We at Van Every Family Chiropractic Center of Royal Oak, Michigan, care about your health and well-being and strive to provide you with current information in a variety of health topics!
Neuritis, bursitis, neuralgia, rheumatism, frozen shoulder, fibrositis, sprains, strains, “poor circulation” and rotator cuff problems are some of the terms used to describe shoulder, arm and hand conditions.
Don’t blame joint problems on “old age” – you have many other joints (and organs) that are just as old that have no problems.
Whenever there’s a problem, always look for imbalances and interferences preventing the body from functioning and healing. When it comes to the shoulder, arm and hand the nerves that make up the brachial plexus should always be checked for interference caused by subluxations.
Subluxations are distortions in body structure. They can be caused by injuries such as falls, sports mishaps, car accidents, emotional stress, fatigue and sleeping in an awkward position. Even birth stress could cause subluxations that can affect the arms, shoulders and hands.
Which nerves?
Depending on which nerves are damaged there may be muscle weakness, neck pain or stiffness, shoulder, arm, wrist, hand or finger pain. Sometimes there’s numbness, sometimes there’s pain and numbness and sometimes there are odd sensations (“pins and needles”). (1-2)
Many other conditions
Because of the complicated way nerves interrelate, headache; migraine; facial pain; dizziness; limited, painful or stiff motion of the head and neck; throat conditions; thyroid and nasal problems; epilepsy and even lower back pain have been reported as a result of neck or brachial nerve plexus irritation. (3)
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome or CTS symptoms include tingling and numbness in the hand, fingers and wrist; pain so intense that it awakens you at night and similar symptoms in the upper arm, elbow, shoulder or neck. “Faulty enervation caused by spinal joint lesions is one of the main factors in the production of wrist swelling, carpal tunnel syndrome, [and] tennis elbow.” (4-5)
The Chiropractic Approach
Chiropractic’s success with shoulder, arm, wrist and hand problems is well documented, (6-10) even though chiropractic is really not a “treatment” for those problems.
Your doctor of chiropractic is specially trained to locate and correct subluxations. Unless corrected, subluxations in your body can cause or contribute to many health conditions and prevent or interfere with the normal healing process.
After your chiropractor has located your subluxations he or she will “adjust” or correct them. This will release structural and nerve pressure and help restore the healthy flow of nerve impulses between your brain and your body parts and help rebalance your system.
References:
1. Ide M, Ide J, Yamaga M, Takagi K. Symptoms and signs of irritation of the brachial plexus in whiplash injuries. J Bone Joint Surg. 2001;83-B:226-229.
2. Miller JD, Pruitt S, McDonald TJ. Acute brachial plexus neuritis: an uncommon cause of shoulder pain. Am Fam Physician. 2000;62:2067-2072.
3. Ferrante M. Brachial plexopathies: classification, causes, and consequences. Muscle Nerve. 2004;30:547.
4. Russell BS. Carpal tunnel syndrome and the "double crush" hypothesis: a review and implications for chiropractic. Chiropractic & Osteopathy. 2008;16(2):1186.
5. Bourdillon JF. Spinal Manipulation (3rd ed.). New York: Appleton-Century-Crofts. 1984:207, 210-211, 219-224.
6. De Franca GG, Levine IJ. The T-4 syndrome. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 1995;18:34-37.
7. Polkingorn BS. Chiropractic treatment of frozen shoulder syndrome (adhesive capsulitis) utilizing mechanical force, manually assisted short lever adjusting procedures. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 1995;18:105-115.
8. Ferguson LW. Treating shoulder dysfunction and “frozen shoulders.” Chiropractic Technique. 1995;7:73-81.
9. Sobel JS, Winters JC, Groenier K, Arendzen JH, Meyboom de Jong B. Comparison of physiotherapy, manipulation, and corticosteroid injection for treating shoulder complaints in general practice: randomized, single blind study. British Medical Journal. 1997;314:1320-1325.
10. Davis PT, Hulbert JR, Kassak KM et al. Comparative efficacy of conservative medical and chiropractic treatments for carpal tunnel syndrome: a randomized clinical trial. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 1998;21(5):317-326.
