Conservative Treatment for Shoulder Impingement

Shoulder Impingement Syndrome is when the soft tissues in the shoulder, the rotator cuff, and the subacrmial bursa all become inflamed. This inflammation is usually caused from playing sports or from repetitive motions such as overhead lifting.

Symptoms

• Someone experiencing shoulder impingement syndrome will have a smaller range of motion in their shoulder. This makes movements such as overhead lifting or reaching behind the back painful. Additional symptoms include pain and weakness in the muscles of the shoulder. Some may also feel numbness and tingling.

Stretching Exercises

• Stretching exercises and physical therapy combined with refraining from repetitive overhead activities will help calm the condition.

NSAID

• The first line of treatment for shoulder impingement is NSAID medications. Generally over-the-counter medications such as ibuprofen, naproxen, and aspirin are commonly used. Most physicians will try this treatment for about six to eight weeks to see if there will be any positive results.

Cortisone

• If NSAIDS alone don't relieve the pain the next step in treatment is an injection. The injection is of steroids, typically cortisone. This injection can provide immediate and longer lasting relief of pain.

MRI

• If NSAIDs and Cortisone don't work then a doctor may order an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging). This MRI will allow them to see what is going on inside the joint. From the MRI image, the doctor will determine what further treatment is needed. This will also determine whether surgery is recommended.