Shoulder Pain

The shoulder is the most mobile joint in our body, which includes four tendons that hold muscle to bone. Together, these 4 "rotator cuff" tendons stabilize the upper arm bone to the shoulder socket and allow a wide range of motion in our shoulder.

Shoulder pain is a common complaint, with many common causes. It is important for your chiropractor to make an accurate diagnosis of the cause of your symptoms so the right treatment can be directed at the cause.

You should set an appointment if you experience the following:

1. Inability to carry objects or use the arm
2. Deformity of the joint
3. Shoulder pain that occurs while resting
4. Shoulder pain that persists beyond a few days
5. Inability to raise the arm
6. Swelling or significant bruising around the joint or arm
7. Any other unusual symptoms

Types of shoulder pain:

Bursitis: The most common issue in patients with shoulder pain is bursitis or tendonitis of the rotator cuff. Bursitis is an inflammation of a fluid-filled sac, or bursa, which lies between tendon and skin or between the tendon and bone. Normally, a bursa protects the joint and helps make movement more fluid.

Rotator Cuff Tendonitis: Tendonitis is when tendons are compressed under the rigid bony arch of the shoulder. The compressed tendons will become inflamed or damaged and cause pain. This can occur from general wear and tear, as you get older, or an activity that requires constant shoulder use like shoveling or repetitive throwing motion, or an injury.

Arthritis: Shoulder arthritis is less common than knee and hip arthritis, but when severe may require a joint replacement surgery. Arthritis is a gradual narrowing of the joints and loss of protective cartilage in the joints about the shoulder.

Rotator Cuff Tear: A Rotator cuff tear happens when the tendons of the rotator cuff separate from the bone. Surgery is often necessary for this condition.

Frozen Shoulder: Also called 'adhesive capsulitis,' this is a common condition that leads to stiffness of the joint. Chiropractic, physical therapy and stretching are extremely important aspects for treatment of adhesive capsulitis.

Calcific Tendonitis: Calcific tendonitis is a condition of calcium deposits within a tendon.  It is most commonly found within the rotator cuff tendons. Treatment of calcific tendonitis depends on the extent of symptoms. This is one example of not procrastinating, make an appointment as soon as possible.

Labral Tear: A Bankart lesion is a type of labral tear most commonly due to dislocation of the joint. Bankart lesions cause problems of persistent instability of your shoulder.

Shoulder Instability: Instability is a problem that causes a loose joint. Instability can be caused by a traumatic injury (dislocation), or may be a developed condition.

Shoulder Dislocation: A dislocation is an injury that occurs when the top of the arm bone becomes disconnected from the scapula, ouch!

Shoulder Separation: Also called an AC separation, these injuries are the result of a disruption of the acromioclavicular joint. This is a very different injury from a dislocation!

SLAP Lesion: The SLAP lesion is also a type of labral tear. The most common cause is a fall onto an outstretched hand. In Wisconsin this can be common in winter, watch for ice!

Biceps Tendon Rupture: A proximal biceps tendon rupture occurs when the tendon of the biceps muscle ruptures near the joint.

How can Armstrong Chiropractic help my shoulder pain?

Before treating your shoulder pain we must first understand the actual cause of your problem.  A complete understanding of your shoulder pain symptoms is needed before we begin treatment. If you are unsure of your personal diagnosis, or the severity of your condition, you should not hesitate in setting up an appointment with Armstrong Chiropractic.  As with most other serious conditions, you should seek medical advice before beginning any treatment.

As chiropractors we look at your overall health, focusing not only on your shoulder, but also on your lifestyle, such as ergonomics, diet and amount of daily exercise. This integrated approach will help determine the best treatment for your shoulder pain.

As Chiropractors we are uniquely qualified to restore the health of your spine and neck. Special chiropractic techniques may relieve the pressure causing your shoulder pain. After locating the misaligned vertebrae in your neck, your chiropractor manually applies gentle pressure which repositions the vertebrae. These adjustments will help restore alignment, improve mobility, and relieve pain & stiffness.

While adjustments are the key ingredient helping to restore your shoulder to its optimal health, we may recommend other types of additional treatment for relieving your shoulder pain. These may include moist heat, ice packs, massage, traction, stretching and shoulder strengthening exercises. We will discuss these options with you.  Our goal is to make you healthy again, if we are thinking alike set an appointment today!

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Contact Armstrong Chiropractic of Appleton

Phone: 920.882.3070
Fax: 920.882.3007
Email: drarmstrong@armstrongchiroclinic.com

Or contact us by mail:

Armstrong Chiropractic, LLC
2500 East Enterprise Drive Suite A
Appleton, WI 54913

Contact Armstrong Chiropractic of Menomonee Falls

Phone: 262-957-0655
Email: drarmstrong@armstrongchiroclinic.com

Or contact us by mail:

Armstrong Chiropractic, LLC
N48 W14170 Hampton Avenue
Menomonee Falls, WI 53051