Shoulder Pain: Tips on Pain Relief and Prevention
Definition:
Shoulder pain is an extremely common complaint, and there are many common causes of this problem.
What can I do to kill the pain?
Treatment should help your pain and help you restore your shoulder to normal function.
-Pain relief strategies include active rest (you can and should move your shoulder, but you shouldn't do strenuous activities like lifting heavy objects or playing tennis).
-Ice packs and heat pads are among the most commonly used treatments for shoulder pain.
-Stretching the muscles and tendons.
-Anti-inflammatory medication
-Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory pain medications. Ibuprofen may help reduce inflammation and pain
- Cortisone injection
- Rest and limited overhead activity
When should I call the doctor?
- Inability to carry objects or use the arm
- Injury that causes deformity of the joint
- Shoulder pain that occurs at night or while resting
- Shoulder pain that persists beyond a few days
- Inability to raise the arm
- Swelling or significant bruising around the joint or arm
- Signs of an infection, including fever, redness, warmth
- Any other unusual symptoms
Treatment
Treatment generally involves altering activities, rest and physical therapy to help you improve shoulder strength and flexibility. Medication may be prescribed to reduce inflammation and reduce pain. If medication is prescribed to relieve pain, it should be taken only as directed. Injections of drugs may also be used to treat pain.
Surgery may be required to resolve shoulder problems; however, 90 percent of patients with shoulder pain will respond to simple treatment methods such as altering activities, rest, exercise and medication. Certain types of shoulder problems, such as recurring dislocation and some rotator cuff tears may require surgery.
How do I know my rotator cuff is hurt?
If the rotator cuff is involved, the pain usually is in the front or outside of your shoulder. This pain usually is worse when you raise your arm or lift something above your head. The pain can be bad enough to keep you from doing even the simplest tasks. Pain at night is common, and it may be bad enough to wake you up.
The rotator cuff is a group of muscles and associated tendons that support and give mobility to the glenoid and the humerus. They are composed of the supraspinatous, infraspinatous, subscapularis, and the teres minor muscles.
