Because of the mobility of the shoulder, pain can result from damage to any of the structures that make up the joint -- tendons, ligaments, muscles, soft tissue and several bones. Depending on the cause of your sore shoulder, treatments are designed to alleviate pain and inflammation, to allow the injury to heal or to treat the underlying cause. Consult a health-care practitioner before beginning treatment for a sore shoulder.
Causes
Shoulder pain often arises from an inflammation or tear of the tendon, instability of the shoulder, arthritis or a fracture of one of the three bones that make up the shoulder. Problems with the tendon may occur when you overuse or injure your shoulder, causing the tendon or the fluid-filled sac, called the bursa, to become inflamed and painful. Tendinitis and bursitis can be acute or chronic. A tendon tear may be caused by a sudden injury, age-related wear or overuse and causes severe pain. Shoulder instability, also called a dislocation, is often caused by an acute injury or chronic overuse. Once a shoulder becomes unstable, dislocation may recur. Your shoulder may be sore due to arthritis, a chronic condition in which the cartilage at the ends of your bones begins to erode, allowing bones to rub together and causing pain. Age, obesity and chronic overuse contribute to the onset of arthritis. See your doctor for a proper diagnosis of a sore shoulder.
Tendinitis, Bursitis or Tears
If your shoulder pain is due to tendinitis, bursitis or a tendon tear, reducing the inflammation with medication, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, rest and cold will often help. Rest doesn't mean lying in bed; it just means resting the shoulder from any activity that causes pain. Using ice packs for 15 minutes on and 15 minutes off for the first 24 hours after an injury can help reduce inflammation and swelling. Your doctor may prescribe physical therapy, heat or hydrotherapy to aid in rehabilitating a tendon injury.
Treatment for Instability
While most shoulder injuries benefit from gentle exercises, a dislocation or repeated dislocations may not. In many cases, a dislocation requires surgery. If your shoulder is sore after surgery, medication, rest, ice and gentle range-of-motion exercises may be helpful.
Treatment for Arthritis
If your shoulder pain is due to arthritis, anti-inflammatory medication can help alleviate the pain. Gentle stretches and exercise can help reduce the stiffness associated with arthritis and improve the strength of the surrounding muscles that help support the joint. In some cases, surgery or joint replacement may be necessary. Nutritional supplements may offer some benefit. Ask your doctor before beginning an exercise program or supplementing your diet.
Treatment for Fracture
Most fractures of the shoulder can be treated without surgery. A period of immobilization followed by rehabilitation is necessary to allow the bone to heal. Pain can often be controlled by medication, ice or heat and rest. Physical therapy can help reduce soreness while you regain function and range of motion after your fracture has healed.
