A shoulder injury is one of the most common injuries. It causes discomfort and affects our everyday activities. Luckily, there are many effective treatment options available for shoulder pain. Learn the effective treatment options for shoulder pain relief in this article. Visit the best Pain Management Clinic in Brooklyn at Doral Health & Wellness or log on to www.doralhw.org.
Treatment options for shoulder pain relief
Shoulder pain treatment depends on the severity of the pain and its underlying cause. Usually, the doctor recommends home treatments first, such as activity modification, rest, ice or heat, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and physical therapy exercises. If home treatments don’t help, doctors resort to more invasive therapies.
Home treatments
Here are the most common home treatments used to treat shoulder pain, including:
- Heat and cold therapy:
Immediately after an injury, a cold compress should be used to reduce inflammation and numb the pain. For the first 24 to 48 hours after the injury, use an ice pack or cold compress on the affected area of the shoulder for 15 to 20 minutes every 3 to 4 hours. This helps to restrict blood flow and prevent further damage to muscles and ligaments. Make sure you don’t ice directly on the skin, as it can give frostbite. Instead, wrap it in a towel or cloth. Once the swelling goes away, switch to heat therapy to smooth blood and oxygen flow. It eases your stiff muscles and joints and begins to heal because heat generates an increase in blood supply that improves cell healing in the injured areas.
- NSAIDs:
These over-the-counter anti-inflammatory drugs are used to reduce pain and swelling in the shoulder and assist in the healing process. These painkillers and muscle relaxants are often taken over the counter and also after a physician consultation, to lower inflammation, promote faster healing, and help in recovery. Make sure you take them under medical guidance to prevent severe side effects.
- Physical therapy:
Physical therapy is used to help you regain your strength and movement in the affected shoulder so that daily life activities such as reaching for items on a high shelf or putting on your shirt become easier without any pain. This includes factors like strengthening the muscle, improving flexibility, and working towards healing the pain. It is also effective in preventing future injuries. A general physical therapy program includes a wide range of exercises that may be performed with a therapist or at home to strengthen and improve the mobility of muscles to support shoulder joints. You may also require some equipment to perform them, and you’ll start noticing improvement in shoulder pain and function in as little as 6 weeks (about 1 and a half months).
Medical treatment
If your shoulder pain doesn’t improve, you should seek medical help. The doctor will diagnose your condition, and based on the underlying cause, you get the appropriate treatment. It includes:
- Dislocated shoulder:
If you have a dislocated shoulder, doctors try to put it back within the socket as quickly as possible to prevent complications. The most common treatment for dislocated shoulders is called a closed reduction or manipulation. It is done in the emergency department to prevent more injuries. Your doctor moves your arm and shoulder back into the right position. Before this procedure, the doctor may give you sedation to make the area numb because it is a painful procedure. Once the shoulder gets back in place, they put a sling to keep it there and keep your arm from pulling on your shoulder, so it doesn’t dislocate again.
After the procedure, ice and over-the-counter pain relievers are used to relieve the pain. You may also need physical therapy to help you move your arm so that your shoulder doesn’t get stiff. Therapy also helps to strengthen the muscles around the shoulder to protect it. If this doesn’t work, you may need surgery to put it back into place.
- Separated shoulder:
To treat separated shoulders, you should use a sling, ice packs, and pain relievers to reduce pain. You also need physical therapy to improve the mobility and strength of the shoulder and surrounding muscles. Your doctor will tell you when you can start lifting things above your head or heavy weights. Surgery for a separated shoulder isn’t common, but you might need it for severe separation.
- Shoulder fracture:
In many cases, shoulder fractures will heal with the use of a sling on the arm. But sometimes, shoulder fractures need surgery to join the bones together and repair any other damage. If the fracture is severe, your doctor may recommend a joint replacement surgery called arthroplasty.
- Rotator cuff tears:
These tears are only repaired with surgery; however, not all rotator cuffs are repairable. If the tear is minor, your doctor will recommend a sling, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), physical therapy, or steroid shots to reduce the pain and improve shoulder functionality.
- Most other injuries:
Besides the first-line treatment which involves rest, taking NSAIDs, physical therapy, and cold or hot therapy, your doctor may recommend a steroid injection to reduce pain and improve functionality. If that doesn’t work, you may need surgery.
When to see a doctor
You should see a doctor if your shoulder pain occurs alongside any of the following:
- Your shoulder appears deformed.
- You are not able to move your arm or use your shoulder.
- The pain is getting worse and becoming unbearable.
- Sudden swelling.
- Difficulty in moving the shoulder.
- The shoulder is getting red, warm, or tender to the touch.
If you have shoulder pain along with chest pain, tightness in the chest, pain radiating to the jaw, sweating, or difficulty breathing, you should seek immediate medical attention because it is a life-threatening emergency.
Shoulders are used in our everyday life, and it is extremely easy to develop shoulder pain. However, you can relieve your shoulder pain effectively by following the above-mentioned treatment options for shoulder pain. If your symptoms don’t get better with home treatments, seek medical help for proper diagnosis and treatment.
Need help with shoulder pain? Visit our pain management clinic in Brooklyn to get professional medical help. Call us to book your appointment now!!!! If your pain needs professional assistance, visit our pain management clinic in Brooklyn today or call to get a consultation. The location at 1797 Pitkin Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11212 is well-served by public transportation, including many bus routes, and the subway line. Visit our website at https://doralhw.org/department/pain-management/ or contact us on +1-347-384-5690 for additional details.
