Give Shoulder Pain the Cold Shoulder

Shoulder pain is a very common problem. In fact, if you live long enough, you’ll probably experience it at some point — but that doesn’t mean shoulder pain should be ignored.

“When shoulder pain persists for more than a couple weeks or interferes with daily activities, it needs to be checked out,” says Dr. Vandit Sardana, a board-certified, fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon at Beaufort Memorial Orthopaedic Specialists. “Most people will stop using their shoulder when they develop pain, but that’s the wrong thing to do.”

Read More: Joint Pain Q&A with Dr. Edward Blocker

What’s Causing Your Shoulder Pain

As the most mobile joint in your body, your shoulder has more range of motion than any other joint. This exceptional amount of movement is made possible thanks to the rotator cuff.

Inside the rotator cuff is a ball-shaped upper arm bone, which rests inside the shoulder blade. Muscles and tendons keep these bones in place. Most of the time, the rotator cuff works flawlessly. You can pick items up, rake leaves and perform other daily tasks without a second thought. But damage to any part of your rotator cuff can result in shoulder pain.

The No. 1 cause of shoulder pain is age-related wear and tear of the rotator cuff. Over time, this wear and tear can result in worn tendons, bone spurs (development of excess bone) and other painful conditions. Other common causes of shoulder pain include:

• Arthritis
• Bad posture
• Dislocated shoulder
• Repetitive movements, such as throwing a ball or reaching overhead at work
• Traumatic injuries, such as falls or automobile accidents

Read More: Exercise for Arthritis: Move More, Hurt Less

Finding Shoulder Pain Relief

When shoulder pain sets in, you may be tempted to protect your painful shoulder from further pain by not moving it. However, this can lead to stiffness and more discomfort.

“Unless you have a broken bone, you shouldn’t immobilize your shoulder,” Dr. Sardana says. “If you wind up with a frozen shoulder, your problem will be much more difficult to treat.”

Instead of immobilizing your shoulder, try stretching. If your right shoulder hurts, place your right hand behind your back (the back of your hand should rest on or just above the small of your back). Using your left hand, gently pull your head to the left until you feel a slight stretch in your right shoulder. Reverse the stretch if your left shoulder hurts. A little pain is OK, but stop if the pain is extreme.

To reduce shoulder pain and increase your range of motion, consider taking an anti-inflammatory medication. Over-the-counter options, such as naproxen or ibuprofen, are fine to start with. If your pain persists, your doctor can give you a cortisone shot that may help. This provides immediate relief that allows you to exercise and strengthen the shoulder muscles, which helps prevent future pain.

In rare cases when these steps don’t bring shoulder pain relief, your physician may order an MRI exam. This gives your physician a clear view of what’s going on inside your shoulder. An MRI also helps determine if your shoulder pain is related to problems in other areas, such as your neck and back, and if surgery is required to repair a torn rotator cuff.

Has your shoulder been hurting for two weeks or longer?

Find an orthopedic specialist at Beaufort Memorial who can get to the bottom of your problem.