What causes calcium build up in the shoulder

Hello Anon

Thank you for writing.

Hard calcium deposits can form on soft tissue, in this case tendons. Once the calcium deposits are formed, the tendons may become inflamed and cause pain. This inflammation and pain is called calcific tendonitis. This condition usually develops over time. Symptoms typically do not appear until after the calcium has formed. Shoulder pain develops once the calcium deposit begins to be reabsorbed by the body.

The exact cause is unknown. The condition occurs most commonly from wear and tear of the shoulder. Aging also plays a part in its development. It is more common among people over age 40 and it's more common in women.

Most cases of calcific tendonitis resolve over time. Talk with your doctor about the best plan for you. Options include the following:

Medical Treatment
Your medical treatment plan will likely include:

Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
Rest
Heat and/or ice
Physical therapy to strengthen muscles
A steroid (such as cortisone) shot directly into your shoulder—might be used to decrease inflammation and pain
Physical Therapy
Your doctor may send you to a therapist for treatment. A therapist will use different treatments to decrease the pain and inflammation. Possible treatments include:

Ice
Heat
Ultrasound—a device that uses high energy sound waves to decrease pain in soft tissue
Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS)—used to decrease muscle stiffness or spasms
Once the symptoms have started to decrease, you will work with the therapist to strengthen your muscles and increase your range of motion.

Lavage Treatment
Lavage may help flush out the calcium deposits. A needle is placed directly into the shoulder. Normal saline is injected through the needles. The deposits are then broken up for removal.

Shock Wave Therapy
This therapy breaks up deposits by sending sound waves to the shoulder. The body can then reabsorb the smaller pieces. This should decrease symptoms.

Surgery
In some cases, surgery may be done to remove deposits. The procedure is called arthroscopy . It uses small incisions and instruments to view the joint and remove the deposits.

I hope this helps!
Susan