6 Treatments To Help With Shoulder Pain

Are you worried about shoulder pain? Is shoulder pain causing you to miss out on life, or stop you from doing things you enjoy? Are you concerned that you may need surgery or pain injections/daily medication for the rest of your life?

In last week’s shoulder pain article, we talked about things that could make shoulder pain worse. This week, we will list out some treatment options that are available to individuals experiencing shoulder pain.

Physical Therapy

Physical therapists are experts in movement, most of them are educated to the doctoral level. Physical therapists help patients by performing physical techniques to help reduce shoulder pain. Some of these physical therapy techniques will help patients control pain without the use of medication, thus helping them to become more active and return to the happenings that once made their lives meaningful and enjoyable.

Massage Therapy

Massages are great for relaxing tight muscles in the neck, shoulder, and spine – helping to reduce pain and allowing for better movement. Many people with shoulder pain consider a weekly massage an important part of their healthcare routine along with other methods of healing and pain relief.

Dry Needling

This technique utilizes tiny needles similar to acupuncture needles to relieve tension in tight trigger points found in the muscles that stabilize the shoulder. Muscle tightness is a common complaint of those individuals who deal with shoulder pain daily. Some individuals experience instant relief post dry needing. It is called “dry” needling because no medicine is injected during this procedure. Because medicine is not used, there are no side effects and few limits on the number of times an individual can be dry needled.

Weight Loss

Excess body weight can have a profound effect on shoulder health. Controlling body weight is an important tool to help reduce or climate shoulder pain. Most people think you must exercise to lose weight and wonder how they will be able to exercise if they have a bad shoulder. The truth is that the best way to lose weight is with diet, not exercise. Even people who are not active can lose weight if they follow a diet plan. For the best possible chance of success, hiring a health coach or other weight loss professional will be beneficial to help plan your daily diet and keep you accountable throughout your journey to better health.

Medication and Shots

Many medications are available both over the counter and through a doctor’s prescription. Medications work by reducing pain sensations, reducing inflammation or even lubricating the shoulder to help improve mobility. Your doctor may decide to inject medication directly into the shoulder if that is the best option. Most medications have some risks and side effects with either short or long term use and may interact with other medications. It’s a good idea to discuss these risks with your doctor or pharmacist prior to using medication.

Surgery

Many different surgeries exist to help solve the problem of shoulder pain. Most of these surgeries are “elective” which means the patient decides if and when they want to proceed. Many people delay surgery while they try more conservative approaches.

Thank you for reading our should pain article series! We hope this information was useful to you!

Contact Us

Do you have questions about Avala Physical Therapy or one of its programs? Call and schedule a complimentary consultation with one of our Physical Therapist experts today at 985.801.6265.

Thanks for reading. I hope you found something useful in this week’s article. Check in next week for more tips and tricks on how to get healthy and stay that way.

Paul Jones, Director of Physical Therapy/Rehabilitation Services
Avala Physical Therapy