Signs Your Shoulder Pain Needs Help
Shoulder pain isn’t uncommon, but how do you know when to see your doctor? Here’s what you need to know.
Shoulder pain can impair your everyday movements, like washing your hair or reaching for items high up in a cabinet. But, what’s the root cause of your pain?
Your bursa is a fluid-filled sac that cushions the friction between your bones and soft tissues in your shoulder. If it becomes irritated, it can get inflamed, which creates a lump-like consistency that causes the development of shoulder bursitis.
It can be caused by an injury, overuse, or certain medical conditions that cause your joints to become inflamed.
At Crescent City Orthopedics, we’re a team of surgeons and Advanced Practice Providers who have the expertise to diagnose and treat your shoulder bursitis — both at home and in our office.
Symptoms typically occur gradually, developing over weeks or even months, unless you experience an injury. They can also vary depending on the severity of your inflammation.
Symptoms include:
If you have professions or hobbies that cause you to repeatedly use your shoulder, you could be more at risk of developing shoulder bursitis.
Initial treatments aim to control and relieve your inflammation.
When you first feel any pain in your shoulder, whether it occurs from overuse or an injury, we suggest you do the following to reduce your symptoms:
Our team can provide specific instructions on the “how-to” on any of the above. We can also give you resources that demonstrate bursitis shoulder exercises.
If you’ve tried at-home remedies with little or no success, medical attention can give you the relief you need. Our options include:
We can prescribe pain medication to control your symptoms, but medication won’t target the root cause. It will only alleviate your pain temporarily for certain periods.
Corticosteroid injections around your bursa can offer relief. However, we limit the number of treatments to decrease the risk of rupturing your tendon.
To strengthen your shoulder and correct movement issues, we may recommend physical therapy to improve your shoulder’s condition.
We may recommend surgery for your condition if your symptoms continue after six months. Arthroscopic treatments can focus on the root cause of your pain and ultimately get you back to your normal, daily routine.
If you need effective treatment for your shoulder bursitis, call our professional team or book your appointment online at the office nearest you in Metairie, Chalmette, or Covington, Louisiana.
