Shoulder Pain

What is Shoulder Pain?

Shoulder pain is among the leading causes of doctor visits. Pain in the shoulder can be persistent and last for a few weeks, or can go away a few days after the trauma that caused it. In case the pain persists beyond a couple of days, you should visit a doctor. The doctor will ask for X-rays to diagnose the root cause of the pain and recommend the right course of treatment.

What’s the Difference Between Occasional and Persistent Pain?

Generally, pain goes away if you ice your shoulder or take painkillers. However, if the pain persists for longer than a week and the pain intensifies, you should visit a doctor. If the pain diminishes, you should still consider getting it checked to ensure there’s no major risk.

What are the Common Causes of Shoulder Pain?

Shoulder pain can be the result of injury or inflammation of the rotator cuff. These include subacromial impingement, where the gap between the rotator cuff and the acromion decreases and as a result, when you raise your arm, the acromion starts impinging the tendon and bursa, leading to pain and inflammation. Shoulder pain may also be caused by bursitis, where the bursa gets inflamed which leads to swelling. As fluid gathers in the swollen area, it intensifies the pain.

Shoulder pain can sometimes be a symptom of an ailment, such as chest pain and nausea. In that case, if you have a history of any diseases that can cause shoulder pain, make sure you consult your physician as soon as you experience any discomfort in the shoulder.

The most common cause of shoulder pain is sudden trauma. If you have been in an accident and hurt your shoulder, you may experience shoulder pain. People with frozen shoulder can also suffer from regular episodes of pain. Arthritis and bursitis are other causes of shoulder pain.

How is Shoulder Pain Treated?

The treatments for shoulder pain are numerous and are recommended based on the extent and cause of the pain. Generally, icing and activity modification are common treatments that are recommended by doctors.

In some cases, doctors may prescribe anti-inflammatories, physical therapy, or a steroid shot. Additional options with top shoulder pain doctors in Chicago may include PRP therapy and/or stem cell injections. If these treatments don’t work, you might have to undergo surgery to get rid of shoulder pain.