Experiencing shoulder pain can greatly impact your day-to-day life because your performance at work is usually affected. Doing simple chores such as lifting something might also be challenging. All you can do is take a day off and find relief from your shoulder pain.
However, if your shoulder pain is unresponsive to over-the-counter medication, ensure you reach out to your care provider because you might have a rotator cuff tear. In such cases, you can find relief by seeking rotator cuff tear West Chester therapy which also restores the functioning of your shoulder joint. Below are examples of effective therapies for rotator cuff tears.
Physical therapy
After being diagnosed with a rotator cuff tear, your care provider may recommend physical therapy. Physical therapy helps you recover from the tear by helping you restore the movement and strength of your shoulder. Your care provider usually prescribes specific exercises that aim at alleviating pain.
These activities include simple stretching activities that also gradually help restore the function of your shoulder joint. You can easily lift objects or raise your hands above your head because you no longer experience pain. Physical therapy can be the best alternative to surgery, requiring recovery time.
Immobilization
Immobilization means putting your arm to rest or restricting any arm movement. In most cases, immobilization supports your shoulder joint and is the first line of treatment. Immobilizing your shoulder joint reduces pressure on your rotator cuff, thus allowing the connective tissues of the shoulder joint to heal faster.
As a result, you find pain relief, and the tear on your rotator cuff heals faster. It would help if you also reduced your activities to promote healing. You can avoid lifting heavy objects or those that strain your shoulder joint.
Steroid injections
Steroid injections are usually used when other conservative therapies no longer provide relief. Your physician may administer injections when your shoulder pain prevents you from carrying on your daily chores, including brushing your teeth or getting dressed. The most preferred steroid injections are corticosteroids.
They are considered the best because they contain anti-inflammatory properties that reduce inflammation. Corticosteroids usually interfere with your body’s inflammatory responses, thus reducing pain and swelling around the shoulder joint. Giving an injection ensures the drug is delivered to the joint tissues, thus providing relief.
Stem cell therapy
Stem cell therapy can also be used to stimulate new cells to grow and also promotes the natural healing process of your body. It is usually a treatment of choice when you prefer using natural treatments to help alleviate persistent pain and promote healing. It is important to note that no downtime is required after getting stem cell therapy.
Therefore, you can resume your daily chores after treatment. You should avoid participating in activities that will cause your shoulder joint to strain for faster healing. Stem cell therapy may also be an alternative to surgery, especially during serious rotator cuff tears.
In severe cases of a rotator cuff tear, your care provider may recommend surgery to repair the tear and promote healing. Surgery may be the best option in most cases, especially if you want to resume your work or sports faster. The type of surgery commonly performed to repair rotator cuff tears is usually arthroscopic.
You, therefore, don’t have to persevere with shoulder pain because various therapies are available to provide relief and promote healing. You can hence schedule a consultation with Ronald Hess, MS, DO, to help determine the cause of your pain. After which treatment, a treatment plan is designed to meet your needs.
