Shoulder pain is a common condition and it can be caused by a range of different things. Furthermore, the most common symptoms of shoulder pain are also indicative of a different, underlying condition. Shoulder pain, in other words, is often a symptom of a different problem.
Understanding the Common Causes of Shoulder Pain:
Shoulder pain can be caused by a variety of different things, including:
– Maintaining a poor posture
– Having a frozen shoulder, which is a painful affliction in which the regular range of movement of the joint is significantly affected. Sometimes, it can stop movement completely.
– Rotator cuff disorders, which affect the tendons and muscles of the shoulder joint, designed to keep it stable and in position
– Shoulder instability, often caused by hypermobility, which means that the range of movement of the joint is unusually large
– Acromioclavicular joint disorders and conditions, which include osteoarthritis. This type affects the joint at the top of the shoulder, known as the acromioclavicular joint.
– Osteoarthritis affecting the shoulder joints
– Fractures to the shoulder area, including the collarbone or the humerus, which is the bone in the upper arm
There are many other conditions that can cause shoulder pain as well. Furthermore, it is possible for the pain to be caused by a problem in a completely different part of the body. It is common, for instance, for people with an injured neck to experience pain in their upper back and shoulder.
Treating Shoulder Pain:
There are many forms of at home treatment that you can try to help with joint pain. However, do make sure that you look over your personal symptoms and see how they compare with the common symptoms of shoulder pain. While it is rare for this type of pain to be an emergency, it is possible that a medical condition lies at the heart of it, which will need to be treated.
In terms of at home treatment, over the counter remedies such as ibuprofen and paracetamol are popular, safe, and effective. You may also want to try ice packs to lower inflammation, or heat packs to relax the muscles. While you should not fully immobilize the joint unless told to do so, you do have to take it a little beat easy, enabling yourself to heal.
Further treatment may be required, depending on your shoulder problem. Some common forms of treatment offered to those with shoulder pain include:
– Physiotherapy
– Corticosteroid injection
– Surgery
Most of the time, the common symptoms of shoulder pain simply disappear. If the pain is very severe and you do seek medical treatment, make sure that you follow all the instructions provided so that you get the most out of your medication and referrals.
If you believe that an injury caused your shoulder pain, you should go see a physician, particularly if it does not get any better with rest or over the counter remedies. Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for people to develop a chronic back pain problem. Additionally, some of the signs and symptoms will require lengthy treatment, sometimes as much as 18 months.