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If you hurt your shoulder, you're probably going to get a sprain. Sprained shoulder occurs when your shoulder muscles strain or tear excessively. Sports and falls cause most shoulder sprains. You should still see a doctor to get an official diagnosis, even though you may be able to handle your symptoms at home.

What Is a Shoulder Sprain?

Ligaments, muscles, and tendons work together to strengthen and move the shoulder. Ligaments connect shoulder bones, whereas tendons tie muscle to bone. Shoulder sprains and strains occur when ligaments, shoulder muscles, or tendon fibers overstretch or rip. These injuries can impede arm movement and create acute or chronic pain.

Our shoulder specialists treat strains and sprains. They use physical and occupational therapists, as well as a variety of medical therapies, to help you recover and return to work, sports, or other activities quickly. Pain management in Dallas may prescribe surgery for severe shoulder sprains or strains that do not respond to alternative therapies.

Medical Treatments for Shoulder Sprain

Physicians may prescribe a combination of corticosteroid injections, pain relief medication, rest, and ice to alleviate the discomfort associated with shoulder sprains and strains while soft tissues recover. Commonly, these sprained shoulder treatments are implemented in conjunction with occupational or physical therapy. Some light shoulder sprains and strains may get better with these methods, but more serious sprains and strains may need surgery. A pinched nerve in shoulder blade can cause pain, tingling and numbness in the affected area and also radiates down the arm.

Ice, Rest, & Immobilization

In the event that you are diagnosed with a shoulder strain or sprain, your doctor may suggest that you rest and stay immobile in order to reduce pain between shoulder blades. Your doctor might tell you to change the things you do every day to keep the shoulder from getting stressed. Some things that might help are not putting your hands above your head, using a sling to support and keep the shoulder joint still, and not moving anything on the side of the body that is hurt. Your doctor will tell you how long you need to rest and stay immobile based on how bad the injury is. Return to normal activities when symptoms ease and the shoulder heals. So what is the fastest way to heal a sprained shoulder? By icing your shoulder reduces tissue swelling. Your doctor may recommend icing the shoulder three times a day for 15 minutes for several weeks.

Prescription Painkiller

The pain that a shoulder sprain or strain may produce is most pronounced when the arm is lifted and used. Some of this pain comes from soft tissue inflammation around the injury. NSAIDs, like ibuprofen or naproxen, may be prescribed by doctors to lower pain and inflammation. If severe shoulder discomfort stops you from working or doing daily tasks, doctors may prescribe additional painkillers for one or two weeks. These powerful painkillers help you function. Doctors advise against long-term use.

Corticosteroid Injection

Shoulder pain specialists in Dallas administer corticosteroid injections to alleviate shoulder sprain or strain discomfort. Doctors usually prescribe injections after other treatments fail. The shoulder can be injected with potent anti-inflammatory steroids. Your doctor may numb the area with a local anesthetic and use ultrasonography to guide corticosteroid injections. Corticosteroids are often mixed with anesthetics to make the process less painful for a few hours afterward. Shoulder pain often returns hours after the injection. A corticosteroid usually works within two or three days. Only two or three shots each year are advised by our doctors. Injection-site pain and bruising may occur.

Physical & Occupational Therapy For Shoulder Strains

Shoulder sprains and strains may require physical or occupational treatment from specialists. Occupational and physical therapists at Premier Pain Center can teach shoulder training and flexibility exercises. This relieves pain and prevents harm. The best doctor for shoulder pain near me will customize your treatment plan based on your injury, lifestyle, and sports goals. They also demonstrate strategies to conduct regular tasks without aggravating shoulder ligament, muscle, or tendon injuries.

For example, an occupational therapist can instruct you on how to sit properly, position your shoulders while typing, and perform exercises that keep your shoulders relaxed while you work if you have developed a muscle strain from hunching over your computer. The doctor can also help you adapt your workstation to lessen shoulder stress and prevent another injury.

Your physical therapist may give you shoulder-strengthening and stretching exercises. These motions can lessen rotator cuff tension and avoid injury. Many of these activities are home-based. They can ease arm movements and reduce pain when used daily.

Additional techniques may be suggested by a physical therapist to improve soft tissue function and improve your overall sense of well-being. Some integrative health techniques include acupuncture, massage, heat, and ice. Doctors decide how many weeks of physical or occupational treatment you require. Age, health, injury location, and severity affect recovery time.

How Long Does a Sprained Shoulder Take To Heal?

After treating an injured shoulder, you should feel better gradually. You may re-injure or worsen your shoulder ligaments if you strain them before they've healed. Ask your doctor how much shoulder use you can have while healing. Most of the time, shoulder sprains are short-term problems that won't affect you in the future. After your provider has determined that it is safe to resume training or playing sports, the majority of sprains do not interfere with your ability to remain active or participate in sports. Sprained shoulder recovery time varies. Shoulder sprains take weeks to heal. Sprained shoulder mend differently depending on severity:

• Mild sprains often heal in 2–4 weeks.

• Moderate sprains take 4–6 weeks to heal.

• Severe sprains may take months and require surgery or physical therapy.

Expectations will be set by your doctor. Ask a shoulder injury doctor in Dallas what activities and motions are safe while healing. They'll tell you when to resume shoulder-intensive exercise.

Note From Premier Pain Centers