23 Dec Chiropractic Care for Shoulder Pain and Injury
Millions of people visit the doctor’s office each year for shoulder pain and problems, including shoulder and upper arm sprains and strains. More than 4.1 million of these doctor visits are for rotator cuff problems. Shoulder injuries are often caused by athletic activities that involve excessive, repetitive, overhead motion. Shoulder injuries also occur with simple movements done under pressure. Learn how to treat your shoulder injury and pain without invasive surgery or heavy medications at our Mile High Spine & Pain Center location in Broomfield.
Finding the Cause of Your Shoulder Pain
The part of your body referred to the “shoulder” is a combination of joints comprised of tendons and muscles that support the range of motion of your arm. Because these joints are used repetitively, throughout your day, they can fall victim to a wide range of injuries, or pain-inducing conditions. Depending on the type of activities you are involved in, your shoulder joints may be at risk. Arthritis, impingement, instability, fractures and inflammation are five of the most common sources of shoulder pain. Shoulder pain can manifest as a constant, recurring pain or a temporary pain. Seek pain management and treatment when it strikes. Ignoring the warnings can result in more serious issues or long-term problems. A member of our Broomfield team can help you with treatment and prevention strategies.
The 5 Main Causes of Shoulder Pain
Understanding what causes your shoulder pain is the first step towards recovery and prevention. Listed below are the 5 main causes for shoulder pain. During your initial consultation, we can help you pinpoint what may be triggering your pain and dysfunction. Read ahead here to see if you fall into any of these categories:
Arthritis
Because of the frequent use of the shoulder joints, tendons and muscles, it is not uncommon that, overtime, some patients will develop arthritis (or osteoarthritis) of the shoulder. This degenerative disorder hits joints hard–most commonly the knee, hip, and fingers, but the shoulder is not exempt. For some, just normal everyday use overtime can create enough wear and tear to damage the joint. Others weaken the joint because of aggressive activities from either work or sports that use repetitive motions combined with excessive force. Athletic activities that put you at most risk for injury to the shoulder are those that involve heavy, repetitive, overhead motions, such as: swimming, tennis, pitching, and weightlifting. However, everyday activities can cause shoulder issues as well such as: washing walls, hanging curtains, and gardening.
Impingement
Impingement is a condition when the tendons or bursa in the shoulder collide with or are encroached by the bones of the shoulder. This condition is the result of repeated rubbing of the shoulder muscles against the top part of the shoulder blade (acromion). Patients that are involved in activities that use frequent overhead arm motions are at more risk. Impingement causes inflammation in the shoulder and disabling pain. Treatment should be sought early to avoid serious injury. If you are involved in tennis, swimming or other overhead sports you are at risk for impingement. Other risk factors are bone and joint abnormalities.
Instability
Instability is a common term when talking about shoulder pain. Simply put, instability is a result of the shoulder being displaced from its normal position either through a sudden injury, repetitive action or an underlying condition. The risk of instability is dislocation of one of the joints of your shoulder or tearing of a tendon or soft tissue. Patients suffering from instability will have difficulty raising their arm without pain. It is common to feel that the shoulder is slipping out of place. When caught early, instability problems can be treated to avoid more serious issues that can only be corrected with surgery. If you are suspicious that you are suffering from an unstable joint, don’t delay treatment.
Fractures
Some shoulder pain is a result of a broken bone (fracture). The most common shoulder fractures are with the clavicle (collarbone), humerus (upper arm bone), and scapula (shoulder blade). Most younger patients incur shoulder fractures from sports or motor vehicle accidents. Older patients can experience a shoulder fracture if they fall from a standing height or receive a strong blow to the shoulder. Shoulder pain that stems from a fracture cause severe pain, swelling, and bruising about the shoulder.
Inflammation
The most common forms of inflammation that cause shoulder pain are tendinitis and bursitis. Tendinitis of the shoulder is characterized by sore, swollen or red shoulder tendons. This inflammation is often traced back to impingement problems. Bursitis is a condition that describes when one or more bursa–small pads that are filled with fluid which sit between muscles, bones, ligaments, and tendons–become inflamed. Without these bursae cushions, moving any joint would be excruciatingly painful as these bands would all rub together. Inflammation of the bursa sacks mean that joint movements are quite uncomfortable. Tendinitis and bursitis are sometimes caused by disease, such as rheumatoid arthritis, but more frequently these forms of inflammation are a result of sports, hobbies, or employment that causes overuse of and frequent overhead reaching. Bursitis and tendinitis may occur alone or simultaneously. Treatment for these conditions includes:
- Rest
- Ice
- Anti-inflammatory pain medications or injections to reduce pain and swelling
- Ultrasound (gentle sound-wave vibrations) to warm deep tissues and boost blood flow
- Gentle stretching and exercises strength building
- Injection of corticosteroid if the shoulder does not improve
Free Shoulder Pain Consultation
If you are suffering from chronic pain, the team at Mile High Spine & Pain Center is ready to help. Mile High Spine & Pain Center provides specialized treatment plans for neuropathy to patients in the Westminster and Broomfield area. We can help you understand where your symptoms are coming from and what it will take to improve. Call (720) 507-0080 today to schedule your free consultation!