Shoulder Pain: Why It Can Make Everyday Tasks So Difficult

Shoulder pain can affect much more than your ability to exercise or lift something heavy. When your shoulder hurts every time you reach, lift, push, pull, or change positions, some of the simplest parts of your day can become difficult. For people dealing with chronic shoulder pain, everyday limitations can become frustrating and may have a big impact on independence and quality of life.

 

Why Do We Rely on Our Shoulders So Much?

 

The shoulder is one of the most mobile joints in the body. That mobility allows your arm to move in many different directions, which is why you depend on your shoulders for so many daily activities.

 

Think about how often you use your shoulder throughout a normal day. You may reach overhead to grab something from a shelf, reach behind you to put on a jacket, lift a laundry basket, drive your car, carry a kid, or work around the house.

 

When shoulder pain or limited range of motion develops, many of these movements can become difficult. You may begin changing the way you move to avoid the pain. Over time, decreased movement can contribute to stiffness, weakness, and further limitations.

 

What Causes Chronic Shoulder Pain?

 

Shoulder pain can develop for many reasons. Sometimes it is from an injury, while other times it is from repetitive use, age-related changes, or an underlying condition.

 

At Midwest Pain Solutions, we see patients experiencing shoulder pain associated with:

• Rotator cuff problems
• Shoulder/nerve impingement
• Arthritis
• Frozen shoulder
• Degenerative changes in the shoulder joint
• Scar tissue following an injury or surgery
• Decreased shoulder mobility

 

Because there are many potential sources of shoulder pain, understanding what is causing your pain is an important part of determining the appropriate approach to care.

 

 

When Shoulder Pain Becomes a Cycle

 

One of the challenges with chronic pain is that pain can change how you use your body. If reaching overhead hurts, you stop reaching overhead. If carrying something hurts, you start using the other arm. If certain movements cause discomfort, you avoid those movements.

 

While protecting a painful area may feel necessary, prolonged inactivity can contribute to decreased range of motion and muscle weakness. As movement becomes more difficult, you may become less active overall. This is why Midwest Pain Solutions focuses not only on decreasing pain, but also on helping patients restore proper movement and function.

 

Shoulder Pain Relief

 

If shoulder pain has been limiting your daily life, learning to live around the problem may not be your only option. At Midwest Pain Solutions, every patient is different, which is why we create customized care plans based on the individual’s condition and needs. Depending on the patient, a treatment plan may include chiropractic adjustments, high-intensity laser therapy, and extracorporeal shockwave therapy.

 

High-intensity laser therapy is designed to reach deeper tissues and may help reduce pain and swelling while supporting the body’s healing process. Extracorporeal shockwave therapy uses focused acoustic waves to stimulate targeted muscles, tendons, and tissues. Chiropractic care can also be incorporated to address joint function, alignment, mobility, and other factors that may be contributing to pain.

 

At Midwest Pain Solutions, we help patients with chronic pain find solutions to decrease pain, improve function, and get them back to the activities that matter to them. We offer no-cost consultations at our Green Bay and Appleton locations. Schedule a consultation to learn more about your shoulder pain and what treatment options may be appropriate for you.