Frozen Shoulder and Neck Pain Connection of Pain and Chiropractic Relief
Frozen shoulder, clinically recognized as adhesive capsulitis, is a condition categorized as shoulder pain and stiffness that can significantly disrupt your daily activities. When this condition is linked to cervical spinal stenosis, the tenderness can be even more demanding. Luckily, chiropractic care offers a viable solution to manage and ease these symptoms.
Understanding the Connection: Cervical Spine & Shoulder
What is Cervical Spinal Stenosis? Cervical spinal stenosis is a condition in which the spaces within the spine get smaller, creating pressure on the nerves that move through the spine. This can lead to symptoms such as neck pain, numbness, tingling, and weakness in the shoulders and arms.
How Does It Cause Frozen Shoulder? The connection between cervical spinal stenosis and frozen shoulder stems from the joint nerve pathways. When cervical spine nerves are compressed, it can lead to referred pain and restricted movement in the shoulder. This is supported by researchlike a study by Russo et al., which reported a significant link between cervical foraminal stenosis and adhesive capsulitis. (1) Easley chiropractic care presents itself for relief!
Benefits of Chiropractic Care
Chiropractic care focuses on diagnosing and treating musculoskeletal disorders, especially those involving the spine. Here is how it can benefit patients with frozen shoulder associated with cervical spinal stenosis:
Cervical Spine Stenosis Relief Chiropractors utilize a variety of techniques to ease the symptoms of cervical spinal stenosis. One such technique is flexion distraction manipulation, which has been shown to effectively decrease foraminal stenosis and radiculopathy. (2) This method helps to decompress the spinal discs and open the spaces within the spine, lessening nerve pressure.
Cervical Spine Disc Herniation Foraminal Narrowing and Frozen Shoulder Pain Relief Chiropractic adjustments can also directly help the shoulder. Techniques such as the Cox® cervical flexion-distraction technique have proven to be efficacious in managing conditions like disc herniation with foraminal narrowing. (3) These adjustments help regain mobility to the shoulder joint and lower pain.
Steps to Effective Chiropractic Treatment
The first step in chiropractic care is a thorough assessment to identify the root cause of symptoms. This includes physical tests and imaging studies, if necessary. Based on the diagnosis, a chiropractor will develop an individualized treatment plan. This plan may include spinal adjustments, physical therapy exercises, and lifestyle recommendations to encourage overall spinal health. Regular monitoring and treatments confirms that progress is being made and that any necessary modifications to the treatment plan are employed. Further, numerous studies support the efficacy of chiropractic care for conditions like cervical spinal stenosis and thereby potentially frozen shoulder. For example, Wu et al. (4) highlighted the cross-talk between shoulder and neck pain, further supporting the role of Easley chiropractic care in overseeing these interlinked conditions.
CONTACT Young Chiropractic
Listen to this PODCAST with Dr. Sarah Murrow on The Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as she describes a case of neck and shoulder pain relieved and managed with The Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management.
If you are struggling with the twofold challenges of cervical spinal stenosis and frozen shoulder, Easley chiropractic care could be the answer you need. By getting to the root causes of your pain and providing targeted relief, your Easley chiropractor can help you regain mobility and enhance your quality of life. Set up a consultation with Young Chiropractic today and begin your journey to pain relief!