How to Manage Shoulder Pain Effectively The shoulder is one of the largest and most complex joints in the body. Shoulder pain refers to any pain that arises in or around the shoulder. The pain in the shoulder may originate in the joint itself or from any of the many surrounding muscles, ligaments or tendons. It usually worsens with activities or movement of the arm or shoulder.
What Causes Shoulder Pain? Severe pain in the shoulder joints is a very common complaint. In many cases, it is caused by the breakdown of soft tissues in the shoulder region. Using the shoulder too much can cause the soft tissue to break down faster as people get older. The pain could also be the result of injury to another location in the body – usually the neck or biceps – in which case it is called referred pain. Strenuous manual labor and vigorous sporting activity can also cause shoulder problems. Being overweight, also puts strain on the joints, which leads to joint issues that cause pain. Some of the common causes of pain in the shoulder are: Torn cartilage Tendon inflammation (bursitis or tendinitis) or tendon tear Muscle or tendon tears Frozen shoulder Dislocations or instability
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Collar or upper-arm bone fractures Broken shoulder bone Bony impingement on the nerves or tendons running through the joint Bone spurs (bony projections that develop along the edges of bones) Overweight Arthritis Synovitis Shoulder pain may be felt in one small spot, across a large area or down the arm.
Diagnosis of Shoulder Problems Shoulder pain can go way on its own, but if it becomes chronic, it is important to seek medical help right away. The first step in diagnosing the cause of the pain would be a thorough assessment of your medical history. The physician will enquire how and when the pain started, how it was treated before, and other questions related to your general health to determine the possible causes of the condition. A comprehensive physical examination involving imaging tests such as X-ray, CT scan, MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), ultrasound and electro diagnostic studies may be conducted to identify the root cause of the problem.
Treatment Methods Treatment of chronic pain would depend entirely on the specific cause of the problem. The main treatment methods include – Anti-inflammatory medication - Over-the-counter pain relievers such as acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB) and naproxen sodium (Aleve) provide temporary relief. Physical therapy – Physical therapy exercises can improve shoulder function, increase strength, restore mobility, and help patients get back to their pre-injury level of activity. The sessions usually include gentle strengthening, stretching, aerobic and isometric exercises. www.hqbk.com
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TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation) - TENS involves the use of low-voltage electric stimulation that interacts with the sensory nervous system to lower or eliminate aches.
Cold and compression therapy – The Game Ready system combines intermittent compression and cold therapies through a control unit to almost any part of the body using flexible wraps. This stimulates tissue healing and reduces pain and swelling.
Preventing Shoulder Injuries Staying in good physical shape with exercises that strengthen your wrist, arm, shoulder, neck, and back muscles will help protect and reduce stress on your shoulder. Maintaining good posture by standing straight and not slumping is important. When you lift something, try not to strain your shoulder. Don’t lift heavy objects. Avoid repeated movements that involve overuse of your arms. For people with shoulder arthritis, weight loss will reduce stress on the joints.
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