Shoulder pain may be common among active people. Its first few symptoms may be stiffness in the shoulder area with concomitant slight pain. The shoulder may also feel heavy, with the pain gradually increasing causing more discomfort. This is normally indicative of the fact that tendons in the shoulder are swollen or inflamed. There are a number of methods which can be resorted to if only to relieve persistent shoulder pain. But it must be emphasized here that the ultimate objective of relieving or getting rid of shoulder pain is not just to ease out the pain but to also restore the normal functioning of one's shoulders. It is possible that under normal circumstances no pain is felt in the shoulder area except when certain activities are performed such as carrying solid objects even if such objects are not really heavy. In this case, the shoulders may not experience any pain under relaxed conditions but the person may not carry out certain normal or usual activities and functions.



Therefore, the question on how to get rid of shoulder pain should boil down to relieving the pain and restoring the normal functioning of the shoulders.

To relieve shoulder pain, some rehabilitation therapists would recommend an active rest of the shoulder. This however does not mean that the person is prevented from moving the shoulders and doing certain light activities. “Resting the shoulders” only means that a person avoids doing excessive and strenuous activities that may stress and aggravate the conditions of the shoulders. Some of these strenuous activities include lifting heavy weights or objects, push ups, other sports such as badminton, basketball, or tennis among others.

Putting ice on the part of the shoulder where the pain is persistent may also prove helpful. The idea is that the area where the pain is most felt may be an inflamed area. Ice has the effect of easing out the inflammation. Thus, applying ice may prove helpful up to some extent. Drinking anti-inflammatory medicines which have pain-relieving effect may also be an effective method to get rid of shoulder pain. Ibuprofen and naproxen may work against shoulder pains.

One alternative means of relieving the pain in the shoulder area would be acupuncture. Limited forms of exercises may also be advised. Shoulder exercise however must be done meticulously so as not to stress the shoulders. Special shoulder exercises which consist of some simple motion exercises as well as aerobics will help keep the flow of the blood in the injured tendons thereby reducing soreness. Since these are special exercises, it is always best to consult with your doctor first before doing the exercises. If one smokes, it is advisable to stop to allow for more oxygen to reach the injured part therefore accelerating the healing process.

If despite a good rehabilitation program the pain is still not relieved, it may be that the tendons have been torn. In this case, a surgery may already be necessary. In such a case, consulting with a physician is again the best thing to do first.