Shoulder Pain and How Chiropractic Can Help

Posted: Dec 23, 2011 • By: Dr Charles Pray •

Erase your pain with chiropractic!

Does your sore shoulder make getting into a coat sleeve difficult?  Do you dread lifting a jug of juice out of the refrigerator?  Do you have difficulty sleeping because of your bad shoulder?  Chiropractic can eliminate your shoulder pain!

A painful shoulder can make life miserable!   Anything that keeps you from enjoying your work and your family needs to be taken care of.  Yet, shoulder pain is often dismissed as a “touch of bursitis” or “arthritis”.  Typical treatments can include harmful pain-killers, rest and sometimes even surgery.  Chiropractic can safely and effectively eliminate your shoulder pain without the use of drugs or invasive-surgery.  Whether caused by an injury or wear and tear, shoulder pain can and needs to be dealt with.

Possible causes of shoulder pain:

  • Sports injury (pitching, throwing, tackling, swinging)
  • Car accident (especially whiplash)
  • Overuse and/or repetitive motions (lifting and reaching)
  • Arthritis (aging, normal wear and tear)
  • Old injury from childhood
  • Sleeping in an awkward position
  • Long-standing spinal or emotional stress

Your “intricate” shoulder

The anatomy of your shoulder makes it vulnerable to injury.

Your shoulder is a complex system of bones, muscles, ligaments, tendons, joins and nerves.  These tissues are susceptible to injury and dysfunction, if not properly maintained.  Your shoulder depends on thousands of intricate nerves and other tissues to help it function smoothly.  No wonder shoulder injuries have ended so many athletic careers.  Your shoulder is known as a “suspension” joint.   This type of joint makes your shoulder very mobile and flexible.  However, a “suspension” joint also limits the strength of your shoulder because it has a shallow socket and very little support.  The anatomy of your shoulder makes it vulnerable to injury.  Chiropractic care helps restore the strength and integrity of your shoulder’s supporting soft tissues, to keep your joints flexible and working pain-free.

Common Sources of shoulder pain

Most shoulder problems involve either overuse or underuse.  The most common sources of shoulder pain include:

  • Referred Pain:

-Because the shoulder joint is closely connected to the spinal nerves in the neck, pain may radiate to your shoulder from inflamed nerve roots in your neck. Likewise, a shoulder disorder may cause pain in your neck and hands.

  • Bursitis and Tendinitis:

-Overuse of your shoulder by excessive lifting, reaching or repetitive action can inflame the bursa (fluid-filled “cushioning” sacs) and tendons of your shoulder, resulting in bursitis or tendinitis.Localized pain usually limits your shoulder’s mobility.

  • Rotator Cuff Injury:

-One or more of the rotator cuff tendons (which hold your arm in place) can be inflamed or torn by injury. Pain and restricted movement often follow an injury to the rotator cuff tendons.

  • “Frozen” Shoulder:

-When your shoulder is in pain, you may tend to avoid using it.This underuse can cause scar tissue develop, which can limit your shoulder’s mobility-until it suddenly “freezes”. The pain is often quite intense.Professional care to restore movement is essential to prevent further disability.

  • Degenerative Arthritis:

-Everyday wear and tear can lead to progressive damage of the bones, tendons and cartilage of your shoulder. Joint degeneration can cause the surfaces of two adjacent bones to rub together, causing chronic pain.

You can be injured, without getting “hurt”

Your shoulder joint “injury” may have resulted from accumulated joint stress, rather than from an accident or fall.  Perhaps your pain and discomfort are related to an old forgotten injury that didn’t heal properly.  Strains and sprains can result in continued injury to your joint, even after the pain is gone.  Chiropractic can stop the progression of joint deterioration and help soft tissue injuries that don’t always appear on x-rays.  Overuse of poorly conditioned tissues can leave your shoulder joint susceptible to injury.  By keeping your soft tissues well-conditioned and your bones properly aligned, chiropractic can often prevent injury from occurring in the first place.  If you “baby” your bad shoulder by not using it, you could be doing more harm than good.  Lack of movement can lead to muscle atrophy, the development of scar tissue, and loss of elasticity in the supportive tissues of your shoulder.  Prompt chiropractic care can reduce or even eliminate your chances of suffering from chronic joint pain and eventual disability.

Chiropractic care for your shoulder

Chiropractic care for your shoulder will depend on whether your condition is from a muscle, joint or nerve problem.  We will examine your neck and upper back to see if spinal nerve irritation could be the source of your shoulder pain.  A shoulder injury may even result from a weakness due to an underlying nerve irritation could be the source of your shoulder pain.  A shoulder injury may even result from a weakness due to an underlying nerve irritation.  Spinal and shoulder joint adjustments may be needed.  I may also give you strengthening or stretching exercises to help restore full range of motion to your shoulder.  Whatever your needs, give it time.  Shoulder problems can be resistant to even the best of care.  If you would like your “bad” shoulder to start feeling like a “good” shoulder again, make an appointment today and feel better now.

Stress the Holidays and Natural Relief

Posted: Dec 21, 2011 • By: Dr Charles Pray •

You can lower your stress… NATURALLY!

Every year about this time, we’re able to do something remarkable for our patients! We don’t want you to miss out!!  In addition to your already busy life, now the holidays have you pulled in so many different directions.  And we know for some, the season isn’t always filled with comfort and joy.  You may be faced with health challenges, a family tragedy, or a job loss.  We can’t change what’s happening to you on the outside, but you may find that chiropractic care does a world of good for you on the inside!

    Keep going strong… all season long!

WE can help you manage your stress so it doesn’t get the best of you!  A series of spinal adjustments can actually help balance your nervous system so you can better cope or “adapt” to the changing demands in your life.  Simply stated, stress is an adaptive response.  How will you adapt to losses, family reunions, traffic jams, extreme weather changes, and/or the added expenses of the holiday season?  You’ll know you’re not adapting well when you feel tension in your neck, back, headaches, pain, fatigue, anxiety or depression.  Stress also takes its toll on your immune system, leaving you more prone to colds or allergies.  Although the initial trigger may be long gone, your defense system can get locked into an over-stimulated “emergency mode”.  Chronic stress will not only run you ragged, it will eventually put your overall health at risk.  If ignored, over time, it can contribute to serious heart disease, high blood pressure, ulcers and mood changes. 

    Chiropractic to the rescue!

By rebalancing your nervous system and improving your circulation, chiropractic helps decrease overstimulation of your body’s stress responses.  One of the positive effects of realigning your spine is a stronger immune system.  Discover how reducing spinal nerve interference can help you return to a healthier and more relaxed state!

What we can do FOR YOU!

What stress does:  Inhibits health and health.

What chiropractic does: Improves circulation which aids in healing and health.

What stress does: Taxes your immune system.

What chiropractic does: Enhances your defenses by decreasing overstimulation to your organ systems.

What stress does: Creates muscle tension, joint stiffness, and pain. 

What chiropractic does: Increases range-of-motion and reduces painful nerve irritation.

What stress does: Can lead to poor health and unhappiness.

What chiropractic can do: Balances your nervous system which regulates organ function and mood.

What stress does: Creates a sense of being overwhelmed.

What chiropractic does: Once you’re calmer on the inside, you may find it easier to cope.

Womens Health PMS and Pregnancy

Posted: Dec 21, 2011 • By: Dr Charles Pray •

  Women of all ages can enjoy the benefits of chiropractic care- from pre-puberty to menopause.  No matter what your stage in life, chiropractic can help you feel healthier, more relaxed, more flexible and free from pain.  As your Doctor of Chiropractic, we don’t treat “female” health problems.  Chiropractic simply removes nerve interference along your spine, allowing you to experience optimal health.  Sounds incredible? The only way to be sure is to schedule an appointment today to see what chiropractic can do for you. 

Are you suffering from:

  • Stress
  • PMS
  • Mood swings
  • Headaches
  • Hormone changes
  • Backaches fatigue joint stiffness

We care about your health, naturally!

We recognize that women have unique health care needs.  That’s why you need to know that chiropractic can help more than just “neck and back pain”.  You’ll be pleased to learn that chiropractic has been scientifically proven to relieve the discomfort of women’s health problems, such as menstrual pain, headaches, stress and back pain during pregnancy.  Read on to find out for yourself that chiropractic is a safe, gentle, drug-free approach to women’s health care.

Many women are surprised to discover that after receiving chiropractic care for an injury or chronic pain, they also experience relief from menstrual pain and “female” problems.  Don’t let the misconception that chiropractic care is only for your back and neck pain keep you from our office.  To get the relief you need-when you need it, don’t wait until you are in pain to schedule an appointment.  There’s never been a better time to find relief with chiropractic that right now!

 Because we’re so sensitive to the unique health concerns that women face, we encourage you to share this exciting news with your friends, loved ones, and co-workers. 

Put an end to “monthly” pain!

Do you dread the irritability, headaches, backaches, muscle tension, or cramping right before your period?  NOW you can feel your best all month long!  Many women have reported improvement from PMS (pre-menstrual syndrome) with chiropractic care.  Painful periods, or primary dysmenorrhea, afflict over 50% of women.  If you have painful periods, here’s how chiropractic can help you!  The nerves that exit your spine are directly connected to your reproductive system.  If you have a subluxation (spinal misalignment) irritating those nerves, you could be suffering needlessly from muscle cramping, joint stiffness and other PMS symptoms.  Interrupted nerve flow can cause physical and emotional stress during your period- you already know how that takes a toll on every aspect of your life.  Chiropractic offers a natural approach to managing the menstrual periods, without the use of drugs that can cause harmful side effects.  A pilot study, published in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, found significant improvement from menstrual pain and distress among women who received chiropractic care.  Chiropractic may put an end to your monthly pain-safely, effectively and naturally.  At last! Results you can count on when you need it most! 

Safe, gentle care for a healthy pregnancy

Pregnancy is a great time to seek chiropractic care. When you’re pregnant, your body undergoes dramatic structural and hormonal changes.  These changes can affect your spine, nerves, ligaments, connective tissues and ultimately your entire body.   Regular chiropractic care during your pregnancy can help you eliminate your aches and pains.  Let us help you keep your body in top shape.  One of the most common complaints among pregnant women is low back pain.  In fact, one study showed that 56% of pregnant women suffer from back pain, especially between the 5th and 7th months.  Pain-killers are not an option while you are pregnant because of their risk to your baby.  Simply stated, chiropractic is a safe, drugless approach to ease back pain during your pregnancy.  With gentle adjustments, chiropractic care can relieve your discomfort safely and effectively! And, regular chiropractic can even help back pain associated with delivery.  A 1991 study of back pain during pregnancy and labor found that those women who received chiropractic care during pregnancy experienced less back pain while they were in labor.   While chiropractic is not a substitute for regular visits to your OB/GYN, chiropractic should be a part of your overall health plan for a safe, comfortable pregnancy. 

Finally!  Freedom from stress & headaches

If you’re like most women today, you’re juggling family, work, and a busy social calendar.  Do you suffer from anxiety, dizziness, neck pain, headaches, or back pain?  Emotional and physical stress can lead to subluxation, or spinal misalignment.  No matter what the source, muscle tension can place considerable stress on your musculoskeletal system.  Chiropractic naturally soothes and releases tense muscles by keeping your nervous system free of interference.  Stress reduction, regular chiropractic adjustments, proper exercise and nutrition and a positive attitude can help keep “stress” from making your life a “mess”!  And when was the last time you woke up headache-free?  Maybe you’ve been told that your headaches are something you have to learn to live with.  With chiropractic, you don’t have to live with headaches.  It’s estimated that 90% of migraine sufferers can benefit from a program of chiropractic care… Yet, only one in five migraine sufferers seek treatment.  Chiropractic can remove the spinal stress that could be the cause of your headache pain-and help you feel better than ever!