Pain in the Shoulder Joint - Treatment Options

Joint pain can be a frustrating and challenging problem to live with. When a person is experiencing pain it is often best for them to visit their primary care physician in order to try to figure out the root cause of the pain. It is necessary to understand why the shoulder joint is in pain so that the treatment can be tailored to that specific issue. Once the doctor has an idea about the cause of pain in the shoulder joint a treatment plan can be developed.

Keep in mind that not every treatment will be effective for every injury. In fact, some treatments may cause more shoulder damage and make the joint pain an even bigger issue, so proceed with caution and follow your doctor's advice. For the majority of joint injuries rest is the best treatment. Pain in the shoulder joint is no exception and taking it easy until your doctor can be consulted would be an excellent choice. Do not decide to rest the joint for too long as the shoulder joint can actually develop problems if it is not used for a long period of time.

Another option that works well in addition to resting the shoulder joint is applying heat or ice. In the vast majority of cases ice is the best option. It should be used as soon as possible after an injury to help prevent swelling and therefore reducing pain in the area. Heat is used much less often than ice and really should only be applied if it is recommended by a health care professional. Either option should be used carefully in order to avoid causing any other problems such as burns. These treatment options are the most common and are easy to do and inexpensive as well.

Physical therapy may be needed depending on the severity of the shoulder joint issue. Oftentimes, there is a stretching routine involved that can be instrumental in pain relief as well as progress if there is stiffness in the joint. A physical therapist will often set goals to help the patient return to a pre-injury range of motion as well as strength. It is fairly common for this type of treatment to be covered by health insurance.

Many doctors may recommend a medication or supplement. NSAIDS, or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, are one such medication. These are best of the pain is due to inflammation. Bursitis, tendonitis and arthritis in the shoulder may be relived with this type of medication. Many joint pain supplements are also available on the market today. Along with glucosamine and chondroitin there is another supplement that is new on the market and showing very positive results. It is made from cetylated fatty acids. This supplement had been shown to reduce inflammation, increase mobility by reducing the stiffness the joint, and has thus far shown no side effects. All of these options may bring relief to shoulder joint pain.

Don't allow yourself to suffer with shoulder joint pain. See your doctor and develop a treatment plan so that you can get out and enjoy your life! It may be easier than you ever imagined.