Experiencing Shoulder pain? Here's when the Patient Should Consult a Doctor.
February 13, 2023Shoulder pain doesn't often seem an alarming concern. However, ask someone who experiences severe shoulder pain that affects one's quality of life. The shoulders are the body's most complicated joints. For minor injuries and pain, a person might be able to manage the pain themselves, but it must not substitute professional consultation. The individual must consult a doctor for the correct diagnosis and the right course of treatment.
Common Reasons for Shoulder Pain
- Strain: Overuse or a dramatic increase in usage might strain the shoulders' muscles.
- Sprain: The ligaments keeping the joint together can be strained or torn after a fall, especially if a person lands on an outstretched hand. This results in a sprained shoulder.
- Frozen Shoulder: The person could find it impossible to lift or move their arm away from their torso because their shoulder is too stiff. Scar tissue can cause a frozen shoulder, or it might just happen for no apparent reason.
- Tendinitis: The tendons may itch and swell due to repetitive actions.
- Bursitis: The little sacs packed with fluid that keep a person's bones from rubbing against other portions of their shoulder develop inflammation and discomfort, which is when bursitis starts.
- Separation: If a person's shoulder has been hit with a lot of force or if you fall on it, it might detach. Stretched or torn ligaments connect their shoulder to their collarbone.
- Dislocation: When the shoulders separate and dislocate, respectively. The humerus ball can be forced out of the shoulder socket by a powerful impact on the shoulder. A whole or partial dislocation is possible.
Treatment of shoulder pain at home
Most of the time, shoulder discomfort may be treated at home unless an injury or accident requires medical attention. Most of the time, reducing shoulder activity is sufficient to relieve shoulder pain brought on by repetitive use. The longer the person persists in activity, the more harm their shoulder structure may get and the more discomfort they may experience.
The most common as well as most effective home treatment recommendations are as follows:
1. Put a pause on the activity that is straining your shoulders
A person should decrease their activities and avoid repeated actions that they know may have caused them discomfort. If their shoulder pain is the result of a sports or training injury, they need to consult with their coach or trainer about the injury and make amends in it accordingly to ensure it doesn't get worse.
2. Apply ice to the pain area
For a patient with shoulder pain adding ice to their pain area for 10-20 minutes several times a day can help them relieve their pain. This is one of the best home remedies for internal pain and strain in the body.
3. Heat / Warm packs
Warm packs benefit aching, tendons, muscles and ligaments, and minor injuries that do not produce substantial swelling. Heat increases blood flow to the region, which aids healing and relieves tension in the patient's pain area.
Over-the-counter pain medications may also be beneficial in lowering inflammation and discomfort for the patient with shoulder pain.
When to consult a doctor in case of Shoulder Pain?
The patient should contact the doctor for shoulder pain in the following scenarios.
- If the pain is still on the rise, even after resting properly and restricting themselves from activities that might have caused the pain.
- Pain hasn't decreased even when they are not using their arms.
- Pain intensity or kind changes, for example, from aching to intense pain.
- Pain is followed by weakness, numbness, or paralysis of the arms.
- The pain returns when they begin activities like rushing up or carrying anything heavy.
- They have a new swelling or hump on or around the shoulder.
Some of the shoulder pain symptoms necessitate same-day treatment. If the person has shoulder discomfort but no evident damage, they should visit their doctor as soon as possible. If the pain is so severe that they are having trouble even moving their arms or shoulders or feel a sensation in their arm, the person needs to see their doctor immediately.
Or the patient can also book an appointment through Apollo Spectra Hospitals’ official website, have an online consultation with the best doctors from all over the country or visit the nearest Apollo Spectra Hospitals for the best consultation and treatment.
Request an appointment at Apollo Spectra Hospitals, Call 18605002244
Two factors usually cause shoulder discomfort. Overusing your shoulder may result in a rotator cuff injury, such as repeated use syndrome. A vehicle accident or sports injury can cause severe damage to the shoulder joint and its surrounding ligaments.
The main sign of shoulder discomfort is immobility. This is caused by shoulder muscle inflammation and swelling, which prevents the person from moving their shoulder.
In general, an orthopaedic surgeon will try to cure shoulder discomfort non-surgically before recommending surgery. A physician may offer the patient any non-surgical therapy choices for their shoulder discomfort based on their personal and family medical history, physical examination, and relevant diagnostic test findings.