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One of the body’s most important joints, the shoulder (and its surrounding muscles) helps you to perform several important and essential daily movements such as grabbing, lifting, and moving objects, and more involved functions like throwing or catching.

Because of its wide range of motion and frequency of use, your shoulder is susceptible to a painful condition known as shoulder impingement syndrome which can spiral into more pain and discomfort if not properly diagnosed and treated.

Symptoms of Shoulder Impingement

Shoulder impingement syndrome is the result of your rotator cuff rubbing between your humerus and the top edge of your shoulder. Frequent rubbing further narrows the space and creates more swelling, pain, and irritation.

There are several symptoms of shoulder impingement syndrome, including but not limited to:

• Feeling pain when your arms are extended above your head
• Feeling pain when you lift and lower your arm
• Pain in the front of your shoulder
• General shoulder and arm weakness and stiffness

3 Recommended Treatments for Shoulder Impingement

1. Pain relievers

   At the recommendation of your healthcare provider, over-the-counter pain relievers can help mitigate pain during recovery from shoulder impingement syndrome. If your doctor deems it necessary, you may also be prescribed cortisone shots.

2. Ice application

   Apply ice to the affected area at least twice a day for a total of 40 minutes if possible to reduce pain and swelling.

3. Professional physical therapy 

   Ultimately, you should seek treatment and therapy at the first sign of shoulder impingement symptoms. Your orthopaedic specialist will create a plan of various exercises to strengthen your shoulder muscles combined with prescribed medication to reduce pain and swelling. In more severe cases, surgery intervention may be recommended.

If you believe you have shoulder impingement syndrome, know that the team of orthopaedic specialists and physicians at Orthopaedic Associates of St. Augustine can help reduce and relieve your pain with expert treatment plans and advanced surgical procedures.

Set Your Shoulder Straight With Orthopaedic Associates of St. Augustine

At Orthopaedic Associates of St. Augustine, we’re proud to play a role in helping patients regain mobility and get back to their daily routines without pain. If you’ve experienced a shoulder injury or another type of orthopaedic injury, our team is here to help.

To schedule a consultation, please request an appointment online or give us a call today at 904-825-0540.

Sina Kasraeian, MD 
Board Certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery and has extensive training in arthroscopy and sports medicine reconstructive procedures.

 

Albert Volk, MD 
Board certifications in Orthopaedic Surgery and Sports Medicine. Dr. Volk specializes in an all-arthroscopic rotator cuff repair of the shoulder.