Has your shoulder been hurting for a long time? Why does the pain not go away and what to do when medication no longer helps

"Shoulder pain is a silent disruption of everyday life," says Clinic Agatas founder, physician, anesthesiologist, resuscitation specialist, and pain specialist Asta Mažeikaitė-Banevičienė. Very often, patients think that if their shoulder hurts, the only option is surgery. However, in reality, we can control the pain with completely different treatment methods. Shoulder pain is one of the most common reasons why people begin to limit their movements, avoid physical activity, and cannot perform even simple daily tasks. Getting dressed, raising their arm, and sleeping without pain - all of this becomes a challenge that many people come to terms with. It is often believed that if their shoulder hurts for a long time, nothing can be done or surgery will inevitably be needed. However, modern pain medicine offers solutions that patients still know too little about.

- Doctor, when does shoulder pain become a serious problem?
- When the pain starts to limit daily activities, it is a signal that medical
help is needed. Often patients say: "I can't raise my arm", "it hurts at night", "I can't dress normally anymore". This is not a small matter, because the pain is already becoming a quality of life
problem.

- Why does shoulder pain often persist?
- One of the most common reasons is that people wait too long. They hope it will "go away on its own", use ointments or pills, but do not look for the real cause. Within three months,
if the pain does not decrease, it becomes chronic and more difficult to manage.

- Is surgery always necessary?
- Absolutely not. Surgery is only one option and not necessarily the first. Especially if a person has
other health problems, surgery may not be recommended or may be postponed.
In such cases, it is very important to know that there are pain treatment clinics such as
Clinic Agatas, where you can get help without surgical intervention, applying
innovative treatment methods.

– What are the modern solutions?

– One of the advanced methods is cryodenervation. This is a procedure that affects the nerves that transmit pain signals. The shoulder joint itself is not operated on, but the pain is reduced or completely eliminated by exposure to cold, reaching about 90 degrees. Often, pain doctors also perform injections, popularly called "blockade". Which method to use is decided during a consultation after assessing the patient's condition. Doctor Asta Mažeikaitė-Banevičienė emphasizes that in order to restore full function or improve shoulder mobility, it is very important to prescribe individual physiotherapy. This is teamwork, aiming for maximum results, because this is how we allow a person to fully move their arm again, perform daily activities and return to normal life without pain.

- Do you have any examples from practice?
- Yes, one patient came in very disappointed and said: "Nothing really helps me anymore." He had already
tried various medications, but the pain kept coming back.
After assessing the situation, we suggested a different path, which included complex pain treatment and
cryodenervation. After a while, the patient was surprised, but very satisfied: "It turns out that
you can live without this constant pain." Such stories are not uncommon.

- What is important for patients considering seeking help?
- It is important to know that our pain treatment clinic is private and does not have a contract with the Health Insurance Fund, so referrals are not required. Patients can apply directly and receive the help they need faster. In our clinic, an individual treatment plan is drawn up during the first consultation and, if possible, treatment is started immediately.

- Your advice to people who suffer from shoulder pain?
- Don't suffer. Pain is not the norm. The sooner a person seeks help, the greater the chance
of getting help more easily and quickly.