Everything You Need to Know About Shoulder Impingement Syndrome

A painful or restricted shoulder can wreak havoc on various parts of your life, and you may be suffering from shoulder impingement syndrome if you’re facing those issues right now. Here’s some helpful information about the condition. 

What Is Shoulder Impingement Syndrome?

Should impingement syndrome is a painful condition that affects the rotator cuff. The rotator cuff is a rounded collection of muscles situated in between several shoulder bones. These muscles give you the mobility you need to move your arm around and reach sideways, upward, backward, etc. In shoulder impingement syndrome, the rotator cuff swells and then presses against the bones in its path, causing pain and discomfort.

The amount of pain sufferers feel usually separates this condition from other conditions. Frozen shoulder is a similar ailment, but it usually doesn’t cause the pain that shoulder impingement causes, though it may cause a more severe level of immobility. 

Symptoms of Shoulder Impingement

Pain is one of the most prevalent symptoms of shoulder impingement. You’ll likely feel pain in the beginning and throughout the life of the condition. The discomfort may increase as your rotator cuff becomes swollen and rubs against the surrounding bones. In some cases, shoulder impingement is like a vicious cycle of swelling, rubbing, and more inflammation, which causes more pain.  

What Causes Shoulder Impingement Syndrome?

Shoulder impingement usually comes from an injury, such as a fall on the arm or an accident. It can also come from repetitive stressful movements or age-related body changes, but the bulk of cases come from sports and unforeseen incidents. 

What Treatments Work for Shoulder Impingement Syndrome? 

You and your practitioner can decide on the most effective treatment method for the condition. These are some of the most common care and management options:

Immobilization

Immobilization may be the first treatment method a specialist suggests. Unlike the frozen shoulder, shoulder impingement syndrome is usually injury related and may require you to keep the painful area still for some time. 

Pain Medication

You may receive pain medication to treat the discomfort for a short while. The doctor might give you prescription-grade ibuprofen, which will manage the inflammation. Alternatively, you might receive a temporary narcotic pain reliever. 

Cortizone Shots

Cortizone shots are another alternative solution that can help with the condition, as they reduce the body’s reaction to the rubbing. You’ll likely feel some relief after one or two injections. 

Physical Therapy

Physical therapy is often known as the “long way” of healing, but it’s the least dangerous and most effective. Thus, your practitioner may instruct you to begin such therapy after a certain amount of recovery time passes. 

Heat and/or Electricity

Heat and electromagnetic therapies can also be used or combined to treat shoulder impingement syndrome. Other treatment methods include acupuncture, ultrasound, and manual therapy. 

Now you have some information about shoulder impingement syndrome and why it happens. 

Other issues can mimic this ailment. Therefore, you should schedule a prompt meeting with a doctor or medical facility to diagnose the problem and find a solution to get back to enjoyable health. 

Categorized in: Shoulder Impingement Syndrome

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