Done With Aches? Here Is How To Relieve Shoulder Pain At Home

Do you feel pain in moving your arm normally? 

Is your shoulder very stiff? 

If yes, it is time for you to consider shoulder pain treatment. Although shoulder pain is a common occurrence, it is essential to seek its management. You may not necessarily need to visit a doctor for it. The remedies that we have mentioned in this article will help in relieving shoulder pain at home.

Take a look. 

• Cold compress 

If you have swelling on your shoulder, a cold compress will help bring swelling and pain down. 

Take an ice pack and apply it on the shoulder for twenty minutes. You can use a bag of frozen peas, a plastic bag full of ice, or a frozen gel pack for the purpose. But, make sure you don’t apply any of these directly to your skin. Wrap them in a towel before applying them on the affected region.

• Heat therapy 

Heat therapy is another viable home remedy for treating shoulder pain. It relaxes the tensed muscles around your shoulder and soothes stiffness. It is very potent in relieving pain associated with arthritis. 

You can either use a hot water bottle, an electric heating pad, or a heated gel pack and place it on the shoulder region.  

• Compression 

Take an elastic medical bandage and tightly wrap it around your shoulder. It will help to bring swelling and pain down. Make sure you don’t wrap it very tightly as it can arrest the blood flow. If your hand feels tingly, numb, or turns blue, loosen the bandage immediately. 

You can either use the regular ACE bandage or a compression bandage for the purpose. 

• Take some rest 

If you are dealing with shoulder pain, giving some rest to your shoulder will work in your favor. Also, if your shoulder pain is due to some activity, discontinue it immediately.

A little rest will help your muscles regain their strength. 

• Perform shoulder exercises 

Exercising regularly is a great way of strengthening the shoulder muscles and making them more flexible. Try some stretching exercises under the guidance of a therapist. 

If you experience pain while exercising, do not continue it. 

• Medications 

NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications) are the most commonly used medications to relieve pain and inflammation. This group of drugs includes over-the-counter medicines like ibuprofen, aspirin, naproxen, etc. 

If your shoulder pain is due to rotator cuff injuries, arthritis, tendonitis, or any kind of shoulder injury, taking these drugs will help bring down inflammation. 

However, prolonged use of these drugs is not considered a great option. As they are over-the-counter medicines, they suppress the pain, not eliminate the cause of pain. But, if you are experiencing severe pain and cannot see a doctor, you can pop a pill. 

If you have muscle spasm or tension around the shoulder joint, taking a muscle relaxant can help. But do not take muscle relaxants before operating machines or driving because these medications cause drowsiness. 

For pain management, you can have medications like aspirin and acetaminophen that help in easing the shoulder pain. However, as every medication has side-effects, taking pain medications can lead to heartburn or stomach upset. And, make sure you don’t take them for a long period. 

• Topical applications 

 Applying pain-relief creams and gels is a better idea than taking medications. They provide quick relief and don’t cause the harmful side-effects as oral medications do. 

Diclofenac is one of the most potent ointments that help in relieving shoulder pain. 

Conclusion

Shoulder pain can be mild to severe. If you are suffering from severe shoulder pain, it would be better to see a doctor. You can manage mild to moderate pain at home with the help of these remedies.