The biggest difference, I would tell you, would be loss of motion.
Typically, if you’re arthritic, let’s say right is my good side. My left side is my arthritic shoulder. It won’t go all the way up if you’re arthritic. And if you drop your arms and look in the mirror, the good side will go all the way out. The arthritic side will maybe stop midway. Same thing behind the back. The arthritic side will stop halfway. The one will go along the back. That’s an arthritic shoulder.
Typically, our bursitis shoulder will move freer, but we just have pain. The quickest way is to check an X-ray. An X-ray is a simple test that takes 30 seconds. It’s very cheap, less than $100. Then, you can tell instantly if the person has arthritis or not.
If it’s a normal X-ray and you’re going to look at bursitis versus cuff tear, the next step is an ultrasound for us in the office. We can go another 30 seconds and figure that out. So, if you want to know, you need to go in to see a doctor who specializes in shoulders. They’ll be able to tell you very quickly what your problem is.
Get expert care for your shoulder issues. Book an appointment with Dr. Kevin Kruse at (469) 717-6183.