Shoulder pain is very common — in fact, it’s the third most common pain-related reason why people visit their doctors, exceeded only by knee and back pain. Over the course of a lifetime, nearly three-quarters of women and men will experience shoulder pain at some point.
While some minor pain may go away with a little TLC, some shoulder symptoms need medical attention to prevent complications and give you the relief you’re looking for. In this post, the team at Mid-Jersey Orthopaedics reviews four common signs that mean your shoulder pain needs medical attention ASAP.
Most minor shoulder strains and sore, overworked muscles start feeling better within a couple weeks. If you’ve been taking it easy, modifying your activities, or trying ice and over-the-counter pain medication without seeing much — or any — improvement, it’s time to find out what’s causing your symptoms.
Remember — you don’t need to have an outright traumatic injury to develop shoulder problems with recurrent or long-lasting symptoms. Overuse or repetitive use injuries are common causes, too. Even aging can lead to problems with arthritis or increase your risk of a “frozen shoulder,” a common cause of long-term shoulder discomfort.
While it’s tempting to take a “wait-and-see” attitude, delaying treatment can also delay healing and relief. On the flip side, early evaluation and intervention can help you feel better faster while reducing the risk of permanent damage.
Many people notice shoulder pain is accompanied by reduced range of motion. Suddenly, simple movements you once took for granted take more effort — or maybe you can’t do them at all. Daily activities like reaching for something in an upper cabinet, washing your hair, or reaching behind you may suddenly feel stiff, painful, or impossible.
At first, it may seem like the easy answer is to compensate—use your other arm to do tasks or find another way to complete them so your sore, stiff shoulder gets some rest. Unfortunately, avoiding movement altogether can often make pain and stiffness worse, not better. Prompt medical treatment featuring medication, physical therapy, or other treatments is the best way to give your shoulder the proactive support it needs to feel better.
Pain and stiffness can make you avoid using your arm, but weakness is a different issue entirely. If normal tasks like carrying your groceries or lifting your laundry basket suddenly seem noticeably harder than they usually do, that’s a clear sign of shoulder weakness — and an indicator it’s time to have a medical evaluation with our team.
The same is true if you notice tingling or numbness in your shoulder, upper back, or anywhere along your arm or hand. These can all be signs of nerve impingement or irritation that can quickly lead to permanent nerve damage and loss of function if not evaluated right away.
Like other types of joint pain, shoulder pain doesn’t always go away when the day is over. In fact, shoulder pain can actually become a lot worse when you’re lying down, regardless of whether you sleep on your side or your back.
Worse still, nighttime shoulder pain can cause more widespread issues: If your sleep is poor because of shoulder discomfort, your daytime energy levels decline, leaving you fatigued all day. Poor sleep can affect immune function, too, and it can even interfere with healing, meaning your pain can last a lot longer or get a lot worse over time.
While it might be tempting to keep adjusting your pillow to find some level of comfort, nighttime pain is definitely a sign that it’s time for a medical evaluation with our team. Addressing shoulder pain early helps you get the quality sleep you need for better overall health, too.
When your shoulder hurts, it’s easy to adapt your movements and minimize your symptoms. But the bad news is, simply giving your shoulder a break is rarely enough to eliminate symptoms and help it heal.
If you have any of the symptoms on this list or any other unusual symptoms involving your shoulder or arm, early evaluation is the key to fast relief and long-term improvement in your shoulder health and function.
To find out what’s causing your shoulder pain and how we can help you find long-term, meaningful relief, request an appointment online or over the phone with the team at Mid-Jersey Orthopaedics in Flemington, Bridgewater, and Washington, New Jersey, today.
