There are times when you know exactly what caused that pain in your shoulder like someone bumped hard into you during a rough game of Rugby in the afternoon and you felt it before dinner at night. There are times when you wake up in the morning, felt that stiffness but aren’t quite sure where this came from.
There are times when you do absolutely nothing, maybe a rub here and there every now and then and the pain goes away on its own. There are times when you pop a pill then it’s gone a few minutes later.
But there are times when you need to consult with an expert in Top physio in Prahran already because it has bothered you for weeks or, worse, has incapacitated you from doing your everyday chores.
What Causes Shoulder Pain?
This is one of the first questions which a physiotherapist will ask you when you do visit them because of your shoulder pain. It is so important since they will be able to figure out the right mode of treatment based on the cause. The existence of shoulder pain comes with a number of reasons. Depending on the cause, the physiotherapist will be able determine what method of treatment is best to treat the problem.
You should understand that pain and discomfort can be experienced during the treatment process however, physiotherapist will ensure that these fall within the boundaries of your tolerance to pain. From the onset of therapy up to the last session, you will experience healing and cure the pain gradually disappears. For as long as you are compliant to therapist’s advice, treatment can possibly take a shorter time frame.
Once they have an idea what went on before the symptoms arose, they will be able to figure out what anatomic part of the shoulder was affected. Here are examples of shoulder issues and their corresponding remedies:
Rotator Cuff
Due to: Overhead throwing, swimming, lifting
The Inconvenience:
When left untreated, it could lead to: Tendonitis or the inflammation of tendons, Bursitis or the inflammation of the shoulder bursa, muscle tears
The Remedy:
Application of cold packs three to four times a day is useful. NSAIDs like Naproxen and Ibuprofen can help. Massage treatment and physical therapy as carried out by a specialist will get rid of the pain most effectively. In here, you must ensure to complete the given therapy sessions required to be able to reach full recovery.
Frozen Shoulder
Due to: Unknown, but usually arises after an injury or a post-surgical symptom
The Inconvenience:
The pain could last for months, graded very high during the first few weeks then gradually diminishes as the days go by.
The Remedy:
Pain relief is the number one goal during the early stage of the injury. Decreasing the inflammation is important too. Physical therapy is required to alleviate the pain through a number of sessions within a month.
Dislocated Shoulder
Due to: Here, the ball of the shoulder slipped out of its socket, usually due to sports injuries. It is quite similar to Separated Shoulder wherein the ligaments holding the collarbone and the shoulder are torn.
The Inconvenience:
You will need to go to the emergency room and have this fixed by the doctor. For the latter condition, a sling might have to be worn for a month.
The Remedy:
Immobilizing the shoulder is the first aid for this. Bringing them to the hospital is a must because no one else can really deal with this condition but a doctor. An orthopedic is a specialist who deals dislocated bone problem and various fracture issues. Hence, he or she is the best person to search in a hospital ER. Physical therapy comes after the treatment and this is usually recommended by the physician-in-charge.
Those are only some of the most common causes of Shoulder Pain. There are several others. As mentioned, there are times when an ice pack and a pain killer will do the job to ease the pain and there are instances wherein the experts should be consulted immediately.
Whatever it is, once the first aid remedy has been administered, it is essential that the patient undergoes physiotherapy. This won’t just get rid of the symptoms completely, it will also help restore the optimal functioning of the affected body part.