Consequences of Ignoring Shoulder Pain
Shoulder pain can start from any number of causes, from sports injuries to accidents, abnormal movements, or even deterioration caused by aging. Inflammation or tearing of the muscles around the shoulder area can cause pain that can make routine tasks like wearing a jacket or shaking hands challenging. You might be tempted to endure the pain and wait it out, but more often than not, it might worsen into more severe problems.
The need for shoulder pain treatment
Limitation of the shoulder’s mobility is the first consequence of leaving shoulder pain unchecked. Patients will struggle to sleep, eat, bathe, and lift heavy items. Any movement involving the shoulder joints and the arms will cause severe pain and disrupt one’s routine activities. The longer the pain goes untreated, the less the chances of effective treatment with non-invasive options. The consequences of not treating shoulder pain depend on the pain’s origin. Some of them include:
Damage to nerves and blood vessels
If a shoulder injury damages the axillary artery, a rare occurrence but more common among elderly patients over 60 years, it might lead to ischemia or paralysis of the area due to occlusion or aneurysm of the artery. The injury may also affect the axillary nerve, which runs from the armpit to the neck area. Axial nerve damage can cause immobility or numbness in the shoulder. Although these are rare cases, the risk increases if patients fail to treat the injury promptly.
Bursitis
The bursa is a small sac filled with synovial fluid that lubricates the joints to enable mobility and avoid friction. Bursitis is the inflammation of the bursa. The symptoms slowly develop over time, not abruptly. The pain occurs just outside the shoulder and is aggravated by lifting the hands. Prompt treatment can prevent simple shoulder pain from worsening into severe bursitis.
Multidirectional instability
Patients with untreated shoulder pain may experience an unstable shoulder, especially if a dislocation caused the pain. The shoulder may appear loose and move in multiple directions, forward or backward. This is known as multidirectional instability. The patient may suffer loose ligaments around the body. Untreated shoulder pain can lead to referred pain in the neck and upper back areas.
Get chiropractic care
The ball and socket joints of the shoulder allow an incredible amount of mobility for the upper extremity. Multiple soft tissues, such as the rotator cuff and the shoulder labrum, provide support to keep the shoulder stable. These soft tissues can suffer injury from overuse due to “throwing” sports like baseball and basketball or recurrent overhead arm motions.
The chiropractor will begin shoulder pain treatment by performing a comprehensive evaluation of the patient to learn the pain’s cause. The treatment plan may include chiropractic adjustments, deep tissue massage, physical therapy, ultrasound, and electrical muscle stimulation, depending on the cause of the pain. Rehabilitation exercises and therapeutic stretching may also be included for common shoulder injuries.
Final note
If you are experiencing shoulder pain, it is important that you do not overlook or endure the pain. Visit a chiropractor today to get started on a treatment plan.
Get more information here: https://spine-chiropractic.com or call Spine Chiropractic at (423) 910-2302
Check out what others are saying about our services on Yelp: Read our Yelp reviews.
Recent Posts
Chiropractic therapy is an effective treatment for pain and discomfort in the musculoskeletal system as it focuses on specific regions of your muscles, tendons, ligaments, and bones. You are not alone if you seek a solution to alleviate your body’s discomfort that does not rely on medication. Chiropractic care might enhance both your physical and…
Chiropractic therapy can help reduce pain and improve the body's overall ability to function daily. It is also safe overall and non-surgical, so there are none of the risks that are associated with decompression surgeries that are more commonly recommended by general health doctors.You can best determine if chiropractic therapy is right for you by…
Considering undergoing neck pain treatment from an experienced chiropractor? There are many different causes of neck pain, which can be minor or severe. For those who are living with major neck pain, it can be difficult for them to perform their everyday duties, which is why treatment is necessary. Some of the more common causes of…
Wondering how chiropractic therapy can help with headache treatment? Read on to find out. To many people, chiropractic therapy is considered a solution for back pain, but it can actually be an effective treatment for headaches as well. When it comes to headaches, they may be minor and dull, or they can be strong and…