Coping with long-term shoulder pain can be difficult, but it can be managed with help from a physiotherapist.
It is important to remind yourself that most of the common causes of shoulder pain will get better naturally over time. Be patient though as this can take several months.
Why keeping active with shoulder pain is important
The natural reaction when in pain is to completely stop activities that aggravate the symptoms but it is much better to continue to use your shoulder. You may need to adjust how you do things to make it more comfortable. This may mean doing jobs in short bursts with regular breaks rather all in one go.
If the pain is more severe try to avoid strenuous activity but take simple painkillers like paracetamol and keep the shoulder moving to prevent it stiffening up. If the pain is not settling, book in to see your GP or physiotherapist. They will be able to assess the cause of your shoulder pain and advise on how best to deal with it.
