Shoulder pain can happen at most any time in life, and place terrible limitations on your range of motion and seriously impact your day-to-day function. How can you put on a coat, brush your hair, or get a carry-on bag out of the overhead compartment if your shoulder is stiff, 
painful, and essentially dysfunctional? At Bethesda Back Center, Dr. Gina Beech sees many patients struggling with shoulder pain and dysfunction, and thanks to her expert chiropractic care, she can relieve your discomfort and get that shoulder working again!
It's Not Just Pain
Besides experiencing throbbing or sharp pain (or both), you may have:
- Noticeable bruising, redness, and swelling in the shoulder area
- An impaired ability to raise your arm
- Interrupted sleep
- Trouble dressing, showering, or brushing your teeth or hair
- Weakness in the associated arm
- A change in your physical appearance (the shoulder looks deformed, higher/lower than the other side, or more forward/backward)
Experts at the Cleveland Clinic say that most shoulder issues result from rotator cuff injuries (both of the wear and tear and traumatic kinds). Osteoarthritis, bursitis, and a common condition called "frozen shoulder," send many people to their primary care physicians and sometimes even to the local emergency room because the pain is akin to heart attack pain.
What Your Chiropractor Can Do
Dr. Beech will help you deal with the nerve impingement, muscle, joint, and ligament/tendon issues associated with a painful shoulder. When you come to Bethesda Back Center, she'll do a complete chiropractic examination and X-rays, for shoulder pain often originates or is made worse by subluxations (misaligned vertebrae) particularly in the neck (cervical spine) and midback (thoracic spine). Pain then refers to the shoulder area.
To treat shoulder pain, Dr. Beech will formulate an individualized treatment plan based on her findings. Chiropractic care plans typically focuses on restoring and maintaining functional balance, or homeostasis, among muscles, joints, tendons, ligaments, and nerves. The proper position of the spinal column is a priority.
Care plans for shoulder pain can include:
- Over-the-counter analgesics and anti-inflammatories
- Cortisone injections
- Stretching
- Physical therapy
- Exercise
- Spinal manipulation
- Massage therapy
- Rest
- Ice or heat to the affected area
Your chiropractor will refer you to an orthopedic specialist or other physician if chiropractic care is not the correct treatment for your particular problem. Sometimes, chiropractic treatment is combined with other medical interventions to decrease pain and promote healing. Whatever the case, call Bethesda Back Center for persistent shoulder pain—don't postpone getting the help you need!
Contact Us
For relief from your shoulder issues, call Bethesda Back Center. Dr. Beech and her team are available Monday through Saturday. Please phone (301) 897-8500 for an appointment.