Shoulder pain - is cortisone the answer?

For some, Yes! But not always. 

If you have had scans that show bursitis or tendinopathy and the first/only thing your doctor has suggested, I recommend taking a moment to explore less invasive options. 

I frequently see clients whose shoulder pain has been put down to bursitis/tendinopathy but hasn’t resolved with cortisone. Or they experienced some relief but it has returned.

So what’s going on?  

Having bursitis/tendinopathy doesn’t automatically mean you will experience pain. Often scans show these things and providers will jump straight to that conclusion. But in reality the ‘abnormality’ could have been there long before the pain started, or even be as a result of the pain you are experiencing. 

Morag et al 2011 States  ‘ Asymptomatic shoulder abnormalities were found in 96% of the subjects.’ That means that 96% of participants had abnormalities but no symptoms. Like WHAT? 

So why does it hurt?! Without delving deep into the very complex topic of pain science - many factors affect the pain you feel. Postural or repetitive use with poor biomechanics or weakness, previous injuries, psychological factors, contextual factors all could play a role in why you are experiencing pain. 

So if you are after a less invasive route to explore contact us today! Our management plans often focus on reducing pain and increasing range of motion first, then aim to build strength in the shoulder, so the soft tissue can handle the load of your daily life. And no we don’t mean making you hit the gym 5x a week type of rehab plan, we work with you and your lifestyle to incorporate a plan that you can find consistency with.

So book in with one of our experienced practitioners and see how we can help you!

Haydie x