Treatment Protocol For Shoulder Pain
Treatment protocol refers to an organized and standardized way to address a symptom or health problem. Sometimes the exact cause of shoulder pain is not known, but this protocol can be enough to control the symptoms regardless of the diagnosis.
Most acute and chronic shoulder pain patients have excellent results with conservative treatment. In other words, they do not require surgery or intra-articular injections. But when conservative treatment is not enough to achieve complete pain relief, a combination of corticosteroid injections, physical therapy, and activity modifications usually yields satisfactory results.
Conservative treatment includes the following treatment options:
- Medications: In most cases, medical treatment of shoulder pain involves the application of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen. Analgesic drugs such as acetaminophen may also work to improve shoulder pain symptoms in a short period. In some cases, NSAIDs are not enough to reduce the pain. In such instances, doctors may use drugs that provide more potent pain relief, such as opiate medications. These prescription medications should be administered with care to patients, weighing their benefits and risks.
- Activity modifications: They are general recommendations to prevent future episodes of shoulder pain and reduce their severity. Activity modifications depend on the diagnosis, but they usually require reducing repetitive overhead activities. It is also essential to avoid heavy loading of the shoulders, and patients with severe conditions and acute disease may need to prevent bench pressing, sports that require throwing balls overhead, and kayaking. In the case of acromioclavicular osteoarthritis, patients may also need to avoid adduction shoulder movements, such as those performed in a golf swing.
- Physical therapy: In chronic shoulder pain, medical treatment would not be enough if patients do not follow a physical therapy protocol. There are many exercises according to different sources of shoulder pain and diagnoses. In most cases, physical therapy involves strengthening and stretching exercises designed to improve shoulder function and relieve pain in the long term. Rehabilitation should be adopted in combination with other therapeutic modalities to achieve the best results.