If you’re like a lot of people dealing with mild or moderate discomfort in an area of your body, you probably try to see if you can treat the problem on your own before you set up an appointment with your primary care physician or a specialist. Nobody wants to spend time and money consulting with a professional when they could have effectively treated the problem on their own from the comfort of their home. With that in mind, we wanted to use today’s blog to discuss some home remedies for common sources of shoulder pain.
Home Remedies For Shoulder Pain
Remember that the following is just general advice, and for the best treatment recommendations you’ll want to connect with a provider who can view your shoulder in person. Many different shoulder issues present with similar symptoms, and it’s best to know what you’re up against in order to pursue the right treatment for your needs. With all that said, if you suspect that you’re dealing with a minor strain, sprain or arthritis-related symptoms, you may find relief by carefully pursuing a combination of the following home remedies.
- Controlled Stretching/Physical Therapy – Rest is a fine treatment in the short-term, but rest alone is unlikely to completely alleviate your shoulder discomfort. Even if pain does fade, symptoms are more likely to return if you only treat the area with rest. In many instances, controlled stretching exercises or targeted physical therapy can help to strengthen the soft tissues in the area that support your shoulder joint. When these tissues are stronger, your shoulder is more stable, and shoulder instability contributes to a number of different issues in the joint. You can find some simple range of motion or strengthening exercises by performing a simple Google search.
- Ice/Heat – Harnessing the power of ice and heat can also help to calm uncomfortable shoulder symptoms. Ice and heat will have a direct impact on blood vessels in the area. Ice packs will cause these blood vessels to constrict, which can limit fluid movement into the area and control swelling. Heat will open up blood vessels, making it easier for nutrient-rich blood to reach critical structures. Play around with both for 15-20 minutes at a time a couple of times a day to see how your shoulder responds to these elements.
- Anti-Inflammatories – Over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications can help limit inflammation in the shoulder joint that may be contributing to your discomfort. These medications help to provide short-term relief, which can make it easier to pursue physical therapy or achieve restful sleep, but they aren’t a great stand-alone option. Make sure that you pair anti-inflammatories with proactive treatments.
- Diet/Hydration Improvements – Making some small tweaks to your diet and hydration intake can also help to provide the right environment for healing to take place. Eating a well-rounded diet will give your body the nutrients it needs to fuel tissue recovery, and staying hydrated can make it easier for healthy blood to reach important areas of your shoulder.
- Gradual Return To Activities – Finally, you want to ease back into normal activities so as not to overload your shoulder area. Jumping right back into athletics or intense manual labor can lead to a setback as your shoulder is still working to get back to a pre-injury level of fitness, so start slow and gradually put more stress on the area as it becomes clear that it can handle growing levels of pressure.
Physical therapy and stretching exercises will likely be the most effective form of home treatment for shoulder discomfort, but the other remedies on this list can also keep discomfort at bay while you work to strengthen and stabilize the shoulder joint. And of course, if you’re finding it difficult to overcome your symptoms or you want some personalized advice for your unique situation, don’t hesitate to call in a professional. Reach out to Dr. Holloway and his team for a comprehensive diagnosis and carefully crafted treatment plan. For more information, or for help with a different shoulder issue, give his team a call today at (865) 410-7887.
