Ask the Doc: ‘I’ve overdone it gardening – and done in my shoulder’
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Dr Laura Ryan answers your health questions.
Q. I've overdone it gardening, how to I treat an injured shoulder?
A. Within the first 24 to 48 hours after a shoulder problem you should try to rest your shoulder but avoid long spells of not moving at all, and move your shoulder gently for a short period every hour when you're awake
After 48 hours slowly return to normal activity, do whatever you normally would and stay at, or return to work – this is important and is the best way to get better.
Pain medication can help to reduce the pain and help you move more comfortably, which can help your recovery.
Speak to your community pharmacist or other healthcare professional about taking medication or other methods of pain relief. It's important to take medication regularly.
If, after following the above advice, your shoulder problem hasn't improved within two weeks a referral to a physiotherapist may be of benefit.
Q. I keep hearing lots about pharmacists and how they are a helpful resource. What exactly can they help me with?
A. If you have a minor illness, a pharmacy is the first place you should go for advice. You do not usually need an appointment and you can go to any pharmacy.
Your local pharmacist or a trained member of the pharmacy team will give you advice and provide medicine if needed. They may need to refer you to another healthcare professional such as your GP practice, dentist, optometrist or another NHS service if they feel your condition needs further investigation or more specialist care.
Pharmacists and their teams are experts in medicines and can help with minor health concerns. A pharmacist, or a member of the pharmacy team, can give you advice and treatment (if you need it) for various minor illnesses and common clinical conditions.
If you want a specific medicine or product, you may need to buy it. The pharmacist will give you advice on this. Some pharmacists have an additional prescribing qualification which allows them to prescribe a wider range of medicines, normally only available from your GP practice.
If the pharmacist, or a member of their team, thinks it is better for you to see your GP or another healthcare professional, they may refer you directly or tell you to make an appointment.
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