Which Painkiller Should You Take for Shoulder Pain?

Shoulder pain stops you mid-reach, wakes you at 3 am, or makes putting on a shirt feel like a chore. The first instinct for most Singaporeans is to reach for something from the medicine cabinet or the pharmacy shelf — and that is a reasonable place to start.
But the landscape of pain medication is wider than paracetamol alone. Depending on what is causing your shoulder pain — whether it is a sprained tendon, inflamed bursa, frozen joint capsule, worn cartilage, or a nerve being compressed in the neck — different medication classes work through different mechanisms, carry different risks, and suit different patient profiles.

This guide covers the full range of painkillers used for shoulder pain in Singapore: what each class does, which shoulder conditions it is most suited for, whether it is available over the counter or requires a prescription, and what the key considerations are for each. It also explains what to do when painkillers are no longer enough — and why targeted, non-surgical procedures often provide more lasting relief than repeated courses of medication.

 

Why the Right Painkiller Depends on the Cause

Shoulder pain is not a single condition. It is a symptom that can arise from at least six structurally distinct sources: the rotator cuff tendons, the joint capsule, the bursa, the articular cartilage, the acromioclavicular joint, or the cervical nerve roots. Each generates pain through a different biological mechanism.

Inflammatory pain — from bursitis or acute tendinitis — is driven by prostaglandins and responds well to anti-inflammatory agents. Neuropathic pain from a pinched nerve in the cervical spine referring symptoms to the shoulder is driven by sensitised nerve fibres and responds poorly to standard NSAIDs but better to neuropathic agents. Structural pain from a torn tendon or degenerating joint surface has a mechanical origin and may only be partially reduced by any painkiller.

This distinction matters because choosing the wrong medication class for the mechanism involved is why so many patients find that “the painkiller doesn’t work.” It may be working exactly as intended — just not for the type of pain they have.
According to HealthHub (MOH Singapore), approximately one in three Singaporeans will experience shoulder pain at some point in their lives, making this one of the most common musculoskeletal complaints at GP clinics. Understanding which medication suits which presentation is therefore a practically important clinical question.

 

Where Is Your Shoulder Pain? A Guide to What Might Be Causing It

The location and character of shoulder pain offers useful diagnostic clues before any medication decision is made.

Pain at the outer side of the shoulder worsening when lifting the arm away from the body is typical of rotator cuff tendinitis or impingement — conditions with a clear inflammatory component where NSAIDs are usually the most appropriate first choice. Pain deep inside the joint, present at rest, worse at night, and associated with progressively restricted movement points strongly to frozen shoulder, where anti-inflammatory medication helps early but the condition ultimately requires more targeted treatment. A grinding or aching pain worsening with sustained use and associated with stiffness rather than acute onset suggests osteoarthritis, where the analgesic and anti-inflammatory combination offered by COX-2 inhibitors is often preferred for longer-term management under medical supervision.

Pain that radiates from the shoulder down the arm with tingling or numbness in the fingers is more likely cervical spine-referred nerve pain than true shoulder joint pain. Standard NSAIDs have limited effect on this type of pain; neuropathic agents are the clinically appropriate class for this presentation.

This location guide does not replace a clinical assessment. It provides a framework for understanding why different medications suit different presentations.

 

Over-the-Counter (OTC) Painkillers for Shoulder Pain

These medications are available without a prescription at pharmacies or general retailers across Singapore. They are classified as either General Sales List (GSL — available anywhere) or Pharmacy-Only (P — available from a registered pharmacist).

Paracetamol (Acetaminophen) — GSL: Available Anywhere

How it works: Acts centrally by modulating pain signal transmission in the brain and spinal cord. It does not have meaningful anti-inflammatory activity.

Best suited for: Mild to moderate shoulder pain without a significant inflammatory component — post-activity muscle soreness, low-grade joint ache in early osteoarthritis, and general background shoulder discomfort. Also useful alongside an NSAID for moderate pain, as the two work through different pathways and can be taken together under medical guidance.

Standard adult dose: 500 mg to 1,000 mg every 4 to 6 hours, not exceeding 4,000 mg in 24 hours.

Key considerations: Safest choice for patients who cannot take NSAIDs — those with gastric ulcers, kidney impairment, heart failure, or on anticoagulants. The most important safety point: exceeding 4,000 mg per day causes liver damage. This threshold is easier to breach than most patients realise when multiple products containing paracetamol are taken simultaneously — for example, Panadol alongside a cold remedy that also contains paracetamol.

Limitation: No anti-inflammatory effect. Insufficient alone for bursitis, tendinitis flare, impingement, or frozen shoulder in its early inflammatory phase.

 

Low-Dose Ibuprofen (Non-Selective NSAID) — Pharmacy-Only (P)

How it works: Blocks COX-1 and COX-2 enzymes, reducing prostaglandin production and thereby reducing both inflammation and pain simultaneously.

Best suited for: Shoulder conditions with a clear inflammatory driver — rotator cuff tendinitis, shoulder bursitis, impingement syndrome, shoulder sprains, and the early painful phase of frozen shoulder. Most effective when taken regularly for a short course rather than purely as needed, as consistent levels maintain anti-inflammatory effect.

Standard adult dose: 200 mg to 400 mg every 6 to 8 hours with food, up to a maximum of 1,200 mg per 24 hours for OTC self-treatment.

Key considerations: Take with food to reduce gastric irritation. Contraindicated in peptic ulcer, significant kidney disease, heart failure, and for those on anticoagulants. Higher gastrointestinal and cardiovascular risk in older patients and with longer use. Short-term use of one to two weeks is appropriate; prolonged use may impair tendon healing by inhibiting collagen deposition and vascularisation — a specific concern for rotator cuff conditions.

 

Low-Dose Naproxen Sodium (Non-Selective NSAID) — Pharmacy-Only (P)

How it works: Non-selective NSAID with a longer half-life than ibuprofen, requiring twice-daily rather than three to four times daily dosing, which may improve adherence and provide more consistent anti-inflammatory cover.

Best suited for: The same inflammatory shoulder conditions as ibuprofen. The longer duration of action makes it practical for patients who find frequent dosing difficult.

Standard adult dose: 220 mg every 8 to 12 hours with food, not exceeding 440 mg in 24 hours for OTC self-treatment.

Key considerations: Same contraindication profile as ibuprofen. Longer half-life means side effects also persist longer if they occur.

 

Topical Diclofenac Gel (Topical NSAID) — Pharmacy-Only (P)

How it works: NSAID delivered through the skin to underlying soft tissue. Systemic absorption is significantly lower than oral NSAIDs, reducing systemic side effect risk while providing localised anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects at the application site.

Best suited for: Superficial shoulder conditions accessible via topical application — rotator cuff tendinitis, shoulder bursitis, and acromioclavicular joint pain. Evidence supports topical NSAIDs as comparably effective to oral NSAIDs for superficial musculoskeletal conditions.

Standard application: Apply to the affected area three to four times daily. Wash hands after application.

Key considerations: Good option for patients who cannot tolerate oral NSAIDs due to gastric sensitivity, mild kidney concerns, or anticoagulant use. Not appropriate for broken or inflamed skin. Less effective for deep structures such as the glenohumeral joint itself.

 

Aspirin — GSL: Available Anywhere

How it works: Non-selective NSAID that irreversibly inhibits COX enzymes. At analgesic doses (300 mg to 900 mg), reduces pain and inflammation.

Best suited for: Rarely a first choice for shoulder pain today, having been largely superseded by ibuprofen and naproxen due to a less favourable gastric tolerability profile.

Key considerations: Low-dose aspirin (75 mg to 150 mg) used for cardiovascular protection is NOT an analgesic dose and will not relieve shoulder pain. Patients on low-dose cardiovascular aspirin should not additionally take full-dose aspirin or other NSAIDs without medical guidance — the combination significantly increases gastric bleeding risk.

 

Counter-Irritant Creams and Rubs (Methyl Salicylate, Menthol, Capsaicin) — GSL: Available Anywhere

How they work: Stimulate sensory nerve endings in the skin, producing a sensation of warmth or coolness that temporarily overrides the underlying pain signal. They do not reduce inflammation.

Best suited for: Mild muscle soreness, shoulder girdle tension, and as a complementary measure alongside other treatment. Not appropriate as sole management for structural shoulder conditions.

Key considerations: The weakest analgesic option in this guide. Most useful for temporary symptomatic comfort during activity.

 

Prescription-Only Painkillers for Shoulder Pain

The following medication classes are available on prescription only in Singapore (POMs — Prescription-Only Medicines). Your doctor will assess your individual health profile, existing conditions, and current medications before determining which option is appropriate. These medications cannot be legally obtained without a valid prescription and should not be self-selected or self-administered.

In accordance with HSA healthcare advertising guidelines, these classes are referenced by active ingredient, therapeutic class, and generic descriptor only — not by brand name.

 

Prescription-Strength Oral NSAIDs (Higher-Dose Diclofenac, Higher-Dose Naproxen)

How it works: Same COX-1 and COX-2 inhibition as OTC NSAIDs, at higher therapeutic doses providing stronger and more sustained anti-inflammatory effect. Dosing is determined by the prescribing doctor based on individual assessment.

Best suited for: Moderate to severe inflammatory shoulder conditions that have not responded adequately to OTC NSAID doses — significant rotator cuff tendinitis, severe bursitis, and inflammatory arthritis flares affecting the shoulder joint.

Key considerations: Your doctor will assess gastric risk, kidney function, cardiovascular history, and current medications before prescribing. Gastric protection with a proton pump inhibitor is frequently co-prescribed for higher-risk patients.

 

Selective COX-2 Inhibitors (Etoricoxib, Celecoxib)

How it works: Selectively inhibits COX-2 — the enzyme responsible for inflammation — while largely sparing COX-1, which protects the gastric lining. This confers a significantly better gastric tolerability profile than non-selective NSAIDs. Dosing and duration are determined by the prescribing doctor.

Best suited for: Patients who require sustained anti-inflammatory cover but cannot tolerate standard oral NSAIDs due to gastric sensitivity or history of peptic ulcer disease. Also appropriate for longer-duration inflammatory conditions including shoulder osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis affecting the shoulder, and ankylosing spondylitis where anti-inflammatory medication is needed for an extended period.

Key considerations: COX-2 selectivity is associated with a moderately higher cardiovascular risk in susceptible patients. Not appropriate for patients with established cardiovascular disease, recent stroke or heart attack, or poorly controlled hypertension. Kidney function considerations are similar to non-selective NSAIDs. Your doctor will weigh the gastric benefit against cardiovascular risk for your individual profile.

 

Combined Paracetamol and Ibuprofen Fixed-Dose Formulations

How it works: A single tablet combining paracetamol and ibuprofen at coordinated doses provides both analgesic (paracetamol component) and anti-inflammatory (ibuprofen component) effects simultaneously. The prescription formulation manages dosing precisely and reduces the risk of inadvertent overdose when both agents are clinically needed.

Best suited for: Moderate shoulder pain where both analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects are needed — for example, rotator cuff tendinitis with a significant pain burden. Dosing is prescribed by the doctor.

Key considerations: The same contraindications apply as for ibuprofen alone. Do not take additional separate paracetamol or ibuprofen products while using this formulation, as this risks exceeding safe daily limits for either component.

 

Tramadol (Weak Opioid Analgesic) — Controlled Drug

How it works: Weak opioid and serotonin-noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor. Acts on opioid receptors and modulates descending pain pathways to reduce pain perception. Prescribed and monitored by a doctor.

Best suited for: Moderate to severe shoulder pain that has not responded adequately to NSAIDs and paracetamol, particularly when NSAIDs are contraindicated. Occasionally used as a short bridging course after a shoulder procedure or for severe acute pain from a significant injury while awaiting further management.

Key considerations: Tramadol is a controlled drug in Singapore and is not appropriate for long-term musculoskeletal shoulder pain management. It does not address the structural cause of pain. Significant risks include dizziness, nausea, constipation, and dependence. Contraindicated with certain antidepressants (SSRIs, SNRIs, MAOIs) due to serotonin syndrome risk. Not appropriate for patients with seizure disorders, substance dependence history, or significant respiratory conditions. Your doctor will carefully assess suitability before prescribing.

 

Muscle Relaxants (Eperisone, Methocarbamol, Tizanidine)

How they work: Act on the central nervous system to reduce abnormal muscle tone and spasm. Typically co-prescribed alongside an NSAID rather than used alone. Dosing and duration are determined by the prescribing doctor.

Best suited for: Shoulder pain with a significant muscle spasm component — shoulder girdle and upper trapezius spasm accompanying rotator cuff injuries, cervicogenic shoulder pain, or shoulder pain from prolonged poor posture and desk work. The spasm is usually secondary to the underlying structural pain.

Key considerations: Drowsiness is a common side effect — not suitable when driving or operating machinery. Generally intended for short-term use. Tizanidine requires liver function monitoring with longer use.

 

Neuropathic Agents (Pregabalin, Gabapentin) — Pregabalin is a Controlled Drug

How they work: Act on voltage-gated calcium channels in the nervous system, reducing hyperexcitability of sensitised pain pathways. These are not conventional analgesics and do not reduce inflammation. Dosing is titrated gradually under medical supervision.

Best suited for: Shoulder pain with a neuropathic character — burning, shooting, electric-shock-like, or tingling qualities — particularly when the pain originates from cervical spine nerve root compression. This includes cervicogenic shoulder pain (referred from compressed C5 or C6 nerve roots), shoulder pain with radiating arm symptoms, and post-surgical neuropathic pain. Standard NSAIDs and paracetamol have limited effect on this pain type.

Key considerations: Dizziness, drowsiness, and cognitive blunting are common, particularly in older patients. Dose adjustment is required in kidney impairment. Pregabalin is a controlled drug in Singapore requiring careful prescribing and monitoring.

 

Oral Corticosteroids (Prednisolone, Methylprednisolone)

How they work: Potent anti-inflammatory agents that broadly suppress the immune-mediated inflammatory response. Dosing and course length are prescribed and supervised by a doctor.

Best suited for: Severe acute inflammatory shoulder conditions unresponsive to NSAID therapy — severe rotator cuff tendinitis flare, acute bursitis, and inflammatory arthritis acutely affecting the shoulder joint. Typically prescribed as a short course rather than long-term medication.

Key considerations: Even a short course can elevate blood glucose — a significant concern for diabetic patients. Other risks with repeated or prolonged use include adrenal suppression, increased infection susceptibility, bone density loss, and gastric irritation. Oral corticosteroids are not appropriate for routine or long-term management of chronic shoulder pain.

Quick Reference: Painkiller by Shoulder Condition

This table is a general clinical overview for educational purposes only. All prescription medications require a doctor’s individual assessment and valid prescription before use. A DR+ doctor will evaluate your specific condition, health profile, and current medications before recommending any treatment.

Shoulder Condition	First-Line OTC	Prescription Options (Doctor-Assessed)
Mild muscle soreness / strain	Paracetamol, counter-irritant rub	Not usually required
Rotator cuff tendinitis (mild)	Ibuprofen / naproxen, topical diclofenac	Higher-dose NSAID, COX-2 inhibitor
Rotator cuff tendinitis (moderate-severe)	Ibuprofen, topical diclofenac	Prescription NSAID, COX-2 inhibitor, short oral corticosteroid
Shoulder bursitis	Ibuprofen / naproxen	Prescription NSAID, COX-2 inhibitor, short oral corticosteroid
Shoulder impingement syndrome	Ibuprofen, topical diclofenac	Prescription NSAID
Frozen shoulder (early/painful phase)	Ibuprofen / naproxen	COX-2 inhibitor, short oral corticosteroid
Shoulder osteoarthritis	Paracetamol, topical diclofenac	COX-2 inhibitor, combined paracetamol-ibuprofen formulation
Shoulder sprain / ligament injury	Ibuprofen, topical diclofenac	Prescription NSAID, muscle relaxant if spasm present
Rheumatoid / inflammatory arthritis	Ibuprofen / naproxen (short-term)	COX-2 inhibitor, oral corticosteroid (short course); rheumatology referral usually needed
Cervicogenic shoulder pain (nerve referred)	Paracetamol (partial relief only)	Neuropathic agent (pregabalin / gabapentin), muscle relaxant
Severe acute pain (post-injury / post-procedure)	Paracetamol + ibuprofen	Tramadol (short course, doctor-supervised), prescription NSAID
Shoulder girdle muscle spasm	Paracetamol, counter-irritant rub	Muscle relaxant + NSAID combination

 

When Painkillers Are Not Enough: Minimally Invasive Procedures at DR+

Painkillers — however appropriate — address the symptom, not the source. For shoulder pain that persists beyond two weeks, recurs despite repeated medication courses, or is caused by structural damage such as a rotator cuff tear, frozen joint capsule, or joint degeneration, medication provides a window of relief but leaves the underlying problem unresolved.

At DR+ clinics, pain-trained GPs offer Myospan minimally invasive procedures as a non-surgical alternative to indefinite painkiller use or major surgery. Myospan procedures are specialised injections that target muscles, ligaments, tendons, joints, and nerves directly at the source of pain — breaking the pain cycle, reducing inflammation, and promoting healing in a way that oral medication cannot. Each procedure takes only a few minutes in-clinic, requires no general anaesthesia, and involves little to no downtime. You can read about the full range of treatment options on the DR+ shoulder pain treatment page.

 

Coreflex Injections

Coreflex injections combine a local anaesthetic, an anti-inflammatory agent, and a muscle relaxant delivered precisely to the pain generator — the specific muscle, tendon, or tissue structure causing the problem. Unlike oral NSAIDs, which distribute systemically across the entire body, Coreflex targets the exact site of inflammation with a higher local concentration and without the gastric, cardiovascular, or renal side effects associated with systemic medication.

Patients typically experience initial relief from the local anaesthetic component shortly after the procedure. The full anti-inflammatory and muscle relaxant effects become most apparent in the one to three weeks following treatment. A single session is usually sufficient for sustained relief, and the procedure may be repeated in six to twelve months if needed. Coreflex is suitable for a broad range of shoulder conditions — rotator cuff tendinitis, shoulder bursitis, shoulder impingement, shoulder sprains, and shoulder girdle muscle spasm — making it the most widely applied Myospan option at DR+.

 

Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Prolotherapy

PRP prolotherapy uses the patient’s own blood platelets, concentrated through a centrifuge process, and re-injected at the site of tendon or ligament damage. Platelets contain growth factors that stimulate tissue repair and promote healing through a localised, controlled biological response. Because PRP is derived from the patient’s own cells, the risk of allergic reaction or immune response is very low.

PRP is particularly appropriate for patients with rotator cuff tendinitis, partial rotator cuff tears, shoulder sprain with ligament involvement, and conditions where the underlying goal is tissue repair rather than symptom suppression alone. It is an option worth considering when a patient has had repeated courses of anti-inflammatory medication with improvement followed by relapse — a pattern that often indicates structural damage that medication cannot reverse.

 

Intra-Articular Injections

Intra-articular injections deliver medication — including anti-inflammatory agents and hyaluronic acid — directly into the shoulder joint space. By targeting the joint interior rather than the surrounding soft tissue, this approach is specifically suited to conditions where intra-articular inflammation, joint surface deterioration, or loss of joint lubrication is the primary driver of pain.

This procedure is most appropriate for patients with shoulder osteoarthritis, frozen shoulder (where joint capsule inflammation and restricted joint mobility are central to the condition), and rheumatoid arthritis affecting the glenohumeral joint. For frozen shoulder in particular, intra-articular injection can reduce capsular inflammation and improve the range of motion available for rehabilitation exercises, shortening the overall recovery trajectory compared to medication and physiotherapy alone.

 

Peripheral Nerve Block

A peripheral nerve block delivers a local anaesthetic and anti-inflammatory medication around a specific nerve or nerve bundle, interrupting the transmission of pain signals before they reach the central nervous system. It serves two distinct clinical purposes.
Diagnostically, a nerve block can confirm whether a specific nerve is the pain generator — if the pain resolves after the block, the nerve in question is the source, which guides the treatment plan. Therapeutically, a nerve block can provide sustained pain relief for shoulder pain with a nerve-mediated component, including cervicogenic shoulder pain from compressed cervical nerve roots and post-surgical neuropathic pain in the shoulder region.

Peripheral nerve block is the most targeted of the four Myospan options and is typically recommended when clinical assessment indicates that nerve sensitisation or nerve-referred pain is a primary component of the shoulder presentation.

 

Managing Shoulder Pain Day to Day

Cold application in the first 48 to 72 hours after a flare or injury reduces local swelling. Once acute inflammation settles, gentle warmth may ease the chronic stiffness of conditions like frozen shoulder. Maintaining gentle range-of-motion movement within a pain-free arc, even while pain is present, helps prevent the progressive stiffness that can develop when a shoulder is completely immobilised.

Sleep position matters significantly for nighttime shoulder pain. Lying on the unaffected side with the affected arm supported by a pillow, or resting slightly reclined, reduces overnight joint compression. At the workstation, monitor height at eye level and a keyboard position that allows the elbows to rest comfortably reduce the cumulative repetitive load on the shoulder that perpetuates impingement and tendinitis.

These are supportive measures, not substitutes for a proper diagnosis.

 

When Should You See a Doctor in Singapore?

Consult a DR+ doctor if shoulder pain has not clearly improved after two weeks of appropriate OTC medication and rest, if pain wakes you consistently at night, if you notice weakness when lifting or rotating the arm, if swelling or deformity is visible, or if pain radiates down the arm with tingling or numbness.

No specialist referral is needed. Walk-ins are welcome at all 12 DR+ clinic locations across Singapore, and our pain-trained GPs are equipped to assess the full range of shoulder conditions — from choosing the right medication class to determining whether a minimally invasive procedure is more appropriate than continued medication.

Speak to a DR+ doctor about your shoulder pain today.

Conclusion

The range of painkillers available for shoulder pain in Singapore is wider than most patients realise — from paracetamol and OTC ibuprofen through to prescription COX-2 inhibitors, neuropathic agents, and muscle relaxants, each working through a distinct mechanism suited to a different type of pain. Matching the right medication to the right mechanism is how you get meaningful relief rather than months of frustrating partial improvement.

But all of these medications share one fundamental limitation: they address the symptom, not the cause. For lasting improvement from shoulder pain, the structural or neurological source needs to be identified and treated directly. The Myospan minimally invasive procedures available at DR+ clinics offer a non-surgical path to do exactly that — targeting the pain generator precisely, with minimal downtime and no surgical recovery period.

If your shoulder pain keeps coming back despite medication, or if you are relying on repeated painkiller courses just to function day to day, that is a clear signal that the underlying problem has not been resolved. Speak to a DR+ doctor at a clinic near you. Walk-ins are welcome.

 

 

FAQ SECTION

Q1: What is the best OTC painkiller to start with for shoulder pain?
For most people, low-dose ibuprofen (200 to 400 mg with food, every 6 to 8 hours) is the most appropriate first-choice OTC painkiller when shoulder pain has an inflammatory quality — warmth, swelling, or worsening after activity. If ibuprofen is not suitable due to stomach sensitivity, kidney disease, or blood-thinning medication, paracetamol (500 to 1,000 mg every 4 to 6 hours) is the safer alternative. Topical diclofenac gel is a practical option for patients who prefer to avoid oral medication or cannot tolerate oral NSAIDs.

Q2: When do I need a prescription painkiller for shoulder pain?
A prescription painkiller is likely needed when OTC options have not provided sufficient relief after one to two weeks, when the pain is moderate to severe, when there is a specific diagnosis requiring a targeted medication class — such as a neuropathic agent for nerve-referred pain, or a COX-2 inhibitor for patients with gastric sensitivity who need sustained anti-inflammatory cover — or when existing health conditions make standard OTC NSAIDs unsuitable. A DR+ doctor will assess which option is appropriate for your individual profile.

Q3: Can I take ibuprofen and paracetamol together for shoulder pain?
Yes, paracetamol and ibuprofen can generally be taken together as they work through different mechanisms. Taking both at their respective standard doses provides combined analgesic and anti-inflammatory coverage that may be more effective than either alone for moderate shoulder pain. The important precaution is to ensure no other products you are taking also contain paracetamol or ibuprofen — inadvertently doubling up through combination cold remedies is a common cause of accidental overdose. A combined fixed-dose prescription formulation may be offered by a doctor to simplify this.

Q4: What minimally invasive procedures are available at DR+ for shoulder pain?
DR+ clinics offer four Myospan minimally invasive procedures as non-surgical alternatives to indefinite painkiller use. Coreflex injections combine a local anaesthetic, anti-inflammatory agent, and muscle relaxant targeted directly at the pain source — suitable for a broad range of shoulder conditions. Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) prolotherapy uses the patient’s own platelets to promote tissue healing, making it appropriate for tendon damage and partial tears. Intra-Articular injections deliver medication directly into the shoulder joint for conditions such as osteoarthritis and frozen shoulder. Peripheral Nerve Block interrupts pain signals at the nerve level, used both diagnostically and therapeutically for nerve-mediated shoulder pain. All procedures are performed in-clinic, take only a few minutes, and involve little to no downtime.

Q5: My shoulder pain keeps coming back despite painkillers. What should I do?
Recurring shoulder pain despite appropriate medication is a clear signal that the underlying structural cause has not been addressed. Painkillers reduce the pain signal but do not repair damaged tendons, release a frozen joint capsule, resolve joint degeneration, or treat nerve compression. When pain repeatedly returns, a clinical assessment to identify the actual pain generator is the essential next step. DR+ doctors use the Painostic® methodology to assess the specific structure involved and determine whether a targeted minimally invasive procedure — such as a Myospan Coreflex injection or PRP therapy — is appropriate. Walk-ins are welcome at all 12 DR+ locations.

 

ABOUT DR+ MEDICAL & PAINCARE
DR+ Medical & Paincare (Doctor Plus) is a primary care GP clinic group under Singapore Paincare Holdings Limited, operating 12 clinics across Singapore. DR+ GPs are trained in the Painostic® methodology, enabling them to assess and manage a wide range of pain conditions alongside comprehensive GP and family medicine services. Minimally invasive Myospan procedures are available at all DR+ clinic locations. Walk-ins are welcome. Website: drplus.com.sg | WhatsApp: +65 8777 9500

MEDICAL DISCLAIMER
This article is intended for general informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Medication suitability depends on individual health conditions, current medications, and clinical assessment. All prescription medications require a doctor’s consultation and valid prescription before use. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional before starting, changing, or stopping any medication for shoulder pain.