Are you worried about your Shoulder Pain?
Apart from injury, there are conditions that may cause pain in your shoulder like heart disease or gallbladder disease. It is also possible to experience referred pain, that is pain that originates in another area of the body. For example, women with an ectopic pregnancy may experience pain in their shoulder. Although it is important to note than if you are experiencing referred pain, it is unlikely to cause mobility issues or increased pain when manipulating the joint.
If you have been experiencing moderate pain or discomfort in your shoulder for several weeks and need to know what to do to help alleviate it, it may help to follow some of the advice listed below.
- Even if it is uncomfortable, try to remain active, immobility may hinder the healing process
- Try completing some gentle shoulder exercises. You can find a list of suitable exercises to try on the chartered society of physiotherapy website
- Use a cushion to help support your back and shoulders when sitting down or try supporting the arm in a similar way
- Take over the counter pain relief like paracetamol or ibuprofen or try pain relief gels that you can rub directly on to affect area
- Avoid strenuous activities that may exacerbate your condition
If the pain you are experiencing is because of an accident it is likely that you will need to see a doctor to rule out a serious injury, such as broken bones, torn ligaments, or muscles. The doctor will perform a physical examination and if required, further tests like an X-Ray or MRI. Treatments will depend upon your individual diagnosis, but possible treatments may include stronger medication, physiotherapy, or referral for specialist treatment or surgery. In cases where serious injury has been ruled out, but the pain or discomfort leaves you with reduced mobility it is likely you will require several weeks of rehabilitation exercises before you see any tangible improvement, however, sometimes it may take up to 6 months or more before the injury is fully healed. If you are unsure whether your shoulder pain warrants further medical consultation, the list below lists symptoms that require you to consult a doctor.
- If you are experiencing a sudden onset of high level pain in your shoulder
- If you have experienced pain in your shoulder for more than a few weeks without any improvement
- If the pain in your shoulder has significantly affected your quality of life
- If you have very limited movement or cannot move your arm at all
- If your shoulder pain is hot or cold to touch
- If you have lost sensation in your arm or hand
- If you develop pin and needles in your arm or hand
- If the area is very badly swollen or the skin is discoloured
- You have a fever or feel unwell
Here at VIDA we have expert clinicians on hand to help diagnose and treat your condition. To find out more about these services, we recommend visiting the following pages:
- Avascular necrosis
- Brachial plexus injury
- Broken arm
- Broken collarbone
- Bursitis (joint inflammation)
- Cervical radiculopathy
- Dislocated shoulder
- Frozen shoulder
- Heart attack
- Impingement
- Osteoarthritis
- Polymyalgia rheumatica
- Rheumatoid arthritis (inflammatory joint disease)
- Rotator cuff injury
- Septic arthritis
- Sprains
- Tendinitis
- Tendon rupture
- Thoracic outlet syndrome
- Torn cartilage