Your shoulder is a joint that features many moving parts. A group of muscles and tendons all hold these joints together and provide the mobility you need for many tasks.
The complexity of the shoulder as a joint means there’s always a risk of injury around it. Therefore, it’s no surprise that shoulder pain affects 18-26% of adults in the country, according to PubMed Central, with women being more at risk, according to ScienceDirect.
Do you need shoulder pain treatment in NYC? Turn to the team at Quantum Physical Therapy & Chiropractic Care. Due to the joint’s position, shoulder pain can make everyday activities like dressing, reaching, and lifting more difficult. It can also significantly reduce your productivity. Our multi-disciplinary pain management team can evaluate the cause of your pain and recommend a customized treatment plan that can help you return to your life.
Some of the top causes of shoulder pain include:
Some of the top causes of shoulder pain include:
Shoulder pain can appear in different ways. Some of the most common symptoms of shoulder pain include the following:
You may also feel some of these symptoms around your neck, upper arm, and back.
You should see a doctor for shoulder pain if you experience:
It’s also important you don’t conflate shoulder pain symptoms with symptoms of more severe health conditions. If you experience sudden or severe pain in your shoulder or chest accompanied by dizziness, shortness of breath, or sweating, call 911. It could be a sign of a heart attack.
During diagnosis, your doctor will focus on getting the complete picture of your pain to accurately diagnose the cause and chart a course of treatment.
During this stage, the doctor will ask questions to find out when the pain first started, the level of pain you feel, what worsens it, treatments that make you feel better, and more.
The doctor will also check your shoulder strength and range of motion and confirm the presence or absence of muscle weakness, inflammation, and physical abnormalities.
The doctor may order diagnostic tests such as:
After your doctor completes the diagnosis, they will recommend a course of treatment. The various treatment options include the following.
The treatment methods for most cases of mild to moderate shoulder pain include the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, the application of hot and cold packs, and rest. Some doctors may recommend corticosteroid injections to relieve pain and reduce inflammation.
When it comes to the treatment of shoulder pain, the focus is on reducing the pain and rehabilitating the injured shoulder. Physical therapy and chiropractic care are two alternative treatment options that can achieve those results.
A course of physical therapy for shoulder pain will focus on teaching you shoulder exercises that can improve your shoulder’s range of motion and improve strength.
On the other hand, when you see a chiropractor for shoulder pain, the focus will be on taking a holistic approach to shoulder pain management. In fact, one study by PubMed Central showed many patients saw relief for conditions like frozen shoulder after chiropractic care. Chiropractic approaches can improve blood circulation in the area, loosen up muscles and tendons, and correct any maladjustments in the musculoskeletal structure.
For severe shoulder pain that doesn’t respond to any of the treatment approaches above, your doctor may recommend shoulder surgery. This is especially true for people who are suffering shoulder pain due to a severe fracture.
At Quantum Physical Therapy & Chiropractic Care, our doctors use a range of rehabilitative techniques for pain management and addressing the underlying causes of your shoulder pain.
Whether you’ve suffered a sprain or recovering from trauma, our approaches increase the probability of more favorable treatment outcomes.
Our doctors accept most insurance plans, including workers’ compensation, no-fault, and PIP (personal injury protection). Same-day appointments may be available. Call us today to schedule a consultation.
Non-invasive treatments such as the use of medications and injections, physical therapy, and chiropractic care can heal your shoulder pain. However, it depends on the underlying causes. If you’ve suffered a severe fracture in an accident, for instance, you may need to go through a surgical procedure.
You can prevent shoulder pain from returning by practicing shoulder-strengthening exercises, being more careful during repetitive motions that involve the shoulder, maintaining good posture at all times, and avoiding strenuous exercises that are too tasking for your back and shoulder muscles.
Some of these tips can also help you avoid shoulder pain in the first place.
Most people recover fully from mild to moderate shoulder pain within six weeks. However, it’s not uncommon to find people with shoulder pain lasting a lot longer. Millions of people across the country live with chronic shoulder pain. Many of them may have made a full recovery following the right shoulder pain treatment.
