You consult your chiropractor for back pain, but did you know she also treats shoulder pain? At Bethesda Back Center in Bethesda, MD, Dr. Gina Beech can evaluate your symptoms and discover the causes for this debilitating discomfort. Don't suffer. This experienced chiropractor will help you regain function and feel your best.
The complicated shoulder joint
The shoulder is composed of the articular head, or top, of the upper arm (humerus) and the socket of the scapula (shoulder blade). It also features a muscle group called the rotator cuff and small fluid-filled sacs called bursa. This joint allows you to raise and lower your arm and to move it in a circular motion.
Like any joint in the body, it is subject to:
- Injuries, such as rotator cuff tears and fractures involving the scapula or humerus
- Osteoarthritis, a wearing down of the cartilage in the joint
- Dislocation
- Irritating calcium deposits
- Nerve impingement from a fall, sports injury, or another hard impact
- Adhesive capsulitis, or frozen shoulder, which involves inflammation and limited movement
In addition, many shoulder pain patients come to Dr. Beech in her Bethesda, MD, office because of a common co-morbidity: vertebral subluxations. Subluxations are misalignments of the individual bones in the spine. This pain can refer to the shoulder.
What you can do about shoulder pain
Talk to Dr. Beech at Bethesda Back Center. She will review your symptoms, do a hands-on examination of your shoulder and back, and take X-rays if needed. Her treatment plan may include chiropractic adjustments to correct subluxations in the spinal column.
Other common interventions include:
- Cortisone injections to reduce inflammation
- Over the counter ibuprofen for pain
- Stretching exercises to increase flexibility
- Physical therapy to improve muscular strength and range of motion
Some people require orthopedic surgery for their shoulder problems. However, most of the two million Americans who struggle with shoulder discomforts and limited use and function do well with less invasive measures, says the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons.
Contact Bethesda Back Center at (301) 897-8500 Dr. Gina Beech helps many patients of all ages find relief for their acute or chronic shoulder pain.