Pain is like a check engine light for your body. It’s a sign that something isn’t right and warrants your attention. Similar to your vehicle, the longer you ignore these warning signs, the worse the issue is when you’re finally forced to confront it. Don’t keep driving with your check engine light on and don’t keep pursuing normal activities if shoulder pain persists or continues to worsen. In today’s blog, we explain in greater detail why it’s unwise to put off treatment for lingering shoulder pain.
Why Shoulder Symptoms Shouldn’t Be Ignored
If you’re noticing that shoulder pain is becoming a more common occurrence, or you’d even categorize it as chronic, it’s time to acknowledge that there’s more going on under the surface than simply sleeping on it wrong. Some people think that as long as they can grit their teeth and manage the discomfort then they are not any worse for the wear, but that’s simply not true. Ignoring shoulder pain can be problematic for a number of reasons:
- Symptoms Worsen – First and foremost, continuing to do the same things that led to symptom onset in the first place will almost always cause symptoms to persist or worsen. It was Einstein who said the definition of insanity is doing the same thing and expecting different results, so you shouldn’t expect your symptoms to improve if you keep putting the same stress patterns on your shoulder. Ignoring symptoms and keeping on with your normal daily activities usually leads to more severe symptoms.
- Harder To Treat – Although shoulder symptoms are not as serious as a health issue like cancer, a similar principle applies when it comes to treatment. The earlier you catch a problem and begin treating it, the better the treatment results tend to be. The longer you wait to treat a shoulder concern, the harder it will be to restore your shoulder to normal function. Wait long enough, and a full recovery may not be possible!
- More Invasive Treatments – Waiting to seek treatment may mean that you need to pursue more invasive treatments in order to effectively treat the underlying damage. What may have once responded to a weeks-long physical therapy program may now need surgery to address the full extent of the damage. Treatment may take longer, be more invasive and require more extensive recovery if you don’t treat it in a timely manner.
- Costlier Care – Similarly, it may also end up being much more costly to address a shoulder issue that has been ignored for some time. More invasive care options, a more involved surgery or extended recovery protocols all lead to increased expenses for the patient. They say that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and when it comes to shoulder injuries, proactively treating new shoulder concerns in their infancy can help you avoid a pricey medical expense down the road when more hands-on care becomes warranted.
- Treatment Is Likely Easier Than Imagined – Many people don’t realize how much physical improvement they can make by pursuing some simple conservative treatments. When patients tell us that they wish they would have come to us sooner, we’re glad they were able to finally get the care they deserve, but we’re also saddened to know that they dealt with pain and a decreased quality of life longer than they needed to because they waited longer than they probably should have to seek care. Treatment is likely easier and more achievable than you think, but you need to take the first step and connect with a professional who can set you up with an individualized care plan.
Don’t put off treatment any longer. Take the first step towards a pain-free shoulder by connecting with Dr. Holloway and his team. Give his clinic a call today to learn how to make shoulder pain a thing of the past. Set up your appointment today by calling (865) 410-7887.
