Frozen Shoulder and Neck Pain Connection of Pain and Chiropractic Relief
Frozen shoulder, clinically recognized as adhesive capsulitis, is a condition described as shoulder pain and stiffness that can significantly impair your activities of daily living. When this condition is related to cervical spinal stenosis, the tenderness can be even more demanding. Fortunately, 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 travel through the spine. This can relate to indicators 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 lies in the joint nerve pathways. When the nerves in the cervical region are compressed, referred pain and restricted movement in the shoulder may result. This is reinforced by research, including a study by Russo et al., which reported a significant association between cervical foraminal stenosis and adhesive capsulitis. (1) La Grande chiropractic care offers itself for relief!
Benefits of Chiropractic Care
Chiropractic care focuses on diagnosing and treating musculoskeletal disorders, particularly those involving the spine. Here is how it can be beneficial to patients with frozen shoulder associated with cervical spinal stenosis:
Cervical Spine Stenosis Relief Chiropractors utilize a variety of techniques to relieve the symptoms of cervical spinal stenosis. Flexion distraction spinal manipulation aka Cox Technic has been shown to effectively lower foraminal stenosis and radiculopathy. (2) This method helps to decompress the spinal discs and open 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 such as the Cox® cervical flexion-distraction technique have proven effective in dealing with conditions like disc herniation with foraminal narrowing. (3) These treatments help restore mobility to the shoulder joint and reduce pain.
Steps to Effective Chiropractic Treatment
The first step in chiropractic care is a thorough examination to identify the root cause of symptoms. This includes 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 promote 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) discussed the cross-talk between shoulder and neck pain, further assisting the role of La Grande chiropractic care in overseeing these interconnected conditions.
CONTACT Dr. Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC
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 suffering with the dual challenges of cervical spinal stenosis and frozen shoulder, La Grande chiropractic care could be the answer you need. By getting to the root causes of your pain and providing targeted relief, your La Grande chiropractor can help you regain mobility and improve your quality of life. Set up a consultation with Dr. Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC today and begin your journey to pain relief!
