The three most important types of shoulder pain we treat in acupuncture are:

• Scapular periartritis (frozen shoulder)
• Supraspinatus tendinitis
• Biceps tendinitis

Scapular periartritis

Retractile capsulitis, frozen shoulder, "fifties shoulder", "shoulder wind exposed"

• Acute phase: acute pain day and night
• Chronic phase: adhesions begin (limited mobility: internal-external rotation and abduction). Pain more limited.
• Third phase: remission. There may be sequelae where complete movement is not recovered.

Acute phase

We prioritize calming the pain. Functional rehabilitation is essential.

With so much pain, all channels passing through the shoulder may be affected. It may be a Bi Syndrome of cold or heat...

First treatment

• Experience points for unblocking: with the patient seated, we needle and stimulate ST-38, GB-34 of the leg opposite the affected shoulder. While stimulating, we ask the patient to move the shoulder. A few minutes. Then we remove the needles and the patient lies down to continue treatment

To move the energy of the shoulder

• First Tai Yin: LU-5, LU-2
• Then Shao Yin (hinge): HT-1, HT-3
• Yang Ming (to ascend Tai Yin): LI-15, LI-14 (palpate first), LI-11, LI-2
• Shao Yang (hinge, so yang ming can descend): TE-14, TE-10, GB-34, TE-5
• Tai Yang: SI-13, SI-11, SI-10, SI-9, SI-6, SI-3, BL-62

The result takes about 10 sessions, twice a week. In acute phase it can be treated every day until the pain subsides.

If very inflamed, Electro-stimulation can be used (analgesic effect).

It gives good results to add moxibustion and cupping. And auriculotherapy (palpate shoulder area, and cervical area, anti-inflammatory points, shen men). And scalp acupuncture.

Supraspinatus tendinitis

Many times supraspinatus tendinitis is added to the shoulder problem. It usually affects middle-aged people: the patient experiences pain when making abduction movement, between 60 and 120 degrees, above that it no longer hurts.

• Points: LI-1 (Jing Point for the muscle-tendon), Ashi (within the tendon), TE-12, LI-16, LI-15, LI-14, LI-11, LU-7 + LI-4 (luo-yuan, biao-li). Heated needle better than electro.

Biceps tendinitis

Other times it may be related to biceps tendinitis. Palpating the bicipital groove there is great pain. Contrasting the flexion of the arm evidences the pain.

• Points: LU-5, Jian Qian or Jian Nei Ling (curious point), LU-9, LU-3, LU-10. If outward rotation is painful, add large intestine points.

If it does not give results with the main channels, try with the 8 Curious Channels involved with the shoulder:

• Yang Qiao Mai
• Yang Wei Mai
• Du Mai - cervicobrachial conflict. GV-14