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Suggest Treatment For Severe Shoulder Pain
Question: I have had terrible right shoulder pain for a while now. never had limited range of motion until yesterday. I cannot left my arm up in front of me. it will reuse to about 3 inches above waist level and that's it. I couldn't even wash my hair this morning or use it to help put on clothes
Brief Answer:
Use of pain killers and start using the shoulder is important
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thank you for asking at HCM.
Shoulder pain might have several causes from the bursa (these are fluid sacks within the joint) being inflamed, tendines within the shoulder being irritated and arthritis of the joint. Most of them are selflimiting and not serious conditions.
Pain in itself can cause limited range of motion and might make the daily activities difficult especially those that need to use the hands above the head level.
An indirect way pain can cause limited range of motion is also by the fact that pain make us limit the use of the shoulder and this in itself causes what we call frozen shoulder. Frozen shoulder is limitied range of motion in the shoulder due to long time of inactivity of that shoulder from reduced movements there.
It is very important that you start to use your shoulder as soon as possible so that the problem shouldn't worsen further, but you will be needing pain-killers to make it easier.
What I would recommed is:
1. Take Ibuprofen (Motrin) 400-600 mg every 8 hours after food to help with the pain and inflammation for next 2-3 days.
2. You can combine it with Acetaminophen (Tylenol) tablets for better effect. So you can take Ibuprofen 400-600 mg and acetaminophen 650 mg every 8 hours after food.
3. Physiotherapy of the shoulder. After taking the pain killers it will be easier to move the shoulder so you will need to start moving the shoulder and try to increase the range of motion. Seeing a physiotherapist might be of great benefit as a physiotherapist might give specific exercises to help with the frozen shoulder.
4. If you have swelling or redness or local heat feeling on the shoulder you will need a visit with a doctor to rule out more rate but important diagnosis of shoulder pain.
5. Recent trauma is another cause to see a doctor as soon as possible to rule out fractures locally at the shoulder. An X-ray of the shoulder joint should be performed at the earliest if suspected so.
I hope this is helpful and answers to your question.
Please let me know if any more concerns or clarifications are needed.
Kind Regards,
Dr Antoneta Zotaj
Use of pain killers and start using the shoulder is important
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thank you for asking at HCM.
Shoulder pain might have several causes from the bursa (these are fluid sacks within the joint) being inflamed, tendines within the shoulder being irritated and arthritis of the joint. Most of them are selflimiting and not serious conditions.
Pain in itself can cause limited range of motion and might make the daily activities difficult especially those that need to use the hands above the head level.
An indirect way pain can cause limited range of motion is also by the fact that pain make us limit the use of the shoulder and this in itself causes what we call frozen shoulder. Frozen shoulder is limitied range of motion in the shoulder due to long time of inactivity of that shoulder from reduced movements there.
It is very important that you start to use your shoulder as soon as possible so that the problem shouldn't worsen further, but you will be needing pain-killers to make it easier.
What I would recommed is:
1. Take Ibuprofen (Motrin) 400-600 mg every 8 hours after food to help with the pain and inflammation for next 2-3 days.
2. You can combine it with Acetaminophen (Tylenol) tablets for better effect. So you can take Ibuprofen 400-600 mg and acetaminophen 650 mg every 8 hours after food.
3. Physiotherapy of the shoulder. After taking the pain killers it will be easier to move the shoulder so you will need to start moving the shoulder and try to increase the range of motion. Seeing a physiotherapist might be of great benefit as a physiotherapist might give specific exercises to help with the frozen shoulder.
4. If you have swelling or redness or local heat feeling on the shoulder you will need a visit with a doctor to rule out more rate but important diagnosis of shoulder pain.
5. Recent trauma is another cause to see a doctor as soon as possible to rule out fractures locally at the shoulder. An X-ray of the shoulder joint should be performed at the earliest if suspected so.
I hope this is helpful and answers to your question.
Please let me know if any more concerns or clarifications are needed.
Kind Regards,
Dr Antoneta Zotaj
Note: For further queries, consult a joint and bone specialist, an Orthopaedic surgeon. Book a Call now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Arnab Banerjee
Answered by
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