Shoulder pain is a common problem faced by most of the people these days. Shoulder pain can be caused by different problems and need different treatments according to the diagnosis done by the doctor. We need to understand why one is having a shoulder pain, the origin of it, and then decide the treatment. There are various symptoms and conditions which will help in the diagnosis of shoulder pain. The doctor will have to examine the upper extremity of the body to get the exact cause of the pain. Some of them are listed below:
- Location of pain
- Timing of pain
- Mobility of the shoulder
- Strength of the muscles around the shoulder
- Instability and popping out
- Popping clicking and snapping off the shoulder
Causes of shoulder pain
There can be various causes of shoulder pain. Some of them are listed below:
Bursitis/rotator cuff tendonitis-This is the most common diagnosis and the cause of shoulder pain in the rotator cuff.
Rotator cuff tear- When rotator cuff tears apart, the tendons of the rotator cuff separate from the bone this condition may require a surgery to heal.
Frozen shoulder- When there is stiffness in the joints of the shoulder it leads to frozen shoulder. Physical exercises and stretching are the most important ways to treat this situation.
Calcific tendonitis-We experience pain when calcium deposits within our tendons mainly the rotator cuff tendons. The treatment for this pain depends on the extent of its symptoms.
Shoulder instability- When shoulder joint gets loose it is called instability. It can be caused because of an injury, dislocation or it can be developed naturally also.
Shoulder dislocation- This happens due to some injury when the arm bone gets disconnected from the scapula.
Shoulder separation- this is also known as an AC separation. This kind of injuries results in the disruption of the acromioclavicular joint.
Labral tear- The labrum can be torn in several patterns and the type of the treatment depends on the specific injury.
SLAP tear- It is also a type of labral tear. It is mainly caused when a person falls on an outstretched hand.
Shoulder arthritis- This is a less common cause of shoulder pain. Arthritis mostly happens in the knee or the hip. A joint replacement surgery is required to treat this situation.
Rupturing the Biceps Tendon-It happens when your biceps muscle gets ruptures near the joint area.
When should you see a doctor?
To get relief from shoulder pain, it is important to visit the doctor when the pain doesn’t subside. The treatment of the pain depends on the specific cause of the pain and its symptoms.That should be seen and examined by a doctor. Knowing the signs is important as that will help you get the right treatments for shoulder pain relief.
- Inability to carry objects and use the arm
- Injury that causes deformity of the joint
- Shoulder pain is at its extreme at night and while resting
- Shoulder pain that continues beyond few days
- Inability to raise your arm
- Swelling and significant bruising around the joint or the arm
- Signs of infection which may be fever, redness, and warmth
Treatments to get relief from shoulder pain
The treatment of the shoulder pain depends totally on the cause of the problem. It is very important to understand the cause of the symptoms before starting a treatment program. If unsure of the diagnosis or how severe your condition is medical advice along with a second opinion is a must before beginning a treatment.
The treatments listed below are some of the most common and suitable ones for treating shoulder pains. It may be quite helpful for you too.
Rest – The first and foremost treatment of shoulder pain in a common scenario is to provide rest to the joint and allow inflammation to subside. It is important to keep in mind when resting, that prolonged immobilization can cause frozen shoulder. Rest help you get instant shoulder pain relief.
Ice and heat application– Heat pads and Ice packs are considered as one of the universal treatment for shoulder pain. We can use any of it to soothe our pain. Be careful while using ice and heat packs as continuous use may harm your skin. It is up to you to judge and allow the time of its usage or you can ask a specialist.
Stretching– The muscles and tendons surrounding the joints should be stretched which results in lowering the shoulder pain. A good routine and proper techniques should be established to get relief from shoulder pain.
Physical Therapy– Physical therapy is one of the most important ways to bring down pain levels. A trained physical therapist uses different modalities to increase the strength of the muscles and regain mobility.
Anti-inflammatory medicines– Some medicines are readily available in the market which brings down pain levels considerably.
Cortisone injections- Cortisone is a powerful medication used to treat very high inflammations. It should only be used after consulting a doctor.
Acupressure, acupuncture, meditation, regular exercise, pain management programs accompanied by a well-balanced diet can also bring relief in shoulder pain.
