Is it Ever a Good Idea to Push Through Shoulder Pain?

When shoulder pain strikes, it keeps you from what you love – but for how long? The reason behind your shoulder pain dictates whether you need professional treatment or you can take care of it on your own.

Pushing through the pain may pop into your mind, but it's probably not the best idea. If you're unsure of why you're having pain, it's a good idea to get treatment to avoid complications and more damage to the shoulder joint.

Dr. Steven J. Svabek and his team provide fast and efficient care for various orthopedic issues, including shoulder pain. Dr. Svabek is an orthopedic surgeon offering surgical and nonsurgical options for shoulder discomfort and injuries.

What causes shoulder pain?

The shoulders are ball-and-socket joints that are essential to everyday activities. You use your shoulders often – which becomes increasingly evident when you are experiencing shoulder pain.

Most shoulder pain happens from a traumatic injury or wear-and-tear on the joint. These injuries may include:

• Fracture
• Dislocation
• Tendonitis
• Bursitis
• Impingement
• Torn tendons

Arthritis in the joint is another common cause of chronic shoulder pain. Arthritis happens when the cartilage wears down in the joint, either from injury or overuse of the joint.

Injuries and chronic conditions that lead to shoulder pain vary in severity. You can treat some shoulder pain at home on your own, while more severe issues require professional treatment.

Should you push through the pain?

It's never a good idea to push through pain, no matter where it is in the body. Shoulder pain is no different; avoiding treatment may cause more harm than good.

It's okay to allow a mild injury or pain to heal for a few days before seeking treatment, but use caution. Take anti-inflammatories, use ice or heat, and rest the joint to reduce inflammation.

However, if you don't get relief within a few days, seeking professional treatment is a good idea. You may want to endure the pain, but it's not in your best interest. The longer you go without treatment, the worse the problem becomes.

Continuing your everyday activities with shoulder pain causes more damage to the structures involved. For example, if you have a torn rotator cuff, working through the pain only worsens the tear.

When to seek help for shoulder pain

You don't always have to seek professional treatment for shoulder pain, especially if it's mild and gets better within a few days. However, during that time, you should rest the joint and take the proper measures to minimize pain.

There are several circumstances in which you should get treatment for shoulder pain, and they include the following:

• Pain that doesn't resolve within a week
• After a severe injury or trauma
• Pain accompanied by a fever
• Redness and swelling
• Trouble moving the shoulder joint

Shoulder pain unrelated to an injury could be a sign of something else in your body. Seek immediate medical treatment if you have shoulder and arm pain with shortness of breath or dizziness and sweating.

Dr. Svabek evaluates your shoulder to determine the cause of the problem and pain. He talks to you about your symptoms and orders imaging tests to see inside the joint. He can then formulate a treatment plan to ease discomfort and get you back to your everyday life.

To get help for shoulder pain, call our office in Coral Springs, Florida, today or request a consultation with Dr. Svabek on our website.