Neck, Shoulder and Arm Pain
Patients commonly present to Nasa Chiropractic with
complaints of neck, shoulder and arm pain. There are many reasons for these complaints that may include
any of the following:
- Joint irritation in the cervical spine (Mechanical Neck Pain)
- Cervical disc bulge or herniations compressing the exiting spinal nerve
- Cervical degenerative disc disease (Cervical Spondylosis)
- Compression of the nerves or blood vessels in the shoulder region (Thoracic Outlet Syndrome)
- Shoulder joint problems (Rotator Cuff Syndrome)
- Trigger points (areas of irritation) within muscles of the shoulder region (Myofascial Pain Syndrome)
- Compression of specific nerves at specific sites in the elbow region (Pronator Syndrome or Cubital Tunnel Syndrome)
- Compression of specific nerves at the wrist (Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Tunnel of Guyon Syndrome)
- Neck, shoulder, elbow, or wrist sprains
Your doctors utilize many clinically proven tools to locate
the specific cause of your neck, shoulder, and/or arm pain. Your doctor will conduct a consultation
and you will be asked how your condition began and you will be asked to give
details regarding things that make your condition worse or better, the
location(s) of your pain, its character, and its intensity.
You will be asked to fill out a pain drawing in order to
illustrate the pattern of your pain and the areas of your neck/shoulder/arm
that are involved. Pain drawings
are very valuable to the doctor because details noted on the drawing aid us in
determining the specific cause of your condition. You will also be asked to rate your pain on several pain
scales and you will be asked to fill out a "pain-disability" assessment. This will aid us in determining how
extensive your condition is interfering with your everyday activities. These clinical instruments allow us to
accurize your diagnosis and treatment.
Following your consultation with the doctor, you will
undergo a targeted neurological, orthopedic, and spinal evaluation. Based on the examination findings, the
data gathered during your consultation, your pain drawing, pain rating, your
disability questionnaire, and relevant diagnostic imaging (x-rays or MRI
studies), your doctor will explain the probable cause of your condition
(diagnosis). You will also be
given other explanations for your condition (differential diagnosis) if
applicable.
If chiropractic care at Nasa Chiropractic is considered a
viable treatment option, your doctor will explain the nature of your treatment
and approximate time-frames for your treatment. If your condition may require additional imaging studies
(MRI), or the services of other specialists such as neurosurgeons, orthopedic
surgeons, or pain management specialists, your doctor will discuss these
options with you.
Chiropractic care is an effective means of treatment for
many conditions that may cause neck, shoulder, and arm pain. Should you elect to begin a course of
care at Nasa Chiropractic, your first two
weeks are critical to your care, as
we consider the first two weeks of care to be diagnostic as well as
therapeutic. In cases where our
patients do not respond well to care in the first two weeks, your doctor may
recommend alternative treatments for your condition, as the maximum therapeutic
benefits associated with our treatments are typically realized in the first few
weeks. Should you respond well to
your first two-week trial of care, your doctor will outline your treatment plan
to complete your care at Nasa Chiropractic. An average course of care at our office typically involves
8-10 visits over a period of 4-6 weeks.