Dealing with body pains is one of the worst feelings ever, especially if those pains are caused by a serious injury. Shoulder pains can affect your quality of life, and if ignored, the injury can become worse. Many things can cause a shoulder injury, including car accidents, falling down the stairs, sports injuries, and severe muscle strain in your rotator, to mention a few. So, what should you do after a shoulder injury?
1. Get some first aid
First things first, you need to make sure you are safe. If the cause of your injury was a car accident or any other form of impact, you should seek immediate first aid. Once you are safe, use your sleeve or shirt to wrap ice in it and apply it to the injured shoulder. You can also use something cold, like frozen peas wrapped in a towel. Cold therapy helps reduce inflammation and relieves pain caused by swelling.
2.Figure out the cause of the pain
It can be normal for people to feel some discomfort after sustaining a shoulder injury. However, if severe pain does not go away even after applying ice or resting for 2-3 days, this might be something more serious than just a sprain in your rotator cuff. Your doctor will ask about how you got injured to determine if they should perform further tests on your shoulder.
3. Visit an orthopedic physician
Orthopedic physicians specialize in treating injuries to the bones, muscles and joints. If you have visited your family physician but they were unable to treat you, you should seek help from an orthopedic physician who specializes in shoulder treatment. You can also get a referral from your primary care physician.
There are many different types of shoulder injuries, from muscle strains, tears and fractures. Your physician will determine the type of your injury after performing a physical examination and asking about the symptoms you experience.
They may ask you to get an x-ray or MRI done if there is any possibility of a fracture. This will help them rule out any need for surgery if that is the case. They may also order additional tests like CT scans or ultrasounds. Once they know what they’re dealing with, they can figure out the best course of treatment for your situation.
4. Avoid heavy lifting
After visiting an orthopedic physician and starting treatment, you should avoid heavy lifting until they tell you it’s okay. This will prevent further injury to your shoulder, and the doctor will also be able to see how effective their treatment is.
If there is a fracture or any other kind of serious condition that needs surgery, this could take months before your shoulder becomes stable enough for you to resume regular activity. In case of rotator cuff injuries, most people can begin exercises as soon as the pain allows them. In some cases, patients have reported improvement in just a few weeks after starting exercise therapy with a physical therapist.
