Calcium Deposits - Causes And Treatments

By: Graham Lavery


Calcium deposits can be experienced by people in different parts of their bodies and they cause the hardening of bones and soft tissues. Even if, at first, the deposits are soft, in time, they become quite hard. They mostly appear on the shoulder. Calcium deposits are not harmful from the start. They are not even noticed in the beginning. But, in time, as the accumulation grows bigger and bigger, some pain appears. Here are some facts you need to know about calcium deposits, including causes and treatments.

Causes of the calcium deposits

Unfortunately, an exact cause of the calcium deposits has not been identified yet. A logical answer would be the calcium intake from food or supplements. As you know, calcium is very important for the health of the human body. Some patients, older people and menopausal females must have at least 1000 mg calcium intake a day from diet and supplements. So you cannot reduce calcium intake as a form of treatment against calcium deposits.

The victims

Women are usually more affected than men by calcium deposits. In regards of age, those between age 35 to 65 are the most affected.

Problems

The main problem caused by calcium deposits is the pain experienced by the affected person. As said before, when the deposit gets quite big, pain appears, but even when the deposits are little, they may get inflamed and they can cause pain when the calcium salt leaks from a cut to the soft tissue covered in calcium.

Another problem that can be caused by calcium deposits is some damage that can occur to the tendon's rotator cuff, when the deposit is on the shoulder. But, usually, the calcium deposits only cause pain as they tend to remain on the exterior part of the rotator cuff tendon.

Calcium deposits are soft at first. Their consistency is like that of a toothpaste, but, in time, as it gets bigger and bigger, the calcium dries up and it becomes more like chalk. You must not imagine that you have a rock on your shoulder but it is enough to experience some pain.

Treatment

There are methods to use the pain experienced from the calcium deposits. When the area is inflamed, use an ice pack and rest the shoulder from any movement, by putting your arm in a sling. Some oral medicines can also help, as well as a cortisone injection that works great for diminishing the pain.

When the pain gets too big and it is experienced for two or three times in a row, it is a sign that the calcium deposits became large and the solution for the patient is an arthroscopic surgery. This is recommended when the need for removing the calcium deposits becomes important.

If you experience way too much pain from calcium deposits, go see your doctor. They will know what method of treatment is the best for you.

Graham Lavery is the Editor and Publisher of Article Click. For more FREE articles for your ezine and websites visit - www.articleclick.com