Shoulder and Arm Pain
Pain in the shoulder or arm are quite common. The shoulder joint has to greatest range of motion of any joint in the body. This gives us tremendous freedom of movement but also causes the joint to be susceptible to problems. The elbow is a much simpler and is less likely to present problems. The wrist is comprised of eight bones arranged in two rows and also has a large range of motion. Injuries to the shoulder and arm are generally attributed to overuse, a single traumatic event or repetitive activities. Pain in the upper extremity form the neck or brachial plexus will not be considered on this page. Chiropractic treatment is very effective in dealing with problems in the shoulder and arm. We always begin our approach to any problem with proper assessment of the problem being considered. A history of the complaint and general health history are obtained to direct examination and reveal factors that may affect the the current condition or the response to treatment. Examination is focused on the area of complaint and any possible contributing factors. Examination includes general assessment, physical examination and any type of imaging that may be required. We compile and evaluate the information gathered and derive a diagnosis of the condition. A proper diagnosis allows us to formulate a treatment plan to address the problem.
Shoulder Tendonitis
Shoulder tendonitis is the most common shoulder complaint we see in our office. Tendonitiis of the shoulder usually involves multiple tendons and often involves inflammation of a bursa as well. The shoulder is unique in that the four tendons of the rotator cuff form part of the joint capsule which is usually comprised of ligaments. Tendonitis is usually in one of the rotator cuff tendons but can include the tendons of the larger muscles as well. Assessment to determine which tendons are involved is usually accomplished with a history and physical examination. Treatment begins with rest and ice application. Physiotherapy modalities are helpful in speeding the process of healing. Mobilization of the joint to avoid the formation of scar tissue adhesions is important. Exercises to restore full range of motion and strengthen the injured tissues is necessary to reduce the risk of re injury. Tendonitis of the Elbow
Tendonitis of the elbow is a very common condition. The three primary muscle groups involved are the extensors of the elbow, the extensors of the wrist and the flexors of wrist. When elbow extension is involved it is triceps tendonitis. When it is the flexors of the wrist involved it is called medial epicondylitis. If the extensors of the wrist are involved it is called lateral epicondylitis. These conditions are fairly straight forward but can be persistent. The first consideration of treatment is to reduce inflammation of the tendons involved. This will reduce the pain level. Proper movement in the involved joint must be re established or maintained. Braces or compression sleeves are sometimes used during the course of treatment. Strengthening the involved tissues to minimize the risk of re injury is usually performed at home. Wrist Sprains
Wrist sprains generally occur in a fall on to the out stretched arm. The primary concern in evaluation of a wrist injury is ruling out a fracture to one or more of the bones in the wrist. Another consideration in traumatic wrist injuries is the occasional occurrence of avascular necrosis of one of the bones in the wrist. This is an injury which interrupts the blood supply causing death of the bone tissue. The tissue regains blood supply and regrows but generally in a deformed manner. This injury is not noticeable early after the injury. Treatment involves decreasing inflammation, restoring range of motion and restrengthening the forearm. A period in immobilization in splint is often needed in the treatment of wrist sprains. Shoulder Dislocation
Dislocation of the glenohumeral joint, which is the what we typically think of as the shoulder joint is not rare. The head of the humerus comes out of the glenoid fossa. This almost always happens with the humerus moving forward and down. Dislocations with the humerus moving backward are rare and usually from very significant trauma. These dislocations must be reduced or put back in place. They will occasionally spontaneously reduce(go back in place) but generally a trip to the emergency room is needed. Once you have experienced this dislocation it is very likely to happen again. We do not reduce dislocations but do work in coordination with orthopedic surgeons in recovery from this injury. |
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Separated Shoulder
A separated shoulder is an injury to the acromioclavicular joint. This is the joint between the collarbone and the shoulder blade. This injury is commonly caused by a fall onto the shoulder. This causes an injury to the ligaments which hold the collarbone to the acromion process(part of the shoulder blade). Most of these injuries do not require surgery and most patients will recover with full function of the shoulder. The injury is graded I-VI with injuries IV-VI generally requiring surgery. Treatment of grade I-III generally in involve rest, ice, sling to immobilize and rehabilitation to restore function in the joint. There is usually a noticeable bump at the injured site following recovery. Come See Us
Problems or injuries in the shoulder and arm often respond well to chiropractic care. We have been treating these problems and providing chiropractic services in Arlington, Texas since 1987, Call us at 817-784-2330 to schedule an appointment. |