Relief from Shoulder Pain
Shoulder pain can be very debilitating. From keeping you awake at night to stopping you participating in your favorite activities, a painful shoulder can drastically effect your life..
In previous posts we have talked about how a incorrectly functioning shoulder can cause impingement and pain.
While thinking it is essential to have a good understanding of what is occurring in your shoulder and why you are getting pain. I also understand that when you are in pain all you want to do is get out of it.
Today’s post is reviewing some of the common ways medical professionals help relief shoulder pain.
Keep in mind, the way to long term relief is correcting the dysfunction in the shoulder by use of shoulder impingement exercises. But when it is 3am and you can’t sleep because your shoulder is aching it is crucial to have some options to give you temporary relief.
Pain Medication
With shoulder impingement it is common to also have a tendonitis or bursitis. Basically that means an irritated or inflamed tendon or bursa. For more information on these terms click here to read the Shoulder Joint post.
For this reason the anti-inflammatory group of medications often give the best relief from shoulder pain. These are commonly referred to as NSAIDs (Non-Steriodal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs). Common over the counter examples are Advil and Aleve. Click here to visit WebMD for more information about NSAIDs
You should always check with your doctor before starting a medication to ensure it is the correct medication for you. Prolonged use of NSAIDs can harm your kidneys.
If your pain is severe you may need a prescription anti-inflammatory from your doctor.
Thermal Relief
Thermal Relief refers to the use of Hot or Cold Packs. Both of these can help with inflammation and pain relief.
Typically cold packs are best in the first 3 weeks after an injury or recent aggravation.
Apply a cold pack directly to the shoulder for 15-20 minutes. Repeat every few hours if pain persists.
Common cold pack options include: wrapping ice in a towel or plastic bag, a frozen bag of vegetables e.g. peas, or a store bought cold pack.
Heat is usually more effective relaxing tight muscles and reducing pain but only if the pain has been present for more than 3 weeks.
Even though it is called a Heat Pack, it is not meant to cook you. The heat should only be a mild comfortable warmth.
Once again 15-20 minutes is ideal.
Common heat pack options are a heating pad, store bought microwavable heat pack, or a hot water bottle wrapped in towels.
Electrical Stimulation
Electrical stimulation is a very effective modality commonly used in Physical Therapy clinics to help relieve shoulder pain.
Here’s how it works. Basically your nerves are like a series of electrical wires. Pain is sent to the brain via the nerves as a series of electrical impulses.
The electrical stimulation sends a current through your shoulder at the same frequency that pain is carried at in the nerves. It interferes with the pain signal and thus the brain doesn’t register the pain.
The electrical stimulation also helps increase localized circulation thus facilitating healing.
When applied properly all you should feel is a pleasant pins & needles, tingly sensation. It should not be painful or too strong.
Ultrasound
Ultrasound is another modality commonly used in Physical Therapy to decrease inflammation, pain and facilitate healing.
Ultrasound is a certain frequency sound wave.
Basically the ultrasound helps increase localized circulation, flushing out the inflammation and bring new nutrients to the area to help with healing.
What you feel with ultrasound is the transmission head moving around on your shoulder and the coldness of the gel. The gel is required to aid penetration of the sound wave into your skin. Sometimes you will feel some warmth from ultrasound but it should never be painful or too hot.
I hope these have provided you with some shoulder pain relief ideas for when you shoulder next plays up.
The next post will review the diagnostic tests to confirm if your shoulder pain is really due to a shoulder impingement.
