Common Causes and Treatments for a Shoulder Ache
Shoulder ache, particularly chronic or pervasive, can be difficult to diagnose and treat. The numbers of reports of shoulder ache and pain have risen dramatically over the past 10 years, and chiropractor offices are constantly flooded with new patients. If you are experiencing pain and discomfort in your shoulder area, ignoring it may not do anything but exacerbate the situation. Read further to familiarize yourself with common causes and treatments before setting up an appointment with your physician.
Common Causes of Shoulder Ache and Pain
Several factors may result in mild, moderate, or even severe pain in your shoulders. The most common diagnosis given in relation to shoulder pain is bursitis or tendonitis of the rotator cuff. This inflammation and swelling can be very painful at times, but is treatable.
A more severe injury of the rotator cuff may involve actual tearing. The tendons that connect the muscle to the bone may actually separate and need to be reattached. This is easy to diagnose, but the treatment is more involved and may require one of more surgeries to correct the problem.
Frozen shoulder or adhesive capsulitis is another common cause and occurs when the connective tissues that surround the glenohumeral joint become inflamed and grow together with abnormal adhesions. These adhesions greatly restrict your range of motion and can cause chronic pain. Various treatments are available to patients including stretching exercises and steroid injections, but depending on the severity, surgery may be required to cut away the adhesions.
Arthritis, although usually the cause of hip and hand pain, can also be a culprit in regards to your shoulders. Special exercises and physical therapy may help with this, as well as pain medication. In some cases, massage has proven beneficial as well.
Common Treatments
Although treatments will vary from patient to patient depending on severity of injury, certain treatments are common amongst all problems. Rest is the most logical and common form of treatment for a person with shoulder pain. Although keeping your shoulder’s range of motion is beneficial to people suffering from a frozen shoulder, resting torn muscles and tendons is a pivotal part of rehabilitation for your shoulders.
In addition to rest, applying heat or cold is also a good way to help with pain. If you have recently injured your shoulder, applying ice is a great way to reduce and prevent any swelling, and should be applied in 20 minute increments for the next 48 hours.
You should never apply heat right after an acute injury or physical activity however. Heat is used to relax tissue that is affected by chronic conditions that may irritate overused muscles. It’s also a great way to stimulate blood circulation. Never apply heat for more than 20 minutes, and never while you are sleeping. If you use a heating pad, do not lay on it.
Stretching and physical therapy are also common treatments for shoulder ache. Stretching can be done at home, but if you have suffered an injury, it is highly recommended that you seek out a professional to give you a routine to follow. Physical therapy is also beneficial and can increase strength and modality of your shoulders.
If you suffer from bursitis, it is very likely that your doctor will prescribe an anti-inflammatory medicine to you. These are not steroids and are very common for several degrees of shoulder pain.
Cortisone injections are also a popular treatment for shoulder pain. The cortisone treats any inflammation in your shoulder that may be causing pain. There are certain things you should be aware of, however, regarding cortisone injections, so it is best to discuss it at length with your physician.