Treatments and remedies for shoulder pain
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When you feel pain in your shoulder, it may be time to seek out some shoulder pain treatment. Whether it’s dull and achy, or sharp and stingy, shoulder pain is no fun. We’ve put together this guide on how to get rid of shoulder pain.
Shoulders have a wide range of motion. So, when something goes wrong, shoulder pain can really hamper your ability to move freely and carry out basic, everyday tasks. In fact, continued movement of your arm or shoulder can often make shoulder pain worse. Shoulder pain can cause... friction in the shoulder joint itself, or injury to the surrounding muscles, ligaments, tendons, or nerves.1 Shoulder pain can also radiate, affecting the neck, arm, and shoulder blade.
There are a number of shoulder pain remedies you can try out to get moving again and put a little joy back into your favourite everyday activities (hello, taking the pup for a walk around the block again!) However, if your shoulder pain doesn’t start feeling better after 7 days of shoulder pain remedies, consult a doctor to make sure there's nothing more serious at play.
Home remedies and treatments for shoulder pain
There are a number of at-home shoulder pain remedies you can try out. They include:
- Rest
There’s nothing like rest to speed recovery. Repeat motion is likely to further aggravate your shoulder joint and the surrounding muscles, tendons, and nerves. Avoid using your shoulder in ways that make your pain worse. Consider resting your arm on a cushion in your lap.2 - Ice
Icing your shoulder can help reduce inflammation, as well as numb the area so that pain subsides. An ice pack, or even a bag of frozen veggies, should do the trick. Be careful not to place ice directly... on your skin. Always wrap any ice pack or frozen veggie bag in a thin towel before applying it to your skin. Do this for around 20 minutes, 4 or more times per day. If after 2 days this isn't doing the trick, consult a Doctor.3 - Over-the-counter pain medication
Our shoulders serve us in nearly any task we undertake throughout the day. Taking a break from all activities can often be unfeasible, plain and simple. If your pain is from a sprain, strain or bruise to your muscles or tendons, using an NSAID like diclofenac, which fights inflammation, reduces pain, and aids healing: so you can get back to doing the little things in your day that make you happy. Read the label to check how long you should use the medication before seeking advice from a health care professional if the pain isn't getting better.
- Maintain good posture
Keep your shoulder down and gently back. Maintaining good posture will take the pressure off your shoulder muscles. In this way, you can reduce stress on your shoulder joint and relieve tension in your shoulder muscles.4
- Dispense prescription pain medication
Depending on the severity of your shoulder affliction your doctor may recommend another course of treatment beyond what you can do at home. That could be a prescription for medication that you can't get over the counter from your Doctor, or they could give you an injection directly into your shoulder while you’re at the doctor’s office in order to reduce pain and swelling. - Recommend physiotherapy
Your doctor may recommend that you make a regular appointment to see a physiotherapist. Alternatively, he or she may provide you with some physiotherapy exercises and stretches that you can perform on your own at home. These often involve stretchy exercise bands and it's important to keep to the routine set to make the difference! - Immobilize your joint
If it turns out that your shoulder is sprained or broken, your doctor may provide you with a sling or brace to keep your shoulder from moving too much.
Diclofenac is a potent non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). As diclofenac accumulates under the skin, it acts as a reservoir from where there is a sustained release of the pain-busting ingredient into underlying tissues. More people get clinical benefit from Emulgel5 than from other topical NSAIDs6 when compared with a placebo.7
Iodex Rapid Action Spray
It is a unique blend of 5 active ingredients. They are known to penetrate the skin, reduce internal inflammation and provide targeted relief from shoulder pain.12
Iodex Multi-Purpose Pain Relief Balm
Iodex Balm is a power packed formula of 5 active ingredients – Gandapuro Tel, Nilgiri Tel, Turpine Ka Tel, Peppermint Satva and Lavanga Ka Tel. These ingredients are known to help provide a soothing relief from shoulder pain.
Health, wellness & your pain
Pain is rarely just physical nor is it always solved by taking medicine alone. Iodex is your ally in helping you take more control of your pain journey, from the way to sleep, to what you eat, mental wellbeing and complementary pain relief therapies.
