Pain helps to indicate that there is something wrong with our body, but oftentimes you can manage these aches on your own. However, sometimes we experience more severe symptoms that suggest that your best move is to connect with a shoulder specialist for some professional treatment. In today’s blog, we take a closer look at four signs that suggest you should have a shoulder specialist help treat your shoulder condition.
Symptoms Of An Urgent Shoulder Issue
If any of the following shoulder symptoms or signs describe your current condition, it would be wise to set up an appointment with your primary care provider or a shoulder specialist in your area.
- You Can’t Move Or Lift Your Arm – We’ll start with one of the more obvious signs of a major shoulder issue, and that’s one that makes it difficult or even impossible to lift your arm in front of you or over your head. Oftentimes this suggests that there is a major nerve, muscle or soft tissue injury at play that is unlikely to heal with rest alone. If you’re struggling to move or lift your arm, it’s time to set up an appointment with a shoulder specialist.
- Shoulder Pain When Resting – A lot of people have some mild to moderate shoulder discomfort when they are lifting and moving their arms, and while that’s not exactly normal, it’s also not as much of a cause for concern as if you are experiencing these symptoms while your arm is rested. If you’re dealing with near-constant shoulder pain, even when you’re just sitting on the couch, you’ll want to talk with a doctor to get to the bottom of your pain so that a specific treatment plan can be developed.
- You’re Struggling To Achieve Restful Sleep – If shoulder discomfort is making it difficult for you to fall asleep or stay asleep, it’s time to talk with your doctor. Sleep is a restorative process where our body can recover from the stress of the day and control inflammation by flushing toxins and waste products out of our system. If shoulder pain isn’t allowing you to achieve prolonged, restful sleep, it can have consequences for the shoulder and your whole body. Increased inflammation, increased pain sensitivity and increased feelings of tiredness and fatigue are all common in patients who aren’t achieving restful sleep. Don’t let your shoulder symptoms cause problems for your sleep cycle any longer.
- Home Care Treatments Aren’t Working – Finally, it’s great that you’ve taken it upon yourself to treat your shoulder discomfort, but if you’re not seeing the results you’d hoped for, it’s time to consult the experts. That’s not to say that you absolutely need surgery to correct your issue, but perhaps you’re treating the wrong underlying shoulder issue or you’re not following the right treatment protocol for your specific condition. We love working with patients who have tried to resolve their shoulder issues on their own because we know that they are more likely to put in the work when we develop an individualized treatment program for their needs. If you just haven’t had any luck treating your shoulder pain on your own, let us help.
For more information about caring for a new or chronic shoulder issue, or to talk with a specialist about a shoulder problem you’re facing, reach out to Dr. Holloway and his team today at (865) 410-7887.
