Orthopedist Questions Orthopedist

Can shoulder pain be fixed with topicals?

I have shoulder pain. Can shoulder pain be fixed with topicals?

3 Answers

OrthopedistOrthopedist
No, they do not. But it is hard to prescribe treatment when you have given no information whatsoever; like : - age and sex of patient (pt.) - event that may have created the pain ? - have you ever had shoulder pain like this before ? - How does the pain affect the ROM for the shoulder ? does it hurt to raise the arm overhead ? is the motion diminished ? - does your work require overhead lifting ? - some topical ointments can reduce the pain (have you tried any on your own ?) - have you seen your family medicine /internal medicine doctor for this shoulder pain
Unlikely. While topical medications can be beneficial in helping with pain, an underlying cause and appropriate treatment plan should be sought.
As an orthopaedic surgeon, we always exhaust nonoperative management before attempting surgery. One of the modalities that I always recommend to patients is topical NSAIDs, such as Voltaren gel. The anti-inflammatories often get at the source of your pain, which is generally inflammation. If you haven't had your shoulder looked at, and the pain is severe, has been getting worse, or has been present for a long time (>6-12wks), I would have this looked at by your local orthopedist!