Shoulder Pain: A Precise, Gentle, and Effective Treatment Method

What is Shoulder Pain?

Shoulder pain involves discomfort in the shoulder joint or surrounding area. Considering how complex this area of the body is, and how much we use it, it’s not surprising that most people will experience shoulder pain at least occasionally in their lives. Others who are more unfortunate may suffer from periodic or chronic shoulder pain, which can be very frustrating. 

Doctors can have a hard time diagnosing the root cause of shoulder pain. This part of the body involves a massive ball joint, bones, muscles, ligaments, and soft tissue, so it’s a hard area to examine. This makes treating shoulder pain even harder. Go-to therapies involve pain management with medication and/or steroid injections. More severe cases may involve physical therapy or even surgery. 

Many people and even medical experts overlook one common cause of shoulder pain: misalignment of the upper cervical spine. This is unfortunate, as this part of the spine can be treated with safe, non-invasive, drug-free methods. 

Signs and Symptoms of Shoulder Pain

Shoulder pain experiences vary from person to person, depending on the nature and severity of the problem. The pain may come in the form of a dull ache, a throbbing pain, or sharp or shooting pains. For some people, the shoulder may be stiff, weaker, numb, or tingly, or there may be a reduction of mobility or a loss of mobility known as adhesive capsulitis (frozen shoulder). 

Shoulder pains often extend beyond the shoulder and can begin causing problems in the surrounding areas: the upper arm, the upper back, or even into the chest. 

People with shoulder pain can also suffer from fatigue and/or insomnia since the pain can make it difficult to get comfortable and fall and stay asleep.

How the Upper Cervical Spine Affects Shoulder Pain

The upper cervical spine consists of the uppermost seven vertebrae that go through the neck. Beginning at the base of the skull, these vertebrae are near where the brain stem connects to the spinal cord, and the vertebrae run along many nerve pathways. 

The neck is a vulnerable area to injury; a jolt, fall, or even poor posture can cause the vertebrae in this part of the spine to become misaligned. When a misalignment occurs, the area can become inflamed and swollen, or nerves may be pinched. This disrupts the flow of nerves and vessels, which can put a strain on and eventually weaken the muscles and tissue around the shoulder. 

How Our Shoulder Pain Treatment Works

Dr. Elizabeth Hoefer of Well Connected Chiropractic specializes in the treatment of the upper cervical spine. Dr. Hoefer is a specialist in the Blair Chiropractic Technique, a technique known for precise, gentle corrections. Unlike with other chiropractic methods, there is no twisting and snapping of the neck with this technique; instead, practitioners apply a more modern approach.

Treatment with Dr. Hoefer begins with advanced diagnostic tools to pinpoint areas of concern in the upper cervical spine. Every human’s anatomy is different, and these technologically advanced tools enable the doctor to measure and calculate the corrections that are needed. The doctor then can use precise pressure and minimal force to gently and swiftly correct misalignments.

Once the upper cervical spine is realigned properly, the musculoskeletal system can function properly and the body will naturally facilitate healing. If shoulder pain is getting in the way of your quality of life, contact Dr. Hoeffer. Dr. Hoefer services patients in Orange County, including Anaheim, Rancho Santa Margarita, Dana Point, San Clemente, Costa Mesa, Huntington Beach, Irvine, Laguna Niguel, Mission Viejo, Newport Beach, and Santa Ana.