Best Treatment Options for Joint Pain

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Arthritis and joint pain are the most common conditions we treat at PPOA. This condition is prevalent in about 30% of U.S. adults aged 45 to 64 and climbs to close to 50% for those 65 and older. However, we believe that many more people experience arthritis in their life and simply don’t report it to their physician because they believe nothing can be done. 

Chronic pain is not normal, and it does not have to affect your life negatively forever. If you are experiencing any of the following symptoms in your joints, there is likely a treatment available for you with PPOA: 

  • Constant joint pain or stiffness
  • Joint pain that worsens due to weather, time of day, or during simple activities that should not cause pain
  • Stiffness, tingling, or numbness in the joints or extremities
  • Swelling in the joints
  • Joint pain from an injury that lasts beyond average recovery time
  • Symmetrical joint pain

These are all common signs of arthritis and other joint conditions that may develop into chronic pain. If these symptoms persist after an injury or cannot easily be explained, you may be developing arthritis. PPOA is here to help you remedy your joint pain so you can go back to living an active lifestyle pain-free. Below are just a few of the options we provide: 

Physical Therapy and At-Home Practices

Typically, our first step is the least invasive options – physical therapy and lifestyle changes. If your joint pain is caused by poor posture, work-related stress, obesity, or poor healing of an old injury, we guide you through exercises and alterations that can heal joint pain. Even if these remedies are not our only step, they are typically included in the treatment plan to help you relieve pain and prevent worsening of the condition. 

Medications and Injections

For joint pain due to injury or another temporary condition, we often prescribe topical treatments, medications, or injections to reduce pain and swelling and expedite the healing process. While we try to avoid these as long-term solutions to prevent dependency on medication, we believe that all solutions should be utilized to ensure immediate and quick relief of your symptoms. 

Regenerative Medicine

Regenerative medicine is a novel treatment that uses your stem cells to help repair damaged joints. This long-term solution allows the body to improve naturally without extended medication use or invasive procedures. It can help treat and prevent the progression of arthritis and is a favorite among patients because of its incredible results. 

Surgical Intervention

In cases of severe arthritis or joint pain due to injury, surgery may be your best option for long-term relief. Conditions like carpal tunnel and other injury-related chronic conditions may require these sorts of interventions due to the severity of the injury and difficulty repairing it. While surgery may seem like an undesirable option, the experience at PPOA is unlike other hospitals. We provide one-on-one care and ensure your stay is as quick and comfortable as possible. Surgery can be scary, but at PPOA, you are in excellent hands. 

PPOA helps patients across the U.S. find lasting relief for joint pain. If you are experiencing daily pain or joint discomfort that gets in the way of work and play, give your local clinic a call to learn what options are suitable for you.

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Can Exercise Improve Chronic Pain?

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How To Keep Moving While Recovering

When you’re in pain every day, exercise might not be the first thing on your list of to-dos. If it’s hard to get out of bed or make it to the shower without cramps, aches, or sudden pain, you may feel like the best option is to rest as much as possible. Unfortunately, while this may be the case in some circumstances, a lack of exercise may also be making your chronic pain worse.  

Everyone’s circumstances are different, but most patients see improvement in symptoms when exercise is a part of daily life. Talk to your doctor about safe exercise for your physical well-being and the best activities to improve your symptoms. 

Will exercise help my chronic pain?

In most cases, we recommend patients exercise per their physical condition. For example, someone with a slipped disc should not be participating in aerobic exercise, but they may be able to stretch or take short walks to improve their mental health. 

Below are just a few of the benefits of exercise that can help motivate you to get started: 

Exercise can help strengthen joints and muscles.

Muscle strain or weakness can cause chronic pain, such as carpal tunnel and arthritis. In addition, when the muscles are overworked or used in only one way, they can become weakened and tired. By incorporating exercise that strengthens those muscles, you can help reduce your pain. 

Exercise can help maintain a healthy weight.

Weight gain happens for many reasons, but regardless of the cause, excess weight puts more stress on your joints and skeletal system. If you’re dealing with joint or spinal pain, maintaining a healthy weight can reduce the strain on your body and help lessen the pain. Talk to your doctor about safe weight loss exercise and other options if medical issues are causing weight gain. 

Exercise improves mental function.

When battling chronic pain, it is common to feel depressed, anxious, or generally less motivated. Unfortunately, when you stop exercising, these secondary symptoms only get worse. By exercising to the best of your ability, you can improve your mood and lessen the mental burdens that come with chronic pain.

What types of exercise are best for chronic pain?

Chronic pain may limit your mobility, but that doesn’t mean you have to give up on exercise entirely. Low impact exercises can build muscle strength and cardiovascular strength without increasing pressure on the bones, muscles, and joints. Below are just a few examples of low-impact exercises you can comfortably do at home, based on your physical needs. 

  • Yoga 
  • Low impact cardio such as walking 
  • Pilates
  • Swimming
  • Biking 

Can I exercise while recovering?

If you are recovering after a chronic pain procedure such as surgery, you need to speak to your doctor about appropriate exercise for your recovery time. Surgery puts a lot of strain on the body, so it’s best to take it easy and only exercise as you and your doctor are comfortable. If you are recovering well, start slow with short walks around the neighborhood or gentle yoga sessions until you feel back to normal. And, if pain worsens or you experience other symptoms after surgery, talk to your doctor to ensure your activity level is not too high for your recovery. 

PPOA takes a comprehensive approach to pain relief, including exercise, physical therapy, and other solutions. Your wellness as a whole is considered, and we provide customized solutions for your pain problems. To learn more about PPOA’s holistic approach to pain management, contact your local office today!

 

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What is Causing my Calf Cramps?

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Leg cramps are a common pain we all experience throughout life. After a long hike, an intense swim, or when feeling dehydrated, we can all experience a minor twinge in the calves that make us sit and rest for a while. But what if your calf cramps aren’t happening just now and then? If you’re experiencing calf or leg cramps frequently, you may be experiencing a muscle injury or chronic pain condition. 

This article will explore the various causes, symptoms, treatments, and prevention methods for calf pain. However, if you believe something serious is going on, it is always best to contact your pain specialist for a consultation and diagnosis. 

What is causing my calf cramps?

Calf cramps happen for several reasons. Sometimes, overexertion of the muscles or dehydration can cause temporary calf strain. However, recurring issues can worsen your calf cramps or have them coupled with shin splints and other injuries. 

Dehydration or low electrolytes –

Your muscles depend on water and electrolytes to function during exercise. If you aren’t drinking water and replenishing your body with electrolytes like potassium and magnesium, you could be doing your body a disservice. 

Too much exercise

Muscle strain will happen if you increase your exercise regimen too much or too fast. It would help if you paced yourself to see the results you want without ending up with an injury. 

Lack of pre-workout stretching

Stretching before a workout loosens up the muscles and prepares them for more challenging work ahead. If you start a 5K run after sitting all day, you’ll likely injure yourself and have calf cramps later. 

Pre-existing medical conditions

Sometimes, calf cramps signify an underlying condition that needs medical attention. Contact your doctor immediately if you are experiencing calf cramps but have not changed your activity levels.  

How can I avoid calf cramps?

If your calf cramps are due to exercise or stress, there are several ways you can prevent them in the future: 

Use heat to relax muscles

A heating pad or hot bath can help relax the muscles after exercise and prevent camping later. If you feel exhausted after a workout, soothe with a heat compress to avoid pain the next day. 

Stay hydrated and eat before exercising.

Replenish your body with water and electrolytes before and after a workout. A healthy snack and electrolyte water can help you feel better throughout the day. 

Stretch your legs

Stretching before and after a workout will help you feel looser, creating a better exercise experience. Be sure to do this five minutes before and after your workout to take care of your muscles properly. 

Should I see a doctor?

In some cases, calf cramps can signify something more serious than a strenuous workout recovery. If your leg pain is sudden, chronic, or has occurred without changing physical activity. You should consult your pain specialist. Sudden or unexpected calf cramps could be a sign of severe muscle strain, Achilles tendonitis, deep vein thrombosis, or compartment syndrome. 

PPOA treats all types of leg pain, from sports injuries to chronic conditions. If you are ready to be free of chronic leg pain, give your local PPOA office a call to schedule a consultation.

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Handling Heartbreak: Why am I in pain after a breakup?

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The pain of a breakup is something no one ever wants to feel. It is poignant enough to make many couples avoid a breakup at all costs, even if it’s been coming for a long time. Not only are breakups emotionally tumultuous, but they can also cause physical pain. Every time you think of your ex, you get sick to your stomach or feel your heartbeat hard in your chest as if you were genuinely ill. 

If you are experiencing the gut-wrenching pain of a breakup right now, you’re not alone, and you’re not crazy for feeling intense physical pain along with the emotional hurt. In this article, we’ll explore the reason for your physical pain and provide different ways to ease it as time passes. 

The Physical Pain of a Broken Heart

After a breakup, the feeling of rejection and loss is more than just grief. fMRI studies have shown that when a person feels rejected or abandoned, the same centers of the brain that respond to physical pain are activated. This study looked at 40 participants who were asked to look at photos of their ex after a recent breakup. The same pain centers associated with physical pain were activated, showing the physical hurt of a separation is often just as intense as the emotional ones. 

The problem with breakup pain is no pill or surgery to fix it. As physicians, we can treat a broken bone or torn muscle, but we cannot provide an instant cure for the pain of loss. The pain can last for months or years and often comes with other symptoms that make daily life more difficult. 

Everyday Experiences After A Breakup

If you are going through the withdrawals of heartbreak, you may experience these common “symptoms.”

Intense feelings of grief

People handle breakups differently, but grief is the universal symptom that makes us all hurt. Even if you were the one who initiated the split, it is normal to feel grief for the time, love, and companionship that was lost.

Intrusive thoughts

You may find it hard to concentrate while at work or when hanging out with friends due to intrusive thoughts about your ex. You reminisce about the good times or replay old fights in your head, obsessing about the relationship more than ever before. In many ways, this experience is similar to drug withdrawals. Though you don’t experience the physical symptoms, you may feel that your lie is empty and that you need something to fill the gap where your partner once stood. 

Changes in sleep and eating habits

You may have trouble falling asleep the first few nights (especially if you’re crying a lot) or find that you have difficulty getting out of bed in the aftermath. Some people eat comfort food to feel better, while others feel too stressed to eat normally. While these habits do not want to form, be kind to yourself and understand that these temporary disruptions are a normal reaction to loss. 

How To Ease The Pain

Despite the physical pain of a breakup, most of us are expected to go back to work and fulfill our social obligations just the same. Therefore, it’s natural to want to ease this pain in any way possible. While you can’t run from the feelings of heartbreak, there are several steps you can take to make your day-to-day activities easier. 

Be mindful of your eating, drinking, and sleeping patterns

During a breakup, your world can begin to feel like it’s spiraling out of control. While this is difficult to control, you want to watch your habits to ensure they don’t make things worse. Try to control your eating and drinking if it becomes excessive, and make an effort to stick to your regular sleeping and waking times.

Reconnect with activities you love

Relationships take up a lot of our time. After one ends, it may feel like you have too much free time to sit and think about the breakup, which can be problematic all on its own. Instead, invest the time you now have into hobbies and activities you love. This will help you find yourself again after the breakup and busy your mind with thoughts about your ex. 

Enjoy your own company

Often, in relationships, we have to make sacrifices of our time and tend to the needs of the partnership. This can make it easy for us to lose part of ourselves in the process. To heal your broken heart, treat yourself kindly and do things for yourself that you’d want your partner to do for you. Take yourself out for coffee, or treat yourself to a night in to watch your favorite movie. These acts of self-care can help you learn to enjoy single life (at least for now). 

Heartbreak may feel catastrophic, but the pain will subside with time and dedication to self-care. However, if symptoms of depression worsen or are exacerbating your chronic pain symptoms, contact your physician for help. 

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What are the Different Causes of Jaw Pain?

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Jaw pain is one of the more complex types of pain to ignore. Because it is centered on the face, it can make participating in focused or social activity tough. While you may think it’s just a cramp, severe or ongoing jaw pain can be a sign of serious dental or muscular problems. This article will explore the common causes of jaw pain and what to do if yours doesn’t subside. 

Different Causes of Jaw Pain

If your jaw pain doesn’t subside after a few hours of its onset, you may want to explore some of these causes to determine whether or not to see a physician: 

Temporomandibular joint and muscle disorder (TMD)

This is one of the most common causes of jaw pain caused by injury, overuse, or inflammation of the “hinge” joints on each side of your jaw. Like arthritis, it can cause pain, clicking sounds in the joint, or other symptoms that inhibit your ability to move your jaw comfortably. 

Tooth decay

If a cavity, abscess, infection, or gum disease progress without treatment, it may cause pain that radiates down the jaw. This pain will likely progress slowly but can become constant and unbearable if not treated soon. Be sure to visit your dentist frequently and make an appointment immediately if the pain in the tooth begins to cause problems with the jaw. 

Myofascial pain syndrome

This is a lesser common cause of jaw pain but can signify a more severe problem. Myofascial pain syndrome is caused by pressure on sensitive or “trigger” spots in the muscles, often overworking them. It can cause pain in the power itself or unrelated parts of the body (referred pain). 

Trigeminal neuralgia

This condition is caused by compression of the trigeminal nerve responsible for feeling in a large portion of the face. It is not limited to the jaw but can often cause pain in the upper and lower jaw. Luckily, trigeminal neuralgia is not typical, but it may be a cause of your unexplained jaw pain. 

Heart attack

While this is rare, in some circumstances, heart attacks can cause pain in other areas of the body, including the jaw. Referred pain in the left side of the jaw is more common among women but can happen to anyone. If you have any of the following symptoms coupled with jaw pain on one side, call 911 and seek immediate medical attention: shortness of breath, dizziness, nausea, sweating, chest pain, or feeling lightheaded. 

When To Seek Help

Jaw pain can be caused by a toothache or overworking the muscles, typically not severe. However, if your jaw pain is unexplained, painful, or persists for more than a few days, you should seek help to determine a diagnosis and possible treatment options. The longer you wait to treat jaw pain, the worse your symptoms may become. Before it becomes an unbearable daily pain, talk to your local PPOA for help with jaw pain. 

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Can yoga help with my pain?

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Yoga – the practice of body, breath, and mindfulness exercises to enhance wellbeing – is one of the most popular ways to self-remedy both physical and mental issues people face every day. Whether you’re trying to ease the tension of the workday or engage in a bit of self-care after an emotional event, yoga can help you relax physically and mentally and better engage with the world around you. 

However, is there a science to the ways yoga can mitigate pain? In this article, we’ll look at the various benefits of yoga and how you can safely practice yoga to improve chronic pain symptoms.

The Benefits of Yoga

Many people cite enhanced relaxation of the body and mind as the primary benefit of regular yoga practice. Along with the nice stretch your muscles can experience, yoga teaches us to breathe deeply, let our minds relax, and focus on the present moment. While these benefits may not seem like a concrete treatment for chronic pain, research shows that it can alleviate some of the tension built up after a year of stress.

The injury itself doesn’t solely cause chronic pain. It heightens the awareness of the nervous system and can cause emotional traumas that further intensify the injury’s physical symptoms. In this way, the mind works against healing from chronic pain. 

When someone practices yoga with focus, they can help retrain the mind to engage in a state of relaxation. Rather than hyper-focusing on pain, your body is focused on rejuvenation. This can not only help heal the emotional trauma caused by an injury or chronic pain condition but can lessen one’s sensitivity to pain both in the short- and long term. 

How To Practice Yoga Safely 

If you are struggling with chronic pain, it is essential to practice safely, not further exacerbate your injury. It is best to begin yoga practice with a licensed instructor who can discuss your current medical issues and guide you in a safe method for your body. However, if you want to get started at home, these tips can ensure you are safe throughout the session: 

  • Don’t push yourself too far. If something starts to hurt in a particular pose, back off or try an alternative within your comfortable range of motion.
  • Begin with gentle or beginner yoga practices. Advanced yoga sessions may involve intense stretches, strength-building poses, or other activities that may put you at risk if you are not experienced. Start with simple exercises and build yourself up with the help of an instructor. 
  • Choose all seated or standing exercises if you aren’t comfortable in certain positions. For example, yoga exercises like the downward-facing dog or plank pose may be uncomfortable if you struggle with wrist pain. If you are struggling to get into these postures comfortably, skip them altogether or find a session catered to your specific needs. 

Yoga is one of the most excellent everyday practices you can use to help alleviate chronic pain. However, it is often not enough to reduce symptoms entirely. If you are looking for long-lasting therapeutic options for regular pain treatment, contact your local PPOA clinic to learn about medical interventions that will work for you. 

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NHS’s List of Worst Possible Pain Experiences

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One might think that the most significant source of the pain would come from traumatic injuries like animal bites or car accidents.  However, the National Health Service (NHS) has found that many common injuries and illnesses can cause pain that is just as excruciating, if not more so.  During a traumatic injury, your body rushes with adrenaline and other hormones that temporarily deaden the pain. However, if you have a creeping illness, shock does not protect you from pain.

Below is the NHS’s list of worst pain experiences a human can have, and what you read here may surprise you:

  • Shingles – a painful rash caused by the varicella-zoster virus
  • Cluster headaches – sudden and excruciating headaches that center around the eye
  • Frozen shoulder – a degenerative disease of the shoulder joint that can make it nearly impossible to lift one’s arm, with constant aches and pains in the area
  • Broken bones
  • Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) – prolonged pain after a traumatic injury to the limb
  • Heart attack
  • Slipped disc – The bulging and degradation of the disc padding between vertebrae
  • Sickle cell disease – Malformation of blood cells that causes a variety of painful symptoms
  • Arthritis
  • Migraine 
  • Sciatica – compression of the spinal nerves
  • Kidney stones – Deposits of minerals in the kidneys that pass through the urethra, causing excruciating pain as they move
  • Appendicitis – inflammation or rupture of the appendix
  • Trigeminal neuralgia – Chronic pain in the nerves of the head and face
  • Acute pancreatitis – inflammation of the pancreas
  • Gout – An inflammatory arthritis of the joints
  • Endometriosis – Tissue that usually lines the uterus begins forming outside the uterine wall, causing painful cysts and other symptoms
  • Stomach ulcer
  • Fibromyalgia – A disease-causing widespread pain, fatigue, sleeping problems, and other medical issues
  • Pain after surgery

Unfortunately, many of these conditions cause chronic pain. If not treated, they can debilitate you significantly and impact your life quality in unimaginable ways. However, options other than medication and tolerance can help you recover from a chronic pain illness. 

Talk to your local PPOA clinic to learn more about chronic pain treatments for various diseases and conditions. We can help you avoid some of these common causes of debilitating pain and give you your life back to enjoy. Give us a call today to learn more.

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The truth about long-term COVID pain

We are now in the third year of the COVID-19 pandemic, wreaking havoc in hospitals, homes, and families nationwide. To date, over 50 million Americans have recovered from the virus, but 13 million of those survivors are reporting symptoms weeks or months after negative test results come back. This “long COVID,” as many call it, is both a mystery and great concern for researchers who believe the effects of the disease can be lifelong in some cases. 

Symptoms of Long-COVID

Long-term COVID symptoms are typically not as severe as symptoms during an active infection, but they can disrupt routines and make daily activities significantly more difficult. The top five reported symptoms from long-COVID include: 

  • Cough and shortness of breath
  • Fatigue
  • Mental “fog” and headaches
  • Pain in the chest and joints
  • Loss of taste and smell

Long-COVID and Chronic Pain

Unfortunately, chronic pain is becoming increasingly reported among long-COVID patients. Reports show that the Omicron variant of COVID-19 is causing more back and muscle pain than previous variants, which could be contributing to this phenomenon. The inflammation caused by the virus, coupled with prolonged periods of bed rest, can all make back pain, joint pain, and general aches throughout the body worse over time. 

Inflammation is a common side effect in all types of viral infections, leading to flare-ups of existing conditions such as arthritis. If your pre-existing joint pain is worse now, it could be caused by the virus and may not go away for a long time. If this is the case, you need to contact your PPOA pain specialist to discuss options for your worsened arthritis or other chronic pain conditions. 

Ways to Lessen Long-COVID Symptoms

Long-COVID may feel like the worst thing in the world right now, but there are ways to speed your recovery and get your old lifestyle back. If you are struggling weeks or months after a negative test result, here’s what to do: 

Engage in light exercise

Preliminary research shows that light exercise can aid in lessening symptoms of fatigue and soreness and potentially improve breathing. Simple activities like yoga or walking around the block are recommended to help boost energy levels and mood—however, it’s essential to listen to your body and not over-exert yourself if exercise is too strenuous.

Limiting alcohol and caffeine intake

Alcohol and caffeine intake can disrupt your circadian rhythm, making the recovery process that much more complicated. Unfortunately, alcohol consumption is rising due to COVID-19, making prolonged sickness even worse. If you can, limit or avoid alcohol and caffeine altogether to ensure your body gets enough rest and can adequately recover. 

Quit smoking

Smokers often have a hard time recovering from COVID-19 because of the damage smoking does to your respiratory system. Quitting smoking is never a bad idea, but it is especially beneficial if you still suffer from COVID-19 symptoms. Even lessening your cigarette, e-cig, or other smoking device intake can help you recover faster. 

Eat healthily

It is no secret that processed, carb-rich diets can make anyone feel not their best, but this is especially true when battling illness. High-fiber diets along with plenty of protein and fresh foods can nourish your body for a faster recovery. 

Long-term COVID pain is serious. If none of these methods work for you, it may be time to talk to a specialist to determine the cause of your long-term symptoms. If you have pain questions or would like to speak to a doctor, contact your local PPOA office today. 

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How To Cope With Undiagnosed Chronic Pain

We hear this story all too often at PPOA clinics. A patient comes to us exasperated – they’ve been to every doctor and specialist in their area trying to express the magnitude of their pain or fatigue. Test after test; question after never-ending question; and yet, their doctors still can’t give them any other answer than “It’s all in your head.” Hearing this repeatedly makes the patient start to doubt their own experiences and honestly believe they’ve gone crazy. 

This worsens when their family starts to doubt their experience. Loved ones start to tune, saying, “You must be faking it so you can get out of this or that.” They may tell you you’re lazy, exaggerating, or simply trying to get your hands on pain medication. But the pain is still there, and it’s real. 

Some of these patients end up in our clinics, where they finally find what they’ve been looking for. A physician sits down with them, asks about their pain, and has someone believe them for the first time in a long time. At PPOA, our first response is to diagnose and treat, not assume our patients are wrong about their symptoms. Invisible pain is accurate, and there are options out there for those who refuse to give up. 

Why Your Pain Is Being Ignored

Many chronic pain conditions, such as fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome, are challenging to diagnose with blood tests or scans. Therefore, physicians rely on self-reported symptoms and patient history to determine a diagnosis. An experienced physician will assess the clues and correctly diagnose these chronic pain conditions. Still, inexperienced physicians or those who do not work with chronic pain may miss these signs.

This is why psychological diagnoses are commonly used to explain chronic pain, even if not the actual cause. To add to this problematic situation, women develop chronic pain conditions at much higher rates. The medical field has had a strong history of misdiagnosing women’s health issues. Despite the headway made in today’s society, many women work against subconscious prejudice when going to the doctor for their chronic pain. 

How To Cope With Undiagnosed Chronic Pain

The most important thing we encourage patients to do is not give up. There is a diagnosis for you, and it often begins with finding the right pain specialist who will treat your condition seriously. Below are three steps. 

Journal your symptoms.

Chronic pain conditions are difficult to diagnose, so the more information you can give to your doctor, the better equipped you’ll both be to find a solution. Keeping a daily journal of symptoms over a few weeks or months can help your doctor spot patterns and better understand your condition.

Listen to your body.

Many people with undiagnosed chronic pain feel they have to “fake it” or hide their symptoms around those who don’t believe them. They are led to believe that they are a burden, but this can inhibit your recovery and make you push your body beyond its limits. Just remember, you come first before other people’s beliefs of you. 

Don’t let shaming affect your search for answers.

Others will likely try to tell you that your pain is exaggerated or that you’re trying to get pain killers from your doctor. This shaming reflects those around you, not a reflection of your character. Tune out this negativity, even from well-meaning loved ones, because it will only hinder your search for answers. 

PPOA is a specialist in all types of chronic pain, and we work toward long-lasting solutions that won’t slow you down. If you are interested in scheduling a consultation for your undiagnosed chronic pain, give your local office a call today!

 

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Ways To Treat Rotator Cuff Pain

Rotator cuff tears are a common muscular injury where the muscles that connect and keep the shoulder together become damaged. This can happen due to a fall, a repetitive motion of the shoulders such as throwing or lifting, or from wear and tear due to age. While rotator cuff injuries are not life-threatening, they can cause disruptions in daily life and activities and intense pain throughout the shoulder. 

Rotator cuff tears and rotator cuff tendinitis (inflammation of the shoulder’s tendons) make it hard to enjoy your favorite hobbies and activities. They can also lead to long-term disability or pain when not treated. If you are experiencing recurring shoulder pain, it may be time to talk to your physician about at-home remedies and treatments:

5 Ways To Treat Rotator Cuff Pain

Whether you’re experiencing a sports injury or feeling the pain from years of manual work, treating your rotator cuff injury is essential to your quality of life. Below are the five most common ways to treat tears and inflammation in the rotator cuff, all of which you can discuss with your PPOA pain specialist: 

RICE

Rest, ice, compression, and elevation are the best at-home remedies for minor muscular injuries. Keep your shoulder elevated and allow swelling to naturally go down with the help of an ice pack. Resting the muscles is also essential in the first few days after injury, but don’t let them atrophy for too long. Talk to your doctor about exercises you can do in the days and weeks after the injury to strengthen the muscles and ensure proper recovery. 

Physical therapy

If your rotator cuff injury has caused significant damage to the muscle, you may need physical therapy. This can help build strength back in your muscles and prevent long-term pain from improper healing. 

Pain medications

During the recovery period, your doctor may prescribe a variety of pain medications, from simple over-the-counter NSAIDs to stronger medications for severe injuries. We use pain medication at PPOA to help patients overcome the first few days after an injury, but do not recommend medication as a long-term solution for chronic rotator cuff pain. 

Injections

Nerve blocking injections are sometimes used for rotator cuff injuries if other treatments are not sufficient. While this is not an ideal long-term solution, it can help patients recover without the need for surgery. 

Surgery

If the rotator cuff injury is severe, your doctor may recommend surgery for long-term relief and improved function of the shoulder. This is common in sports injuries and can ensure mobility in the shoulder even after a severe tear or dislocation. 

PPOA offers an array of treatment options for our patients, tailored specifically to your needs and long-term goals. If you are interested in alternate options for a rotator cuff injury, contact your local PPOA clinic today. 

 

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