Good afternoon!

 I have had several patients come in with shoulder pain lately, and many of them did not know if a Chiropractor could help them.   

 Yes!!! In most cases at least.  Of course if you have a full thickness tear of your labrum (shoulder joint capsule) or a fracture, then surgery or other allopathic medical care is where you need to go first.

But for just general shoulder aches and pains, chiropractic care can make a huge difference.

Many times the vertebrae in your upper back and neck are misaligned, and that puts pressure on the nerves that travel down your shoulder and into your elbows and hands. 

This pressure can result in the following symptoms:

-shoulder pain

-elbow pain

-wrist pain (including what people think is carpal tunnel)

-numbness and tingling in the fingers during the day, or especially while sleeping at night.

-breathing problems like allergies, asthma, and upper respiratory infections (because those same nerves also travel to the heart and lungs)

 Chiropractic adjustments realign the vertebra (aka bones) of the back, neck and extremities, which then removes the pressure on your body's nerves.  When this happens, MOST of the time people's pain symptoms lessen immediately.

 I also can use Total Body Modification techniques that improve the functioning of certain body organ reflexes that refer pain to the shoulder...most commonly heart and gallbladder.  Once, I even used Total Body Modification and Acupuncture to help rehab the shoulder of a former Major League Baseball player.  He was amazed at the improvement with his range of motion, and how much less pain he had in his arm when he pitched.

 So here's the bottom line...if you are having shoulder pain, please get it evaluated.  Chiropractors can detect the minor misalignments in the spine that put pressure on your nerves, and after a consultation and exam, give you proper treatment recommendations.

 Most conditions that will respond to my care improve greatly within 4-6 visits if not sooner.  Sometimes it takes a combination of Chiropractic, Acupuncture, CranioSacral Therapy and/or Total Body Modification.  The only way to know is to get it checked out!

 Have a great day!

 Dr. Kristine Baker