Meeting the challenge of chronic shoulder pain: treatment: oral NSAIDs often are considered first-line treatment for osteoarthritis

Chronic shoulder pain has a variety of causes, and treatment is multifaceted. Physical therapy typically is the first step; therapy for osteoarthritis (OA) should strike a balance between regaining and maintaining motion and strength and avoiding aggravation of the patient's condition. Oral NSAIDs typically are considered first-line treatment for patients with OA and often are included in the treatment plan for all types of chronic shoulder pain. Acetaminophen may be used as an alternative to NSAIDs for pain relief. Corticosteroid injections are used frequently; they may be combined with physical therapy as a first line of treatment. Surgical treatment may be considered when chronic shoulder pain is not managed adequately with nonsurgical options. (J Musculoskel Med. 2010;27:441-444)
Chronic shoulder pain has a variety of causes--including rotator cuff disorders; osteoarthritis (OA) of the glenohumeral (GH) joint; osteonecrosis; adhesive capsulitis, or frozen shoulder; labral tears; and acromioclavicular (AC) joint [...]