Shoulder Pain

When should I seek medical help for shoulder pain?

Seek medical care for shoulder pain when it hinders simple daily and work tasks. Also, shoulder pain needs evaluation if it interferes with your ability to sleep. At Injury Care Chiropractic, the providers assess the source of your pain and develop a treatment strategy to give you relief.

Signs that you should seek medical support for your shoulder pain include:

• Limited range of motion
  
• Shoulder stiffness
  
• Discomfort when raising your arm to the side or overhead
  
• Pain while sleeping on one side
  
• Swelling or redness around the joint
  

Long-term recovery from shoulder pain is possible, especially if you seek early intervention and treatment.

What causes shoulder pain?

The shoulder joint is exceptionally mobile, which also makes it functional. But mobility also puts it at risk of injury. Common causes of shoulder pain include:

• Dislocation
  
• Torn rotator cuff
  
• Sprain or strain
  
• Arthritis
  
• Frozen shoulder
  
• Joint inflammation
  
• Tendonitis
  

Your shoulder pain may also be due to a pinched nerve in the vertebrae of your neck. This condition can cause radiating pain through the shoulder and arm.

How is shoulder pain evaluated?

At Injury Care Chiropractic, the team provides a thorough orthopedic and neurological evaluation of your shoulder pain. Your provider performs a musculoskeletal evaluation to determine if your shoulder pain is due to an issue at the joint or the spine.

Depending on your symptoms and medical history, you may undergo a digital X-ray evaluation with a full report of the findings. In some cases, you may receive a referral to an orthopedic specialist for further evaluation.

How is shoulder pain treated?

Shoulder pain can be addressed with minimally invasive strategies, such as:

• Chiropractic manipulations and adjustments to align the cervical vertebrae
  
• Physical therapy and rehabilitation
  
• Cold laser therapy
  
• Therapeutic ultrasound
  
• Orthopedic support and braces for your neck
  
• Tens unit fitting
  
• Hot and cold therapy
  

In cases that don’t respond well to these treatments, you may be referred to a specialist for medical pain management.

If you’re suffering from shoulder pain, learn more about the treatments available at Injury Care Chiropractic by calling for an appointment.