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10th Feb 2025

8 Must-Know Myths & Facts About Shoulder Pain



If you are among the countless people suffering from shoulder pain, only you know how The condition might be severe. The piercing agony induced by the slightest external movement of the shoulder is so excruciating that you will do virtually anything to alleviate the discomfort.

Shoulder pain can make even ordinary tasks like brushing and drying your hair, dressed, or reaching for something overhead seem gigantic. In addition to the physical toll, pain can hurt one's thoughts and lifestyle.

Despite being the third most common musculoskeletal condition, there are numerous misconceptions about pain. Ironically, the discomfort causes a lot of fear among shoulder pain patients. False beliefs can exacerbate people's concerns, discouraging them from obtaining good treatment. As a result, understanding the facts concerning shoulder pain is essential so that you can return to your everyday life and activities that you enjoy.

Continue reading to understand the truth about some common shoulder pain myths, as well as how to properly manage symptoms and seek appropriate therapy.

Myth #1: The pain will go away by itself

Fact: This assertion is untrue. So sitting back and "letting it go by itself" may not be the best approach. The feeling of instability, as well as any popping or grinding sounds, should never be ignored. It is critical to work on relaxing the muscles around the shoulder and strengthening the rotator cuff muscles.

Myth #2: Shoulder separation and shoulder dislocation are the same things

Fact: Although they sound similar, they are different disorders. The differentiation between the two begins with the placement of the damage in the shoulder. A shoulder separation occurs at the top of the shoulder, causing a hump in the affected area; a shoulder dislocation occurs when the shoulder joint separates. Separated shoulders are typically less severe injuries than dislocated shoulders.

Myth #3: Shoulder pain automatically indicated osteoarthritis

Fact: Contrary to popular belief, shoulder pain does not always signify arthritis. Common shoulder illnesses such as fibromyalgia, tendinitis, and bursitis share clinical symptoms and cause shoulder pain.

Myth #4: Only people with an active lifestyle develop shoulder pain

Fact: Physically demanding jobs indeed induce shoulder pain and injury. However, even individuals who live a normal life are susceptible to the illness. People who live sedentary lifestyles are more likely to suffer shoulder pain.

Myth #5: Shoulder pain becomes worse during the rainy season

Fact: Many patients detect an obvious relationship, and most are persuaded of it, but this is not the case. There is no strong evidence linking rainy days to an increase in shoulder aches and pains.

Myth #6: Shoulder pain is forever

Fact: This is a very frequent myth among individuals, and it can significantly weaken patient confidence. Shoulder injuries are not permanent and can be readily healed or controlled with sophisticated treatments.

Myth #7: Exercise can make the shoulder pain worse

Fact: If you have shoulder pain, you should avoid vigorous exercises. Vigorous exercises, such as weight lifting, can increase shoulder pain and lead to issues. Therefore, consulting a trained and certified professional trainer before engaging in strenuous activities is vital. A professional physiotherapist can suggest the most appropriate exercises based on the intensity of the discomfort.

Myth #8: Heat is better than ice for shoulder pain

This is also a common myth. In actuality, both cold and heat therapy can help relieve pain and inflammation. Many people can benefit from putting cold packs on aching shoulders at night to reduce inflammation from the day, as well as administering heat in the morning to relax stiff muscles. If ice and heat aren't working to reduce shoulder discomfort and inflammation, you should consult an orthopedic.

Bottom line

Your shoulders do a lot of work each day. If you experience shoulder pain that is not caused by physical damage, do not self-diagnose; instead, consult a general practitioner to evaluate and determine the actual cause of the condition or injury producing the pain.

If the pain does not improve after 4 weeks of non-surgical conservative therapy, or if you are having weakness or difficulty lifting above shoulder level, you should see one of our surgeons.