Through Pain Relief Institute of America
There are many causes of chronic shoulder pain. The most common are rotator cuff tendonitis or cystitis. Rotator cuff tendonitis occurs when tendons become inflamed. Cystitis is also an inflammatory disease on the shoulder, but this is because inflammation is caused by the growth of the liquid-filled sac. Neurological problems, such as cervical radiculopathy, IE, nerve impacts along the cervical spinal cord, can also cause weak movement of the shoulder.
Other causes of shoulder pain include osteoarthritis in the joint, overuse, injury to nearby tendons such as biceps, poor posture, tear of the rotator cuff, dislocation, dislocation, and fracture of the shoulder bone. No matter your age, tendon tears will occur. However, for the elderly, any overwork, weight lifting or drops can lead to serious injuries and damage due to degeneration of rotator cuff fibers. It is important for older people to pay attention to this decline in their shoulders, rather than attending activities that may aggravate tears.
Your shoulder pain should Usually, once you heal from these different causes, it can be resolved. Therefore, it is important to be proactive. Support your pain by changing your activities and daily activities, or, if it persists, contact your doctor.
The treatments that are usually available are those tailored to the specific cause of your pain. They range from conservative to invasive, depending on how your body responds to each therapy. Fortunately, many “conservative treatments” are things you can do at home and may be enough to relieve your pain.
Tip #1 Drugs and topical
You can take over-the-counter medications, such as acetaminophen or Tylenol, to relieve pain and/or NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen or naproxen, to relieve any inflammation, thereby improving your pain. Using topical use of anti-inflammatory can also be an effective treatment for pain relief. Topical nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as diclofenac (such as voldaene) may also help.
If over-the-counter and topical medications are insufficient, you should see a doctor who can prescribe more powerful medications to reduce inflammation and pain. Your doctor may even recommend injections on your shoulders to completely numb the area.
Tip #2 Ice and calories
Alternating between calories and ice is a very effective tool for alleviating inflammation and sootheing shoulder pain. First, place the ice on your shoulder for 15 minutes, then move the ice for 15 minutes. You can do this at least 3 to 4 times a day, up to three days.
Try to use cloth or obstacles between direct contact with ice and shoulders to avoid frostbite. Otherwise, alternate between ice and heat; allowing the heat to relieve pain. If your pain continues or worsens, despite keeping ice and heat locally, it’s time to see a doctor. They may look at more invasive options based on your pain and how long it lasts.
Tip #3 Stretch, Enhance, and Exercise
In particular, if you have rotator cuff problems, you should learn to exercise to stretch and strengthen the tendons and shoulder muscles. You can do this yourself or refer to a physical therapist who can do the exercises so you can try it at home.
Otherwise, stretching and strengthening the surrounding muscles can also support your shoulder pain. Stretch your neck, arms and back muscles. If you have inflammation, such as recovering from tendinitis, try to do range of motion every day to avoid locking your shoulders in place; this way you can avoid losing range of motion or exacerbating pain. You can also work with a physical therapist who can teach and show you the exercises that best support you.
There are some illnesses and problems that you should avoid exercising or stretching your shoulders. If your shoulders are completely dislocated, you must put them back in place before any activity is performed. If you experience a severe rotator cuff tear, you may not get the benefit from doing physical exercise. Unfortunately, if you experience tears, the only option may be surgery.
However, routine exercise is very helpful in relieving chronic shoulder pain. Not only does it usually cause less inflammation in the body, it also strengthens other muscles so you don’t put too much pressure on your shoulders.
Tip #4 Take a break
Rest is one of the best ways your shoulders can recover from pain. It may take at least four weeks for your shoulders to start feeling better. At the same time, try not to over-extend or over-use your shoulders to strengthen or restore your chronic shoulder pain.
You should also not stop participating and moving your shoulders altogether. This is how you can get “freezing shoulders” where you can lose mobility or it will become stiff from not using it. However, you should avoid any hard activities or participate in any heavy work. Even if your shoulders may feel better, you can slowly get back to your daily routine.
Tip #5 Focus on changing your activities
When you suffer from chronic shoulder pain, you should consider changing routines to relieve stress in your life. Stress not only increases the pain you may experience; when you feel stressed, cortisol levels increase, increasing inflammation in the body. Reduce stress levels by meditating, doing yoga or doing anything that improves overall well-being.
This also includes changing the way you sit or work all day. If you are used to sitting in an office chair without moving, you should stand at your desk. Keep your shoulder stretching active throughout the day and rest more frequently. Plus, when you sit at your desk, you can use a pillow to support the pain in your shoulders. It can be helpful to exercise the posture and roll back along with your shoulders.
If these activities don’t help in two weeks to relieve pain, contact your doctor so they can see if you will be a better candidate for surgery.
