Neck and Shoulder Pain
We often see people present to our clinic seeking treatment for neck and shoulder complaints.
It is essential to understand the cause of your neck and shoulder pain. This will help you make the best choices for treatment and, ultimately, prevention.
How does neck and shoulder pain start?
There are many ways your neck and shoulder pain can start. The most common include:
- Sleeping on different pillows or beds
- New or old car accidents (whiplash)
- Cracking your own neck
- Regularly sitting at a desk looking at the computer screen
- Looking up for extended periods of time such as painting
- Looking down at mobile devices or tablets
- General wear and tear of the spine (arthritis)
- Unknown causes such as waking up from sleep and having neck pain
Sometimes a combination of one or more of the above can increase your chances of having neck and shoulder pain.
What you might be feeling?
- Headaches
- Difficulty turning your head left or right
- Difficulty looking up and down
- Not being able to find a comfortable position when sleeping
- Pain travelling from your neck to your shoulder or shoulder blade
- Pain moving down your arm and hand
- Pins and needles into your hands or fingers.
- Pain when you cough or sneeze
- Pain even after taking painkillers or anti-inflammatories.
If you have experienced one or more of the above symptoms, you may need to be professionally assessed by our chiropractor, Paul Simmons.
How we can help.
At Clear Choice Chiropractic, we perform a thorough history and examination of the area in question. This includes safety, orthopaedic and neurological testing.
We carefully assess:
- The motion of each of the joints of the spine and neck, carefully looking for any unusual restrictions in movement
- Any tightness or spasm of surrounding muscles
- Any swelling or inflammation that can be present with your pain.
Once we have completed a detailed assessment of your pain, you will have your examination findings explained to you in a way you can understand.
If you choose to proceed with treatment, your treatment options will be explained to you. In the majority of cases, we can begin treatment straight away.
In some cases, imaging such as X-rays is required. Your safety is our priority.
What can you expect.
If your neck and shoulder pain is a result of a spinal joint dysfunction, then a specific correction (an adjustment), gently done by hand, is applied to that particular joint or joints.
The adjustment aims to help restore and correct the biomechanical position of the joint. This helps improve control of the spine and body, and in most cases, will reduce your pain levels.
Once you have had your adjustment, you will be given important advice to complement your treatment. This may include
- Pain management recommendations
- Basic exercises such as stretches
- Ergonomic advice such as sleeping and/or sitting postures.