, and significant pain. ### post-calcific stage In the post-calcification phase, the deposits within the tendon are reabsorbed and removed during the remodeling process... This process may last from several months to several years... Most people feel little or no pain. How is calcific tendonitis diagnosed? In the beginning, the doctor can diagnose this condition to some extent with the physical examinations he performs and the symptoms the patient has. In the next step, you should do an ultrasound on the shoulder to confirm the final diagnosis.... Going through this process is very important for correct diagnosis and choosing the best treatment method. Read more: Shoulder bursitis How can calcific tendonitis be treated? The main goal of treatment is to reduce pain and inflammation in the shoulder joint and restore the normal function of this part. In most cases, this disease is limited and can be resolved with a course of physical therapy, rest and taking a course of non-steroidal drugs. In some people, ultrasound-guided injections are performed at the doctor's discretion. ### Anti-inflammatory drugs These drugs help to reduce swelling, inflammation of the shoulder joint and ultimately relieve pain... You should take these drugs as prescribed by your doctor. ### Shoulder injection Cortisone is a very strong steroid that can be very effective in reducing inflammation and swelling, the effects of this treatment method are temporary. But it will be resolved in a few months. Related: Suprascapular injection for shoulder pain relief ### Physiotherapy One of the recommended methods for treating calcific tendonitis is physiotherapy, which initially reduces pain and inflammation and ultimately helps you to rehabilitate. The purpose of physiotherapy treatment is the following: - reducing pain and inflammation - Increasing the range of motion of the joint - Full muscle strength - improving performance and muscle strength - Possibility of returning to sports Do you need surgery? If immobility and pain interfere with your daily activities, you may need surgery... Arthroscopy makes a small incision in the tendon and eventually the calcium deposits are removed.