{"id":4958,"date":"2019-03-14T07:23:39","date_gmt":"2019-03-14T07:23:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.io\/?p=4958"},"modified":"2022-02-07T08:14:24","modified_gmt":"2022-02-07T08:14:24","slug":"10-things-to-expect-if-you-suffer-from-shoulder-impingement","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.io\/10-things-to-expect-if-you-suffer-from-shoulder-impingement\/","title":{"rendered":"10 Things to Expect If You Suffer From Shoulder Impingement"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Shoulder impingement syndrome is one of the most common causes of shoulder pain. It occurs whenever the bursa or tendons in your shoulder become impinged Repeated overhead activity using your shoulder is one of the main risk factors for shoulder impingement syndrome. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some of the ways that this could happen include excessive swimming or tennis. Lifting heavy objects and painting could also lead to impingement. Those with abnormalities in their joints or bones also have a higher risk of getting shoulder impingement. It\u2019s hard to avoid shoulder impingement. You have a pretty good chance of dealing with it at one point or another throughout the course of your life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

That being the case, we\u2019ve decided to write up a guide for you so that you at least know what to expect if you have to deal with shoulder impingement. Without further adieu, here are eight things that you should know.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Lots of medication<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Bear in mind that you should be treating the condition itself as opposed to the symptoms exclusively. Aspirin<\/a>, naproxen, ibuprofen, and other oral anti-inflammatory pharmaceuticals are some of the most common ways that people treat shoulder impingement. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You have to take these types of medications for around eight weeks if you want it to be effective \u2014 and you won\u2019t get the results you want unless you\u2019re consistent with your usage. You need to bear in mind that taking these pills for a few days might relieve your pain, but it won\u2019t be able to deal with the underlying problem which is the root cause \u2014 meaning the symptoms will eventually come back. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Doctors will often switch your medicines every two weeks if you are yet to recover. There’s no one-size-fits-all solution and the results will vary from each patient. It takes some trial and error.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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2. You\u2019ll be out of action for a while<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Taking a whole cabinet\u2019s worth of medication isn\u2019t the only drawback of shoulder impingement. You\u2019ll likely be out of action for quite a while. Don\u2019t rely on medicines to deal with your symptoms. You should also stretch in the warm shower at least once a day to further mitigate the pain. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Try to reach your thumb all the way up behind your back. Try to avoid any repetitive activities that use your injured arm. This is especially true for activities where your elbow <\/a>would need to move higher than the shoulder level. This includes activities such as washing your car, raking leaves, painting, and vacuuming. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Needless to say, you should avoid lifting heavy objects, even in the name of exercise \u2014 as this could make it harder for you to recover and prolong your condition. Resting is important as it will help you recover faster.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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3. Further measures<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Most people who suffer from should impingement will see good results after they\u2019ve gone through their rounds of medications <\/a>as well as refraining from physical activity and stretching regularly. That being said, if your symptoms persist, you should go through the alternative options with your doctor. Your physician might consider the option of a cortisone injection. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cortisone is a very powerful anti-inflammatory drug that is used only as a last resort due to the fact that it can weaken some of the muscles as well as tendons. If the symptoms still persist, your doctor might want to run an MRI to see if it is actually a rotator cuff tear. If your cuff is confirmed to be torn, you might need to undergo surgery if you hope to repair it. In lieu of an MRI, your doctor might choose to run an arthrogram instead to get the same information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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4. Treatment symptoms<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Headaches<\/a>, indigestion, and an upset stomach are some of the most common side effects that you might experience while taking oral anti-inflammatory medications. That said, you can mitigate the upset stomach side effect by only taking your medications after large meals or even during them. Anti-inflammatory medicines might also lead to stomach ulcers, constipation, and vomiting \u2014 though these side effects are significantly less common. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cortisone shots also come with their own set of side effects \u2014 but these are dependent on the frequency and dosage of the injections. In contrast to cortisone pills, cortisone injections cause severe side effects more rarely. That said, some of the potential side effects of getting cortisone in any capacity could be lowered resistance to infection, higher blood sugar levels, osteoporosis, weight gain, and higher blood pressure. Some studies have also shown that cortisone can lead to thinning of the skin in some cases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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5. Progressive pain<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Pain <\/a>is often ever-present in those with shoulder impingement. It will likely make it hard for you to accomplish even the most basic of activities including scratching your back, showering, or cooking. Any motions that involve reaching overhead \u2014 such as putting your coat on \u2014 could cause severe pain in your shoulder. As time passes, the impingement may even progress into bursitis or tendonitis \u2014 which is the inflammation of the bursa and rotator cuff tendons respectively. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If left untreated, the rotator cuff tendons could begin to thin and then eventually tear. This is why it\u2019s so important to keep your doctor in the loop as you go through the treatment process. Doctors can\u2019t tweak your treatment plan if they aren\u2019t even kept informed on what\u2019s going on during the recovery process. Good communication is key to recovering fully and promptly. You should see your doctor once a week during your recovery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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6. Diagnostic process<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There are many steps to the diagnostic process, and your doctor will likely take most of them to ensure that you have a multi-angle view of the problem. Your doctor will likely start the process with an interview that will include questions on previous injuries, diet, exercise habits, the usual stuff. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He\u2019ll likely move on to a physical exam after that, asking you to perform various motions using the shoulder to see which actions cause pain and also to see if there are any visual indications of damage. This process will make it easier for your doctor to rule out other issues like pinched nerves or dislocated shoulders. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your doctor might also sometimes have you get an x-ray to verify whether or not there are changes to the bone or perhaps even arthritis<\/a>. As a last resort, if all else fails and your doctor is still unable to make a conclusive diagnosis, they may request that you have an MRI scan to get a clear view of your shoulder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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7. You might need physical therapy<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Physical therapy can make the recovery process for shoulder impingement much easier. Physical therapy<\/a> will have you perform gentle exercises so that you can rebuild your strength and slowly expand your range of motion until it\u2019s back to normal. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you don\u2019t know any physical therapists, specifically one who specializes in shoulder injuries, you could get a referral from your doctor. If you suffer from shoulder impingement, the physical therapist will likely work the related muscle groups such as the chest, arm, and shoulder itself. This will also reduce further damage to your rotator cuff to ensure that tendonitis doesn\u2019t occur. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If your occupation requires regular use of your shoulder or if you are an athlete, your physical therapist can guide you in some proper form to ensure that future injuries don\u2019t occur. They might also give you a list of home exercises that will strengthen your muscles and bones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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8. Surgery as a last recourse<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If all else fails, surgery <\/a>might be your last shot at reconciling the issue. Surgery could be done to make the space around your rotator cuff wider so that it can move freely without rubbing or snagging on your bone. This is usually accomplished with arthroscopic surgery that is minimally invasive. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

That said, more severe cases of shoulder impingement might need more traditional open surgery. A recent study was conducted to determine whether or not it\u2019s worthwhile to remove the bone just over a case of impingement. In some, more advanced cases of shoulder impingement, the rotator cuff can end up tearing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If this occurs, you\u2019ll most likely need to undergo surgery if you hope to repair the tear to your rotator cuff. After any form of shoulder surgery, you\u2019ll most likely need to wear an arm sling to ensure that your shoulder heals properly and no further damage occurs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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9. Decrease in Range of Motion<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

People with severe shoulder impingement will notice that they start to experience a reduction in the range of motion in the shoulder. The shoulder is a free-floating joint, and most people find that they have a healthy range of motion if they can move the shoulder in all directions without feeling any pain. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, people with shoulder impingement may experience a drastic reduction in the range of motion in the joint. They may find it hard to lift the affected arm above the shoulder and experience sharp pain if they try to go beyond this limit. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The range of motion problems experienced by people with shoulder impingement causes the need for physiotherapy to recover the range of motion in the joint. The physiotherapist<\/a> will work with the patient to slowly bring their shoulder back to health. It may take months of physiotherapy and exercise at home to recover the full range of motion in the affected shoulder. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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10. Permanent Loss of Mobility<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The inflammation of the bursa in the shoulder causes severe pain and loss of range of motion in the shoulder joint. For young people, the extent of the injury is usually less severe than in seniors. Seniors lack the recovery ability of young people, and they may end up with a permanent case of shoulder impingement. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The inflammation of the bursa in the shoulders may experience constant irritation, resulting in permanent inflammation. The doctor will treat these cases with anti-inflammatory drugs and painkillers to mitigate the effects of the disorder. The patient will need to do everything they can to reduce systemic inflammation in the body, assisting with their recovery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Removing inflammatory foods like processed meats and sugar from the diet goes a long way in helping to reduce levels of systemic inflammation<\/a> in the patient. However, in some cases, the patient may not recover, even with changes to diet and physiotherapy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\r\n

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