Deltoid Pain – Symptomatic Management with Homeopathy

Deltoid pain is the pain felt in the deltoid muscle which is a large, triangle – shaped muscle lying over the uppermost part of the arm at the top of the shoulder. It is composed of three regions named the front (anterior), middle, and back. This muscle is attached through tendons to the collarbone (clavicle), shoulder blade (scapulae) and the upper arm. This muscle is responsible to lift the arm and rotate the arm. Homeopathic treatment for deltoid pain is recommended in cases of mild to moderate intensity.

Causes

The main reason for it is straining this muscle, injury to muscle or its over use without taking proper rest. Straining can occur from lifting heavy weights, playing certain sports, doing intense exercise that involves the shoulder, swimming, excessive typing on the computer without taking frequent breaks. The injury can occur from repetitive use of the deltoid muscle and the shoulder mostly in the athletes, and from an accident like a fall on the shoulder. 

Symptoms 

A person may feel deltoid pain on the front, side or back of the shoulder. The pain may radiate from the tip of the shoulder to the upper arm on lifting the arm. The intensity of the pain can be mild to severe in intensity. Next tightness may be felt in the muscle region. Along with pain the mobility of the shoulder and the arm may be hindered or restricted. There is difficulty in lifting the objects. Swelling over the deltoid muscle can also be there. The deltoid muscle may be sore and tender to touch in some of the cases. Sometimes weakness of the shoulder may be felt in addition to the above symptoms.

Deltoid Strain – Grades 

The deltoid strain is divided into three grades depending on the intensity of the symptoms:

Grade 1 – In this there occurs tightness in the muscle and slight swelling is present. Along with this pain may be felt on using the arm. The movement of the shoulder is not restricted and a person can use the arm normally.

Grade 2 – In this grade there occur partial tears in the deltoid muscle and pain and swelling are increased in intensity. The movement of the shoulder gets restricted. Using or lifting the arm leads to pain in this grade.

Grade 3 – it occurs in serious injuries where complete tear of the deltoid muscle is present. In this the pain and swelling are of severe intensity. The shoulder movements may be intensely restricted or not possible at all.   

Homeopathic Treatment for Deltoid Pain 

Homeopathic medicines are very beneficial to relieve the deltoid pain. These medicines gradually relieve the pain and its attending symptoms. These medicines are prepared from naturally occurring substances, so are very safe to use without any side effects. Use of these medicines is recommended in cases of mild to moderate deltoid pain. These help in healing the muscle strain of mild to moderate degree. But in case of serious deltoid injury or severe muscle tear it is recommended to take urgent help from conventional mode of treatment as homeopathy has limitations to treat such severe cases.

1. Rhus Tox – Top Grade Medicine

It is one of the best medicines for managing cases of deltoid pain. It is well indicated when the complaint arises from muscle strain, repetitive activity that puts pressure on the muscle and from over lifting. In cases requiring it the pain in the shoulder occurs which is accompanied with stiffness as if from a sprain. Next pressure on the shoulders is felt as from a heavy weight. The pain can be tearing, burning or stitching type. This worsens while lying and when at rest. Moving about helps to give relief in the pain. This medicine also is useful for cases in which the shoulder pain gets worse in cold weather. 

2. Sanguinaria Can – For Right Sided Pain

This medicine is prepared from plant Sanguinaria canadensis commonly known as Blood root. It belongs to the family papaveraceae. It is a very effective medicine for pain in the deltoid muscle of the right side. Persons needing it have pain in the right shoulder and upper part of the right arm. This pain gets worse from lifting things. They are unable to raise their arms. Worsening of the pain is also there at the night time and when turning in the bed. The pain wakes them from sleep. The pain may be specifically cutting type in some of the cases. The deltoid area is very sensitive and tender to pressure. The right deltoid is also stiff in addition to above. This is worse when raising or turning the arm. 

3. Ferrum Met – For Left Sided Pain

Ferrum Met works well in cases of left sided deltoid pain. People who need it experience increased pain during night time. Motion helps to relieve the pain. Along with pain they have restricted arm movement and the problem in raising the arm is present. Putting the hand behind their back is also impossible for them. Mostly they have tearing or shooting type of pain. The pain may radiate from the shoulder to the upper arm. The deltoid muscle is also sore with above symptoms. 

4. Ledum Pal – When Pain Worsens on Lifting Arm

This medicine is prepared from plant Ledum Palustre commonly known as wild rosemary and marsh cistus. This plant belongs to family ericaceae. It is beneficial when the shoulder pain gets worse on lifting arms. The pain can be stitching, lancinating or throbbing type. Next with pain pressure is felt in the shoulder. This is worse from motion.

5. Phytolacca – For Pain Worsening at Night

It is prepared from plant Phytolacca decandra commonly known as Poke root and also Red Ink Plant. It belongs to family phytolaccaceae. It is useful when the shoulder pain gets worse at night time. The pain can dull aching or shooting in nature for using it. Stiffness can attend it. Difficulty in raising the arm is also present.

6. Bryonia – For Pain in the Right Shoulder 

It is prepared from the root of a plant Bryonia alba commonly known by the name of wild hops or white bryony. This plant belongs to the family cucurbitaceae. It is a very helpful medicine for right sided shoulder pain, similar to the remedy Sanguinaria. It is indicated when there is painful tension feeling in the right shoulder.  A sensation of pressure on the top of the right shoulder is also felt with this. This worsens on touch.  In a few cases needing it there occurs tearing pain in the shoulder and upper arm with tension and swelling. Sometimes the pain is drawing type in the upper arm.

7. Zincum Met – For Tearing Pain in Shoulder and Upper Arm

This medicine is well indicated for cases in which there is tearing pain in the shoulder and the upper arm. The pain worsens on raising the arm. Along with this heaviness and pressure is felt in the shoulders. The shoulder also feels tensed. Other than this it is indicated for drawing from top of the shoulder going down the arm. Next in cases having stitching pain in the shoulder this medicine proves useful. 

8. Rhododendron – When Pain Worsens from Motion

It is prepared from fresh leaves of plant Rhododendron chrysanthum. Having the common name yellow Snow rose. It belongs to family ericaceae. It is useful when the pain in the deltoid muscle gets worse from motion. The pain is mostly left sided for using it. The type of pain is usually boring or tearing in nature.

9. Silicea – When Pain is Better by Warm Covering

This medicine is specifically indicated when the shoulder pain gets better from warm covering. It is mostly worse at night where it is required. Use of this medicine is also considered when there is sharp pain in the right sided shoulder.

10. Chelidonium – For Pain in Right Shoulder on Movement

It is a natural medicine prepared from fresh plant Chelidonium Majus. Commonly known as Greater Celandine. It belongs to the family papaveraceae. This medicine is used for right sided shoulder pain that worsens on movement of the arm. The pain is tearing in nature. Sometimes this medicine is also used for left shoulder pain with a feeling of being sprained. This is often accompanied with a cold feeling in the upper arm.

11. Agaricus – For Pain that Worsens on Moving Joint Backward

Agaricus is a beneficial medicine for cases in which the pain in the  deltoid gets worse from moving the shoulder joint backward. It is mostly present on the right side. With this a sprained feeling in the deltoid may be felt. Lastly a sensation of splinters in the deltoid muscle can be there when lifting the arm.

12. Asarum Europoeum – For Contractive, Tensive Pain

It is prepared from plant commonly known as Asarabacca and Hazelwort. It belongs to family aristolochiaceae. This medicine works well when there is contractive tensive type of pain in the deltoid muscle. Apart from this stitching pain in the shoulders is also indicative of its use.