Shoulder Pain
Shoulder Pain
Shoulder pain is very common and can start with trauma or for no obvious reason. In most cases, shoulder pain is nothing serious and will usually settle within 6-8 weeks. There are a variety of causes for shoulder pain.
People may describe pain at the top of their shoulder, at the side or around their shoulder blade. Sometimes however, symptoms such as tingling or numbness may be felt in the arm. This can be a sign that a nerve is being irritated and we would normally recommend seeking an appointment sooner, as these symptoms may be coming from the neck. Mode Physiotherapy can carry out appropriate assessment to help diagnose your problem.
For more information about shoulder pain, click on the sections below.
Important symptoms to monitor
If you notice any pins and needles into your arm or hand, we would advise you to seek a physiotherapy assessment promptly. Although not necessarily anything serious, this might mean that there is a nerve being irritated in the neck. Sometimes however, nerves can get irritated elsewhere, such as around the muscles in your shoulder.
Seek an assessment more urgently if you notice
- Any loss of power
- Loss of grip
- Problems doing fine motor tasks such as not being able to do up buttons or open jars.
Do I need a scan?
Carrying out routine scans is not required in most cases. Around 95% of scans will show normal age related and coincidental findings which may not be related to your symptoms. Mode Physiotherapy will be able to determine if you require a scan.
At Mode Physiotherapy we have access to private MRI facilities and have a vast amount of experience in referring for MRI investigations.
Are there things I should avoid?
There is nothing that you should avoid when having shoulder pain, but you do need to listen to your symptoms and adjust your activities accordingly.
It is important to keep moving as much as possible. There may be some activities that are painful, but this doesnt mean that is it causing you any damage. One of our physiotherapists will be able to work with you to get you back doing the activities you enjoy.
Should I take pain relief?
It is important to discuss pain relief with your local pharmacist or GP. If your pain levels are better controlled, this will enable you to keep more active and by keeping active it will help to maintain your strength and movement. This approach could lead to a quicker recovery.
Mode Physiotherapy will be able to advise if you need to discuss pain relief with your GP or Pharmacist.
How can Mode Physiotherapy help with my shoulder pain?
At Mode Physiotherapy we have extensive experience in managing a variety of shoulder pain disorders, such as:
Frozen Shoulder
Osteoarthrits
Rotator Cuff injuries
Shoulder Sprains
Labral Tears
Muscle Tears
Mode Physiotherapy will be able to help diagnose the cause of your shoulder pain as well as provide advice and guidance on ways to manage it. Often this will include a combination of hands on treatment and a tailored rehabilitation programme.
