Shoulder Pain Treatment

Shoulder pain is another potentially confused term that the doctor and patient need to figure out right away.  And sometimes they co-exist, although neck pathology is more commonly painful than shoulder pathology, although they’re close in frequency.  The shoulder joint is homologous to the hip joint, but is much more mobile, and tends to be more symptomatic at an earlier age.  The shoulder joint is the articulation between the upper arm bone (humerus), and the shoulder blade.  This joint, specifically the rotator cuff muscles that attach them together, usually acquire some tearing as they age, resulting in shoulder pain that is worse with movements of the shoulder, especially raising the arm.  But the neck discs, joints, and nerves are also subject to degenerative changes that “refer” pain to the shoulder, shoulder blade, middle back between the shoulder blades, and arm.  This referred pain phenomenon misleads many patients and even doctors and therapists who treat shoulder and neck pain.  In fact, often, the wrong area is imaged with x-rays or MRI because providers can’t or don’t accurately differentiate the source of the pain.  And, again, sometimes both are a source of pain, further confounding accurate diagnosis.  Sometimes effective treatment helps to diagnose the problem.

For example, if I treat a pain in the shoulder region, and I only use a treatment that affects the neck area, and the pain of the shoulder region gets better, then we can conclude that the pain was coming from a neck problem.  Believe it or not, most therapists and therapy is so ineffective at neck problems, that the pain doesn’t get better dramatically, quickly enough, to determine this.  But the treatment approach that I use, spinal decompression, is so quickly and dramatically effective for neck pain, that I and the patient can tell very quickly that the pain is coming from a neck problem. 

For actual shoulder joint pathology, shoulder therapy is reasonably effective for most patients.  But for neck pathology, most non-surgical treatments are not that effective, and not quickly.

If you’re looking for effective shoulder pain treatment in Atlanta or Decatur, call 404-558-4015.

Shoulder pain is no joke. Whether it’s from an old injury, a tough workout, or just wear and tear, it can throw your whole day off. You can’t lift, drive, and sleep right— or even reach into the fridge without that sharp sting or deep ache.

The good news? Relief is closer than you think. At Backstrong, we specialize in customized, effective care that works. If you’ve been searching for Shoulder Pain Treatment in Decatur or Atlanta, we’ve got your back (and shoulder).