Combatting Shoulder Pain: Tips for Pain-Free Living in Fresno

Chronic shoulder pain affects as many as 26% of adults in their lifetime. It’s widespread in people who often reach overhead, such as carpenters, painters, and athletes. Fresno residents shouldn’t have to live in constant pain. We have some tips and insights on shoulder pain and what to do about it.

Know the Common Causes of Shoulder Pain

While shoulder pain is common, that doesn’t mean you have to live with it. Start by determining what could be causing your pain so that you can seek the right treatment.

Arthritis

Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis, and it’s hard to avoid. It occurs over time with regular use of your joints. Using a joint does create wear and tear, and the cushioning over the ends of bones wears down. As bone rubs on another bone with movement, pain occurs. 

Other forms of arthritis affect the joints. Rheumatoid arthritis requires a different course of treatment, but pain management and range of use are goals for you.

Physical therapy is one option for maintaining the use of your shoulder. Pain management, heat therapy, and PRP injections also help.

Bursitis

Bursae are sacs of fluid that cushion the bones, muscles, and tendons within a joint. When a joint is overused, those sacs become inflamed. The pain you feel is worse when you move that joint or press on it. It may be swollen and red. Rest is essential, but that doesn’t guarantee it won’t happen again. 

If the pain shoots down your arm when you’re using the joint, see a doctor. You also need to schedule an appointment with a Fresno sports and orthopedic doctor if you experience bruising, excessive swelling, or become unable to move the joint.

Treatments often focus on the inflammation. Physical therapy, injections of a corticosteroid, physical therapy, and antibiotics are all common treatment options.

Frozen Shoulder

Adhesive capsulitis or the more common term “Frozen Shoulder” occurs when the capsule of connective tissues in the shoulder stiffens and freezes up. It’s a risk of keeping your shoulder still for a long period, such as after breaking your arm and having to keep your arm immobile for weeks. It’s more common in women over the age of 40.

The pain from frozen shoulder is constant and that makes it hard to do routine tasks that involve that hand or arm. Something as simple as washing your hair becomes impossible. It can take two years before the shoulder’s flexibility returns. Massage, physical therapy, and pain management are the best treatment options.

Incorrect Posture or Sleeping Position

Sometimes, the pain is temporary. You slept in a weird position and strained the joint. That type of shoulder pain usually diminishes within a day. If a day passes and the pain is still there or worsening, make an appointment with Premium Sports & Orthopedics to be seen ASAP.

Pinched Nerve

While less common, a pinched nerve in the neck or shoulder will cause shoulder pain and weakness. It occurs due to compression of that nerve and often radiates to the shoulder.  Sometimes, the pain subsides on its own. It’s important to see an orthopedist if the pain doesn’t diminish in a day or two. 

Treatments for a pinched nerve often rely on rest and the use of over-the-counter NSAIDs like ibuprofen. Physical therapy can also help.

Rotator Cuff Issues

Your rotator cuff is a collection of tendons and four muscles that support the shoulder joint. They hold it in place and allow for the movement a shoulder makes. Sometimes, those tendons or muscles become inflamed or damaged, which reduces motion while causing pain. The chance of a rotator cuff issue increases with age due to a lifetime of use.

Shoulder pain related to the rotator cuff may keep you up at night, make it hard to reach behind your back, and cause a dull ache within the shoulder joint. See a Fresno sports and orthopedic specialist for a proper diagnosis and to work with a physical therapist to safely strengthen the shoulder and hopefully avoid surgery.

Sports Injury

Sports injuries from falls or physical content also cause shoulder damage. You need an effective treatment that will get you back on the field or court as quickly as possible without risking reinjury. You don’t want to end up with a career-ending injury, and our team at Premium Sports & Orthopedics can help you get stronger and heal correctly.

Trauma

A blow or damage to the shoulder can also cause pain. This may occur during a fall when you land on your side, a car accident where you hit the door or the seat next to you, or something within the car is thrown into your shoulder. Shoulder fractures and dislocations often occur during traumatic events.

After a fall or car accident, it’s best to be seen by a doctor as a precaution. You might feel fine, but you have adrenaline pumping through your body. You’ll notice the pain when that wears off and wish you’d been seen sooner.

Surgery Isn’t Always Necessary

Is the fear of surgery keeping you from seeking help for the pain you experience? Don’t let that stop you from coming to Premium Sports & Orthopedics. Our orthopedic team offers a number of non-invasive or minimally invasive treatment options like PRP injections and stem cell therapy. Imagine the thrill of being pain-free after just a few injections of stem cells or platelet-rich plasma that comes from your blood, not someone else’s.

It takes as few as three injections over no more than five days to experience less arthritis pain with stem cell therapy. Two or three PRP injections over no more than two weeks can help. You don’t have to stay overnight or in hospital. You’ll be home the same day.

Don’t ignore pain. While these are the common causes of shoulder pain, there are rare causes that shouldn’t be ignored. It’s best to get a professional medical opinion to determine if something else is causing your pain. The sooner you have a diagnosis, the faster the pain will be managed or stopped. You’ll be back to normal routines in less time than if you just sit and wait.

Where should you go for help with your shoulder pain? Premium Sports & Orthopedics team is available. We specialize in non-invasive treatments that help with the pain and get you on the path to having a stronger, pain-free shoulder.