Non-Operative Throwing Injury Treatment
Left untreated, throwing injuries in the shoulder can become complicated conditions.
Nonsurgical Treatment
In many cases, the initial treatment for a throwing injury in the shoulder is nonsurgical.
Treatment options may include:
Activity modification
Your doctor may first recommend simply changing your daily routine and avoiding activities that cause symptoms.
Ice
Applying icepacks to the shoulder can reduce any swelling.
Anti-inflammatory medication
Drugs like ibuprofen and naproxen can relieve pain and inflammation. They can also be provided in prescription-strength form.
Physical therapy
In order to improve the range of motion in your shoulder and strengthen the muscles that support the joint, your doctor may recommend specific exercises.
Physical therapy can focus on muscles and ligament tightness in the back of the shoulder and help to strengthen the structures in the front of the shoulder. This can relieve some stress on any injured structures, such as the labrum or rotator cuff tendon.
Change of position
Throwing mechanics can be evaluated in order to correct body positioning that puts excessive stress on injured shoulder structures. Although a change of position or even a change in sport can eliminate repetitive stresses on the shoulder and provide lasting relief, this is often undesirable, especially in high level athletes.
Cortisone injection
If rest, medications, and physical therapy do not relieve your pain, an injection of a local anesthetic and a cortisone preparation may be helpful. Cortisone is a very effective anti-inflammatory medicine. Injecting it into the bursa beneath the acromion can provide long-term pain relief for tears or other structural damage.
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