How to treat shoulder pain? Causes and possible injuries
Shoulder pain is one of the most common pains that a person can suffer. This is because the shoulder contains an important set of several joints that They combine with tendons and muscles . Beyond their own blows or traumas that a person may suffer, jerks are also quite common.
On the other hand, shoulder injuries are not only associated with athletes. This is because the shoulder is responsible for work a wide range of arm movements and these are the most common, for example, scratching our back. It goes without saying that, in the case of athletes, the shoulder works much more, but it is not necessary to be an athlete to suffer an injury of this type.
Because of the wide range of motion that the shoulder can take, it's pretty easy to tell when it's injured. Pain is the most common cause of any shoulder problem, and it usually presents with a limitation of movement.
In this article Let's take a closer look at shoulder pain . We'll analyze the causes of why it occurs in order to know how to try to prevent it and, in addition, we'll also look at the possible injuries that usually occur regardless of whether it's left shoulder pain or right shoulder pain.
Most common causes of shoulder pain
Although there are many different types of shoulder injuries and pain, the main causes of shoulder pain can be divided into four categories: tendonitis, instability, osteoarthritis and fracture.
These causes are the most common, but are not the only ones . This is because the shoulder can also cause other problems that, although less frequent, also cause pain. In this case, we would be talking about tumors, an infection or any problem that is related to the nerves of the shoulder.
Inflammation of the shoulder tendon
Inflammation of the shoulder tendon is also known as bursitis or tendonitis. This type of injury usually occurs when the shoulder is overused . This is usually the case for workers who perform the same function for a long time, working with their shoulders. For example, people who work on production lines for 8 hours straight and always perform the same movement with their shoulders.
What happens in this case is that inflammation occurs in the bursa that is located between the rotator cuff of the shoulder and part of the shoulder blade. producing bursitis . These sacs in the shoulder are known as bursae and are small sacs containing fluid. They are found throughout the body and act as cushions between the bones and soft tissues of the body to reduce friction between them.
The problem is when that bag becomes inflamed and therefore presents as pain . This type of injury makes many daily actions impossible, for example, it will be much more difficult for you to get dressed or comb your hair.
In the case of tendonitis, the inflammation does not occur in the bursa, but in the tendon itself. This type of injury can occur due to tendon wear due to overuse . Just like the sole of a shoe, our tendons wear down over the years as a sign of old age.
Tendinitis can be divided into acute and chronic. In the case of acute tendinitis, it occurs when many overhead activities are carried out. Chronic tendinitis is usually associated with degenerative diseases or repetitive activities.
Instability
Instability occurs in the shoulder when the head of the arm bone is forced out of the shoulder socket. This instability can occur for two main reasons. It can be unforeseen, fruit of an injury or it may also be due to overuse of the shoulder.
On the other hand, the instability does not necessarily have to be complete. A partial dislocation can occur if the ball-and-socket part of the arm only partially comes out of the socket. This is known as subluxation and is obviously less painful than a complete dislocation in which the ball-and-socket part comes out of the socket completely.
Dislocations are more common when the tendons and muscles surrounding the shoulder are torn or loose. This wear and tear can be caused by illness or by the passage of age as is most common .
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is also another symptom that can cause shoulder pain . It is important to keep in mind that there are many types of osteoarthritis, however, the most common is the one that It is known as “wear and tear” osteoarthritis. In this case, symptoms such as stiffness and inflammation begin to appear in middle age and worsen with age.
This osteoarthritis is usually related to jobs that frequently use the shoulder or to the practice of sports associated with it. Other causes of osteoarthritis may be related to rotator cuff tears, infection or inflammation .
Fracture
There is little to explain about fractures, since it is about One of the most common and well-known problems as it also occurs in other parts of the body. Shoulder fractures usually involve the clavicle, humerus and scapula.
These fractures are usually more frequent in older people due to falls and aging of the bones. Likewise, they also They are common in contact sports . A fracture causes severe pain and often leads to swelling and bruising around the shoulder.
Treatments for shoulder pain
Fortunately, there are many different treatments for shoulder pain. The use of one treatment or another It will depend on the type of pain we have. and intensity. For example, treatment for left shoulder and neck pain will not be the same as treatment for left shoulder pain radiating to the arm.
Sometimes it is common for pain in the right shoulder and neck to affect the head. Because this can end up extending to the neck, if the intensity is quite high it is possible that Headaches may occur . For this reason, it is important to address shoulder pain whenever possible, as it also greatly limits our movements.
Prescription of medications
You should never take any medication on your own , it is important that these have always been prescribed by the doctor. In the case of shoulder injuries where there is inflammation, it is quite common to prescribe anti-inflammatories. The prescribed anti-inflammatories will simply be taken following the doctor's instructions to try to reduce the pain.
When the pain is very severe, it is also possible to carry out drug injections. These injections are one of the most popular ways to get rid of shoulder pain in 3 seconds, as they act directly on the affected area, numbing it and relieving the pain completely, as if it were anesthetized.
It is also important to be cautious in these cases. Even if you do not feel pain, you must be careful with mobility or you could aggravate the injury over time.
Change of activity
Activity change is one of the most conservative treatments for shoulder pain. This treatment usually requires rest and also adds specific physical therapy such as shoulder pain exercises for the purpose of improve shoulder strength and flexibility.
The solutions implemented during this treatment involve avoiding excessive effort, since this is what can cause pain in the shoulder.
Surgery
This is the last solution that would be carried out to try to solve a shoulder pain problem . To give you an idea, only 10% of patients Those who come with severe shoulder pain require this surgery, since they usually respond to simpler treatments such as changing activities, rest or anti-inflammatory medications.
Home remedies for shoulder pain
You may have shoulder pain from a pinch or a minor blow. When shoulder pain is not recurrent and is fairly mild, Sometimes it is not even necessary to go to the doctor . This means not receiving any treatment from professionals, but it does not exempt us from taking all kinds of actions that allow us to relieve shoulder pain.
One of the first measures that we recommend you take is to apply ice to the shoulder area. With the ice What you are going to achieve is to reduce inflammation and therefore cushion the pain. In this case we recommend that you do 15-minute sessions .
A rather interesting trick is to use a bag of frozen peas. Because of the anatomy of peas, the bag will adapt perfectly to the shape of the shoulder, so the cold will be distributed evenly throughout it. Apply this ice solution for about 15 minutes and then remove it for the same amount of time. Do this about 3 or 4 times a day for 3 days. The most important thing in this case is to Never apply ice directly to the skin , it should always be wrapped in plastic or cloth.
You can combine the use of ice with ibuprofen, since it is a powerful anti-inflammatory It does not require a prescription and can be easily purchased at a pharmacy. On the other hand, it is clear that you should be careful when working with your shoulder. It is best to opt for rest and regain mobility little by little.
Even though you may feel fine from ice or ibuprofen, Rest your shoulder for a few days . Gradually regain mobility by performing circular movements or lifting light or medium weights.
During this time, you should pay special attention to your posture. If you spend a lot of time sitting, try to find a position in which your back is straight and your shoulders are aligned. Be careful when lying on the sofa since you must always maintain the posture in an appropriate position.
Finally, perform recovery exercises when you feel better from the pain. You can practice exercises that help you strengthen the tendons. With this strengthening Not only will you speed up recovery , but you will also be stronger when it happens again.