Shoulders are among the body parts that we often take for granted until pain occurs unexpectedly. We use our shoulders to lift, climb, and swim during exercise. But shoulder pain also affects sleep and standard daily routines, such as washing your hair, carrying groceries in from the car, and holding a child.
In this article, we explore some common causes of shoulder pain and how to treat this part of the body with natural remedies.
Frozen Shoulder
Frozen shoulder is a condition that limits joint movement in the shoulder area. It occurs when adhesions build up in the joint and prevent free movement. It is a common condition after surgery.
Bursitis
Bursitis is a condition of the bursa, which is a sac filled with fluid that cushions the shoulder joint. This area can become swollen with repetitive motions or an injury, and it causes pain during movement.
Tendinitis
Tendinitis can be either acute or chronic in the shoulder. It involves the “cord” that connects muscles to the bone in the shoulder and results from inflammation. The rotator cuff and bicep tendons can affect the shoulder and cause pain.
Rotator Cuff Tear
The rotator cuff is a group of muscles and tendons in the shoulder. You can damage this part of the body by falling or overuse, and it can also show signs of deterioration with age. Symptoms of a rotator cuff issue include popping sounds during movement and pain at night.
Dislocation
If you dislocate your shoulder, it means that you have rotated it too far or pulled it too hard, to the point of popping the shoulder out of its socket. The symptoms of this condition include weakness, pain, bruising, swelling, and numbness.
Fracture
A severe type of shoulder injury is a fracture when the collarbone, upper arm bone, or shoulder blade is broken. These injuries often occur after a fall in older adults or by a motor vehicle accident. Intense pain, swelling, and bruising of the shoulder are common with fractures.
Arthritis
Many people experience shoulder pain due to arthritis, especially osteoarthritis due to wear and tear. The symptoms often start during middle age, developing slowly and worsening over time. However, movement is what keeps the shoulder joint limber, and avoiding shoulder movements can make the area tighter and stiffer, thereby restricting future movement even more.
Natural Shoulder Pain Treatments
Beyond simply taking pain medication or considering surgery, there are many different natural treatments for shoulder pain. Stretching and yoga can relieve trigger point pain and help increase blood circulation to the shoulder. You can look into osteopathic manipulation treatments to release shoulder tension and promote free joint movement. Acupuncture may help increase blood flow and relieve sore shoulders, and massage can help with pain and reduce spasms.
You might also try salt baths, alternating heat and ice packs, and trying natural joint support supplements containing shark cartilage and shark liver oil. Living with shoulder pain can be debilitating, but there are many things to try before resorting to drastic measures or simply enduring it day to day.