What is Shoulder Pain?
Any pain in the shoulder or surrounding area generally gets chalked up under the umbrella term of “shoulder pain.” You might think it’s a simple issue, but in reality, problems that cause pain in the shoulder can be quite complex.
The shoulder is a complicated joint, with a large ball socket that attaches your arm to your body and allows your arm to move. Injuries to the joint or soft tissue around it can be hard to diagnose and treat.
Most of the time, when it comes to shoulder pain, doctors will recommend pain medication to help you cope, or physical therapy. If those don’t help, you usually just have to live with the pain until the problem gets so bad that it requires surgery—and even then there is no guarantee that you’ll be back to new.
One alternative treatment that many patients have found helpful is upper cervical chiropractic care to treat shoulder pain. It is important to see a chiropractor as soon as you feel the slightest shoulder pain, so as to nip the issue in the bud before it becomes something bigger and more serious.
Signs and Symptoms of Shoulder Pain
There are different types of shoulder pain, depending on the individual and the problem. Some people feel a deep, continuous ache in the joint, while others may get a stabbing, sudden pain when they move the wrong way. When a person is suffering from shoulder pain the entire joint may feel stiff or weak.
Shoulder pain can interfere with your use of your arm, decreasing strength, stamina, and range of motion. This can be incredibly inconvenient to people who have to work or who have responsibilities. Even getting a good night’s sleep can be difficult when your normal movements cause pains that wake you up.
When you do have pain in the shoulder, it may tempt you not to use that arm a whole lot. This can cause more problems with your health, however, as it may discourage you from physical activities and could potentially lead to a frozen shoulder.
How the Upper Cervical Spine Affects Shoulder Pain
The upper cervical spine runs from the base of the skull, down through the neck, and into the upper back. It consists of seven vertebrae, which have the job of holding up the weight of your head and allowing your head and neck to turn.
Any jolt to the head and neck can cause injury to the upper cervical spine. If the vertebrae become misaligned, the area can become inflamed, and swollen, and nerves may be compressed.
The body shifts posture slightly to accommodate these issues, but that causes strain on other joints and muscles, like the shoulder. Undue stress may result in tight muscles or tendons, nerve damage, and inflammation throughout the area.
Treating the shoulder in this situation won’t help much. Unless you have the root of the problem treated, shoulder pain will keep coming back.
How Our Shoulder Pain Treatment Works
Dr. Alex Bello of Los Angeles Upper Cervical is an upper cervical expert who can help get to the root of your shoulder pain. Dr. Bello is a specialist in the Blair Chiropractic Technique, a technique that helps restore health and relieve pain by treating the upper cervical spine.
Blair practitioners utilize cutting-edge 3D diagnostic imaging technology to screen patients and pinpoint even minute misalignments of the upper cervical spine. With this advanced technology, adjustments are more precise and hold longer. Blair practitioners can use a gentler touch to make adjustments, making patients more comfortable and at ease.
Once corrections are made, the body can begin the natural healing processes that reduce swelling and inflammation, repair damage and restore wellness.
The Blair Chiropractic Technique offers people with shoulder pain a safe, drug-free, non-invasive treatment. Dr. Bello has brought relief to many patients who were thought to be “untreatable” and helped alleviate the pain that interfered with their lives. Call Dr. Bello for a consultation to see if he can help you. Our areas of coverage include Brentwood, Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, Westwood, Culver City, Marina Del Rey, West Los Angeles, and the surrounding areas.