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.