Therapy of an inflammation in the shoulder
Therapy for inflammation in the shoulder is carried out according to the cause of the disease. In the case of bursitis, i.e. an inflammation of the bursa in the shoulder, the primary focus is on immobilising the joint, as in this case the inflammation in the shoulder is caused by overloading the shoulder. In addition, the patient should take non-steroidal anti-rheumatic drugs (NSAIDs) to counteract the inflammation in the shoulder and thus also the pain.
In addition, the patient can treat the inflammation in the shoulder with heat or cold therapies (for example, with cold compresses or heat pads, as required), depending on how he or she feels. Here, the patient can simply observe whether the cold helps him or her against the pain or whether heat provides relief. If the inflammation in the bursa of the shoulder does not heal, the doctor can additionally inject glucocorticoids directly into the shoulder.
In the worst case, if the symptoms persist, removal of the bursa (bursectomy) must also be considered. However, this should be the last form of therapy, as removing the bursa of the shoulder always takes away a certain amount of mobility. If the bursitis is caused by bacteria, it is also important to immobilize the shoulder.
However, this alone is not enough and the patient must take additional antibiotics to eliminate the bacteria responsible for the inflammation in the shoulder. In addition, the inflamed secretion can be released from the bursa. With a classical shoulder inflammation (omarthritis) the same therapy is carried out in principle as with rheumatoid arthritis.However, since the shoulder is usually only limited in the late stages, often only surgery in which the shoulder joint is (partially) replaced and renewed is helpful.
Nevertheless, the patient should try to minimize the inflammation in the shoulder and the pain associated with it as much as possible through physiotherapy before undergoing surgery. The therapy of omarthritis is usually very lengthy and not always promising. In the case of tendosynovitis of the shoulder muscles, it is important to spare the affected muscles and keep the shoulder as still as possible.
In most cases, the tendon sheath inflammation should disappear on its own after a while. In addition, the shoulder can be treated with an anti-inflammatory cream to help the affected muscles heal. Cold also helps most patients to relieve the pain and at the same time reduce the swelling that often occurs with tendinitis.
In more difficult cases, the doctor may prescribe a cream containing cortisone or inject the cortisone directly into the affected shoulder area. Only in rare cases is surgery necessary. Cold compresses and quark compresses should be used in acute inflammation.
Cold compresses can be placed on the affected shoulder in the form of cool packs or ice cubes wrapped in a cloth. Cooling should not take longer than 15 to 20 minutes. A break until the next cooling should be kept for at least two hours.
Ginger tea can also be used against the inflammation and pain in the shoulder. The tea can be drunk two to three times a day. Freshly grated, cooked ginger can also be placed on the affected shoulder wrapped in a cotton cloth.
Castor oil also has an anti-inflammatory effect. As an anti-inflammatory agent in the shoulder, a cloth can be soaked in castor oil and placed on the shoulder joint for 30 to 40 minutes. Tea made from dried willow bark can also have an anti-inflammatory effect.
Since willow bark has a blood-thinning effect, it should not be combined with blood-thinning medication. Homeopathic remedies can be used to support home remedies, drug therapy or physiotherapy. Taking homeopathic globules can help to alleviate the symptoms of shoulder inflammation.
For example, for shoulder pain in general, 5 globules of Bryonia (fence turnip), Rhus toxicodendron (poison ivy) or Ruta (rue) can be taken three times a day. Arnica globules can also have a positive effect on inflammation in the shoulder. Schüssler salts contain mineral salts in homeopathic dosage.
They can also be used to support the healing of an inflammation of the shoulder. For example, the Schüssler salts No. 3 Ferrum phosphoricum D12 and No.
4 Potassium chloratum D6 are recommended as tablets or ointments in case of inflammation of the joint. In case of movement-related pain in the shoulder, Schüssler Salt No. 3 as well as No.
5 Potassium phosphoricum D6 can be used. It should be used three to six times a day with one to three tablets each. In case of an acute inflammation no heat should be applied.
Heat treatment causes vasodilatation, which increases blood circulation and allows immune cells to migrate into the tissue. This can lead to faster joint destruction and permanent complaints. It is therefore important to cool the shoulder in the event of acute inflammation.
This causes the vessels to constrict, the pain is relieved by the cooling and swelling can subside. A cold application can be carried out using cooling packs or curd wraps. Cooling should therefore be used in cases of bacterial or acute attacks of rheumatoid arthritis, tendovaginitis, bursitis or activated arthrosis.
A heat treatment helps if the pain has caused muscle tension by relieving the shoulder. The tensions can be relieved by heat. Chronic pain caused by rheumatism can be treated with moist heat, for example with a cloth dipped in moist, warm water.
