Rotator Cuff Pain

Non-Surgical Rotator Cuff Pain Remedies

Have you ever felt acute pain on the front or the outside of your shoulders that gets worse with lifting motions?  If your answer is a resoundingly painful yes, then you might have rotator cuff pain from injuries sustained from sports and even from daily activities.  Fortunately, you have two non-surgical options when it comes to relieving pain brought by injuries to the shoulders' rotator cuffs.  Just remember to consult first with your physician before taking medications and engaging in shoulder exercises.   You want to get well, not place more stress on your shoulders, hence, worsening the injury and the pain.  

Home Remedies and Medications

You can actually perform home remedies to alleviate the pain brought by an injured rotator cuff, which means that you spend little money.  First, you can favor your injured shoulder by letting it rest.  Well, of course, you can still use your injured shoulder for daily activities like writing, driving and washing although you must never subject it to strenuous activities like lifting moderate to heavy weights and playing sports such as tennis and football. 

Second, you can consult with your doctor so as to get appropriate prescriptions for anti-inflammatory and pain medications.  These will include ibuprofen and naproxen taken orally although injections of anti-inflammatory steroids will also help. Often, this is the best rotator cuff pain option available without going the surgical route.  

Third, you can regularly apply ice to the painful area.  This will help lessen the swelling and the pain that, unfortunately, can interfere in daily life as well as interrupt your sleep. 

When no visible changes are felt, you have to consult with your doctor for possible surgery.  Keep in mind that your rotator cuff pain options are myriad, of which your doctor can competently advise you on.

Home Exercises

You can also do special exercises to hasten recovery from the injury sustained to the shoulders.  Just remember to be as gentle as possible to avoid worsening your condition.

The following exercises are highly recommended:

• Range of motion - While leaning over, let your injured arm dangle straight down and then begin drawing circles in the air.  You must start with small circles and then progress to bigger ones, which you can repeat 5-10 times daily.  However, if you feel pain, stop and try again later. 
  


• Rotator cuff strengthening - Standing next to a closed door with a strong doorknob, loop a piece if rubber tubing around it.  Bend the arm closest to the door at 90-degree angle and then grab at the tubing to pull it across your stomach.  You can do 10 rep of this exercise daily.
  


• Upper extremity strengthening - When you feel that your shoulder can take more weight, then you can advance to lifting weights while lying down.