When you struggle with shoulder pain, everyday tasks that once seemed effortless can turn into impossible chores. The pain and stiffness can limit your sleep quality, keep you from working and cause you to abandon your favorite sports. These questions and answers can help you understand shoulder pain and its treatment.
What Injuries and Disorders Cause Shoulder Pain?
Injuries to the shoulder's complex structures can cause acute pain in the joint. A heavy blow or sharp impact to the shoulder can fracture or dislocate the shoulder bones. During recovery from an injury or surgery, an immobilized shoulder can stiffen up, a problem called adhesive capsulitis.
Chronic disorders and injury syndromes can also cause shoulder pain. Common examples include osteoarthritis (in which the shoulder cartilage deteriorates), bursitis, and repetitive strain injuries to the rotator cuff's muscles and tendons.
What Methods Can Diagnose Shoulder Problems?
Doctors can use a variety of diagnostic techniques to discover the cause of your shoulder pain. X-rays can reveal bone damage or abnormalities, while other imaging techniques such as ultrasound can display subtle soft tissue damage. Your symptoms and medical history can help your doctor reach a conclusive diagnosis.
How Can Treatment Relieve Your Shoulder Pain?
Different kinds of shoulder problems respond to different forms of treatment. Acute shoulder injuries may benefit from hot and/or cold compresses, muscle relaxants, and compression. Your doctor may also prescribe over-the-counter anti-inflammatory drugs to keep the pain and swelling under control.
Recuperation from an acute shoulder injury may call for physical therapy exercises to restore the joint's pain-free mobility. Regular stretching and strengthening exercises also play important roles in chronic shoulder pain treatment. Unresponsive chronic pain and inflammation may call for injections of steroid medications.
How Can You Avoid Future Shoulder Pain?
The first step in avoiding future shoulder pain involves injury prevention. Try to limit repetitive motions that place your shoulders under continuous stress. For instance, move frequently-used tools and supplies from high shelves to a more comfortable level. Continue to keep your shoulder as mobile and fit as possible through exercise.
If you tend to develop shoulder pain, either stop smoking or resist taking up the habit. Smoking can impair blood flow, making shoulder damage harder to recover from.
Don't let pain and stiffness in your shoulder keep you from living your best life. Consult your primary care physician for an exam and, if necessary, a referral to an orthopedic specialist.
For more information, contact a local clinic, like Sports and Orthopedic Specialists.
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