Frozen Shoulder and Neck Pain Connection of Pain and Chiropractic Relief
Frozen shoulder, medically known as adhesive capsulitis, is a condition described as shoulder pain and stiffness that can significantly disrupt your activities of daily living. When this condition is linked to cervical spinal stenosis, the tenderness can be even more challenging. 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 an issue in which the spaces within the spine narrow, putting pressure on the nerves traveling through the spine. This can relate to symptoms such as neck pain, numbness, tingling, and weakness affecting the shoulders and arms.
How Does It Cause Frozen Shoulder? The connection between cervical spinal stenosis and frozen shoulder lies in the shared nerve pathways. When the nerves in the cervical region are compressed, referred pain and restricted movement in the shoulder may result. This is supported by research, including a study by Russo et al., which found a significant association between cervical foraminal stenosis and adhesive capsulitis. (1) Baton Rouge chiropractic care presents itself for relief!
Benefits of Chiropractic Care
Chiropractic care focuses on diagnosing and treating musculoskeletal disorders, particularly those that involve the spine. Here is how it can benefit patients with frozen shoulder related to cervical spinal stenosis:
Cervical Spine Stenosis Relief Chiropractors use 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 assists in decompressing the spinal discs and widen the spaces within the spine, lessening pressure on the nerves.
Cervical Spine Disc Herniation Foraminal Narrowing and Frozen Shoulder Pain Relief Chiropractic adjustments can also directly address the shoulder. Techniques like the Cox® cervical flexion-distraction technique have proven effective in managing conditions like disc herniation with foraminal narrowing. (3) These adjustments help regain mobility to the shoulder joint and reduce pain.
Steps to Effective Chiropractic Treatment
The first step in chiropractic care is an extensive assessment to understand the root cause of symptoms. This consists of physical examinations and imaging studies, if necessary. Based on the diagnosis, a chiropractor will develop a personalized treatment plan. This plan may include spinal adjustments, physical therapy exercises, and lifestyle recommendations to foster overall spinal health. Regular monitoring and treatments make sure that progress is being made and that any necessary changes to the treatment plan are applied. Further, many studies back the efficacy of chiropractic care for conditions like cervical spinal stenosis and thereby potentially frozen shoulder. For example, Wu et al. (4) presented the cross-talk between shoulder and neck pain, further assisting the role of Baton Rouge chiropractic care in overseeing these interconnected conditions.
CONTACT Medical Spine and Sports Injury and Rehab Centers
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’re struggling with the twofold challenges of cervical spinal stenosis and frozen shoulder, Baton Rouge chiropractic care could be the intervention you need. By getting to the root causes of your pain and providing targeted relief, your Baton Rouge chiropractor may well help you get back mobility and enhance your quality of life. Set up a consultation with Medical Spine and Sports Injury and Rehab Centers today and start your journey to pain relief!