Any sort of pain is never fun, but shoulder pain especially can cause a hindrance to daily activities. It can be difficult to work or even pick up your cup of coffee in the morning if you?re experiencing pain. There are many different causes of shoulder pain and each cause could require different treatments so it?s important to establish what the underlying cause is. This article talks about some common causes of shoulder pain, home remedies, and treatment for chronic shoulder pain.
Common Causes of Shoulder Pain
- Injury to muscles, tendons, or ligaments
- Arthritis
- Broken collarbone or shoulder blade
- Rotator cuff injury
- Injury caused by whiplash
- Tendonitis or other inflammation
All of these injuries or conditions can cause shoulder pain, neck pain, and even lower back pain. It?s important to see a doctor to confirm the exact cause of your pain to ensure you get the correct treatment. Since pain is subjective, it?s important to communicate with your doctor and accurately describe the pain you are experiencing so they can properly diagnose the issue. Your doctor may diagnose the problem by looking at your medical history, performing a physical exam, or conducting tests like x-rays or ultrasounds.
At-Home Remedies for Shoulder Pain
- Placing ice on the sore area
- Placing heat on the sore area (after the first week)
- Rest: excessive movement could cause further damage (for more serious injuries, a splint or sling may be required)
- Using medication to reduce the pain
Make sure to talk to your doctor if the pain persists or if the area remains swollen or stiff. This could indicate a more serious issue that could require more advanced treatment.
Chronic Shoulder Pain Treatment
Chronic pain is pretty common: over 1.5 billion people worldwide reported having chronic pain. Chronic shoulder pain could be caused by various reasons like an injury or an illness. It can?t be treated by just icing and resting the sore area since chronic pain lasts for at least a few weeks. Most cases could require further treatment including:
- Prescription Medications
- Physical Therapy
- Surgery
- Injections or acupuncture
Depending on the condition, your physician may recommend various other treatment options.
Research is constantly being done to further examine why shoulder pain happens, how to prevent it, how to develop new medicines and procedures to help those who suffer from shoulder pain, and how to improve surgical procedures.
