What are the Treatments for a Shoulder Injury?

A shoulder injury, no matter its cause, can seriously impede normal shoulder joint function and cause significant pain. Using appropriate treatment strategies to treat a shoulder injury is necessary to ensure proper healing.

Rest

• Avoiding unnecessary shoulder movements and allowing an injured shoulder to rest is an effective treatment strategy that can help reduce the pain, irritation and swelling caused by various types of shoulder joint injuries.

Ice Treatment

• Applying ice to a shoulder injury can help reduce soft tissue swelling and irritation, and reduce pain levels. Ice can best be applied using an ice pack or a bag of ice wrapped in a towel.

Compression

• Compressing an injured shoulder with a joint wrap or nylon brace can help reduce shoulder swelling and pain, and prevent excessive shoulder movement.

Elevation

• Raising an injured shoulder and keeping it elevated above the level of the heart can help reduce soft tissue swelling and irritation, especially immediately after a shoulder injury.

Pain Management

• The pain and discomfort of a shoulder injury can be reduced and managed by using a variety of pain medications, including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory pain medications such as Tylenol and Advil.