Do you want to get to the root of your shoulder, arm and hand problems?

Pain is a problem in the United States (and beyond). The National Institutes of Health state that, “Pain affects more Americans than diabetes, heart disease and cancer combined.” According to the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies, there are an estimated 100 million Americans suffering from chronic pain. In addition to back pain and headaches, musculoskeletal and arthritis pain top the list. While the conditions are common, they’re not normal—and luckily, chiropractic care can help.

The Brachial Plexus and Brachial Plexopathy

Shoulder, arm and hand pain and problems are common, and many issues with these areas can be linked to a group of nerves, called the brachial plexus. These nerves run from the lower neck through the upper shoulder area, and allow the shoulder, arm and hand to move and feel.

Any nerve damage to the brachial plexus can cause pain, loss of mobility and loss of sensation to these areas, this is known as brachial plexopathy. This damage can be a result of a direct injury, stretching injury, birth trauma or other issues such as inflammatory conditions.

Symptoms of Brachial Plexopathy

Shoulder, arm and hand problems, or brachial plexopathy may cause symptoms such as:

• Numbness in shoulder, arm and/or hand
• Shoulder pain
• Tingling, burning or abnormal sensations
• Weakness of the shoulder, arm, wrist and/or hand

Issues with Prescription-Based Treatment

Typical treatment often includes medications such as painkillers or steroids. While these may help deal with the pain temporarily, they’re usually masking the problem and potentially putting you at risk for other health issues.

Chiropractic Treatment for Shoulder, Arm and Hand Pain

Chiropractic treatment and therapies can be a viable option for shoulder, arm and hand pain. A chiropractor can investigate and locate any potential interference in your spinal vertebrae that may be causing compression of the nerves.

A case study on a 30-year-old man with weakness, atrophy and general paralysis of the forearm and index finger demonstrated improved range of motion after one chiropractic adjustment and treatment session, and by the eighth treatment, he was able to straighten his arm completely. A three-year follow-up revealed that the patient was fully functional and pain-free. Research also indicates chiropractic as a treatment option for nerve-related conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome.

Make an appointment to talk to a chiropractic doctor about chiropractic and shoulder, arm and hand problems.