Shoulder pain affects thousands of athletes yearly. Swimmers and throwers often develop overuse injuries such as impingement, bursitis or rotator cuff tendonitis. Falls in football, soccer or basketball can result in sudden pain from joint separation, shoulder dislocation, fractures, or rotator cuff injury. Thankfully, many treatment options are available before surgery becomes necessary.
Possible Causes of Shoulder Pain
There are many possible causes of shoulder pain, depending on what sport you play and how you use your shoulder on a daily basis.
- Rotator cuff tendinitis is the swelling of the tendons that help move your shoulder joint.
- Impingement syndrome is when the rotator cuff gets caught between two bones, the acromium and humeral head.
- Torn cartilage or rotator cuff
- Arthritis
- Bone spurs
- Pinched nerve
- Broken bones
- Frozen or dislocated shoulder
Shoulder Pain Treatment
At Remedy Sports and Regenerative Medicine, Dr. Rolnik collects a detailed history of the injury and performs a shoulder examination. In some cases she offers in-office ultrasound diagnostic testing to determine the origin of the problem. She then develops an individualized treatment plan to help your shoulder heal as quickly as possible.
There are some ways you can aid the healing process at home. Ice the shoulder 3-4 times a day for 15-20 minutes. Rest it as much as possible and try to avoid moving your arms over your head. You can also use over-the-counter medication for pain relief.
Other treatments Dr. Rolnik may prescribe are a sling or shoulder immobilizer, plus physical or occupational therapy to help you recover full range of motion. These therapies involve exercises such as rotating or stretching the shoulder, plus building muscle to recover shoulder strength.
If you feel consistent pain in your shoulder, don’t ignore the messages your body is sending you. If left untreated, shoulder injuries can become more serious, especially if you continue the activities that aggravated the injury in the first place. Whether it’s the sudden, sharp pain of a cracked bone or torn tendon, or just a chronic ache, come to Remedy Sports and Regenerative Medicine right away to get your shoulder pain assessed and treated.
