06 Jun Don’t Be Limited by Shoulder Pain

As a Certified Hand Therapist, I see lots of people each year with shoulder pain. They usually make their way into seeing me after being referred by their doctor because their shoulder hurts. If you are like the majority of my clients, struggling with nagging shoulder pain, you’ve put off seeing a doctor for weeks or even months; prolonging your discomfort. The sooner you see your doctor, the quicker you can begin treatment to resolve the issue.

We can thank our shoulder joints for the flexibility and mobility that allows us to reach up into a cupboard, swing a golf club, swim laps, and even reach behind ourselves to tuck in a shirt or unclasp a bra. These are all shoulder motions we take for granted. Unfortunately, the bones, muscles, and tendons in our shoulders aren’t impervious to overuse, damage, and injury.  Mobility has its price.

The mobility provided by our shoulder joints may decrease and lead to increasing problems with instability or impingement of the soft tissue or bony structures in your shoulder. Even worse, these mobility concerns can lead to tears in the muscles surrounding the shoulder joint that result in pain and lack of motion. More often than not, an over-the-counter medication along with ice can provide relief. But if pain starts to affect your daily life; causing you to struggle to do simple things like bathing, dressing yourself, or shopping at the grocery store, it’s time to see a doctor. More importantly, if you hear a pop or experience a tearing sensation with shoulder joint motion, seek medical help immediately.

There are a few simple ways you can help relieve shoulder pain prior to seeking professional medical help. The following activities will help reduce inflammation, provide some pain relief, and most importantly, help prevent further damage:

• Take over-the-counter pain relievers like acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or naproxen as indicated by a doctor.
• Place ice or a bag of frozen vegetables on the sore areas of the shoulder for 15 to 20 minutes several times a day (Recipe for gel ice pack: 1 part rubbing alcohol to 3 parts of water in a double zip lock bag, placed in freezer for four hours. NOTE: Never place the ice pack directly on your skin.  Always have a towel or two layers of clothing between the ice pack and your skin).
• Get enough rest.

If your shoulder pain doesn’t resolve on its own in one to two weeks, you should make an appointment with your family doctor or an orthopedist who can help you find the right solution to manage your shoulder pain. Putting it off for too long may lead to further injury or damage.

Remember, you are your best advocate, so pay attention to your symptoms and get medical help when you need it. Ask if Hand Therapy would be an appropriate treatment option so that you can get back to doing your everyday activities without the pain.

Article provided by
Kathy Baker, OT, CHT