Don't Shrug Off Shoulder Pain
By Sara Butler
Shoulder pain is a fairly common thing. But you shouldn’t just try to shrug off shoulder pain; your chiropractor can offer you natural and effective treatment to help you deal with it. Here’s what you should know about the different types of problems that could be causing your shoulder pain and how chiropractic can help.
About Your Shoulder
The part of the body most people refer to as the shoulder is actually several joints that come together to perform a function. The bones, muscles, ligaments and tendons in the joint all work together to help you do everything from scratching your head to throwing a ball. When people have shoulder problems it is usually a problem association with the soft tissues of the joint rather than the bones.
The Three Major Categories of Shoulder Pain
Most shoulder problems fit into three main categories. They are:
- Tendonitis or Bursitis – Tendons connect muscle to bone, and tendonitis is the inflammation of this tissue. It can be caused by overuse of the joint, a degenerative condition or an acute injury such as a tear. Bursitis is an inflammation of the bursa, which are the sacs in the joint filled with fluid that help reduce friction as you move. Tendonitis and bursitis often occur together.
- Instability or Injury – Sometimes one of the bones in the shoulder joint can move or be forced out of their normal position. A dislocation is an example of an instability injury, and it can cause future dislocations to occur making the joint unstable.
- Arthritis – There are several types of arthritis, but the most common type is the result of natural wear and tear of the joint, causing inflammation, swelling, stiffness, and pain.
When Should You See the Chiropractor?
Many people ignore symptoms when they are minimal and not to the point where they are causing a lot of pain or interfering with their lives. If you have minimal pain it is probably worth mentioning to your chiropractor so they can be aware of it.
If you injure your shoulder or suddenly start to have intense pain you definitely need to bring it to the attention of your chiropractor as soon as you can. They will do a thorough exam of your shoulder and the surrounding structures to try to determine the source of your pain and treat it. They will create a treatment plan with you to address the problem in order to get you on the road to recovery.