Many people who have shoulder pain ignore it, until they just can't ignore it anymore. This is unfortunate because not only do you have to endure prolonged suffering, but the damage can get worse if it goes untreated.
The shoulder is a large, complex ball-socket joint that attaches the arm to the body. It is surrounded by ligaments, muscles, and nerves that go into your arm, upper back, chest, and neck. If there is a pain in this area, the sooner you get it checked out, the better.
Most physicians can do little to help with shoulder pain, but chiropractic care can help resolve problems and restore your arm's strength and flexibility.
Types of Shoulder Pain
Shoulder pain may present itself in different ways. Sometimes the joint may feel tense or stiff; often this can be the first sign that something is wrong.
In some cases, the discomfort may grow to a deep, dull, achy pain. In other cases, shoulder pain may be sharp and stabbing, and may be triggered by movement or certain positions.
Over time, continuous pain in the shoulder may cause muscle weakness in the arm, reduce your range of motion, or cause numbness or tingling in the arm.
Shoulder pain can inhibit you from going about your daily chores, work, or hobbies. It may make activities like driving difficult as well, which can have a big impact on your life. One of the worst issues with shoulder pain is that it can make it difficult to fall or stay asleep at night, as moving your arm may wake you up frequently.
How the Shoulder Is Affected by the Upper Cervical Spine
For many musculoskeletal issues like shoulder pain, a good place to look for the root cause is the upper cervical spine. This part of your spine consists of the uppermost seven vertebrae that go from the base of the skull down into the upper back. Running through the neck, it is the most vulnerable part of the spine and is prone to injury.
When the vertebrae are misaligned even slightly, the body tends to shift the posture to compensate. This shift is usually unconscious and goes unnoticed, but the effects do not go unnoticed. Shifting the posture puts strain on other joints, such as the shoulder, and may cause pain and inflammation. In time, this can cause muscle groups to weaken or may even cause nerve damage if untreated.
How Our Shoulder Pain Treatment Works
At the Blair Chiropractic Clinic in Lubbock, Texas, our Dr. Gordon Elder believes that the sooner you get treatment for your shoulder pain, the better off you will be. Dr. Elder is an upper cervical specialist trained in the Blair Chiropractic Technique. This technique combines advanced technology scans with modern hands-on, low-pressure techniques.
The Blair technique is a non-invasive, drug-free, safe, natural treatment for many types of pains and injuries. Correcting the upper cervical spine and restoring proper alignment helps remove pressure from other joints and tissue. A properly aligned spine also reduces swelling and inflammation and kick-starts the body's natural healing processes to help repair damage and restore health.
Dr. Elder has a three-step plan for patients with shoulder pain. The first step is a screening, using 3D diagnostic imaging tools to help detect even minute misalignments. Step two is the healing process, during which the doctor uses gentle pressure to correct misalignments. Beyond that, preventative care is what step three is about. Dr. Elder recommends regular chiropractic check-ups to ensure the alignment holds and to nip future problems in the bud.
Don't let shoulder pain get extreme before you seek help. Early intervention can save you a lot of pain and problems. Contact Dr. Elder for an appointment. His area of coverage includes Lubbock, Amarillo, Midland, Odessa, Abilene, and El Paso in Texas, as well as Hobbs in New Mexico.
Published by Vic Belonogoff: A Blair Chiropractic doctor helped heal vertigo, among other conditions that Vic Belonogoff suffered from, and it gave him his life back. He continues to see an upper cervical chiropractor as a preventative measure. Vic Belonogoff is passionate about upper cervical chiropractic and how much it helps patients.