How to Deal with Shoulder Pain
- Posted on: Jun 15 2021
Have you done something to your should that has caused it to hurt? If you have and the pain doesn’t seem to be going away, you need to see a doctor as soon as you can. However, in the meantime, there are a few things you can do to deal with this pain and prevent it from getting worse.
Rest Your Shoulder
First, it’s important that you don’t do anything to further injure your shoulder. Rest your shoulder as much as you can. Try to avoid stretching up to reach for items or lifting anything really heavy. If the pain increases while doing an activity, stop immediately. When the pain has decreased, go slow when you begin resuming your normal activities so you don’t re-injure the shoulder.
Use Ice
Icing your shoulder will reduce inflammation and can help with pain. You’ll want to wrap ice in a towel or other cloth—do not place ice on your skin without some kind of barrier in between. Ice your shoulder for 15 minutes at a time, with at least 15 minutes in between applications. You can use ice on your shoulder three to four times within a 24-hour period. If after three days you aren’t seeing any improvement, you need to see a doctor.
Use Heat for Tense Muscles
If your shoulder is stiff and the muscle hurts, you can try heat. This will help relax the muscle and relieve some of the pain. If you know you have arthritis in your shoulder, heat is a good option. A heating pad or a heated gel pack can be used regularly.
Use Over-the-Counter Medication
Ibuprofen and acetaminophen are two over-the-counter medications that will help you with the pain and with inflammation. Take them as directed, and be certain that you aren’t mixing medications in any dangerous way. If you already take medication for chronic pain or are on a number of medications that may not mix well with pain pills, talk to your doctor before you use anything.
If you continue to have pain or if the pain gets worse, you need to see an expert. The team here at Maximum Orthopedics can help you with any type of shoulder pain. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.
Posted in: Blog, Orthopedics, Work Injuries