Chiropractic Care and Arm Pain

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Pain is a major problem in the United States and elsewhere. According to the National Institutes of Health, more Americans suffer from pain than from heart disease, diabetes and cancer combined. Data from the National Academies’ Institute of Medicine show that Americans who suffer from chronic pain number approximately 100 million. Back pain, headaches, musculoskeletal pain and arthritis pain top the list of chronic pain conditions. While these conditions are very common, they are certainly not normal. Fortunately, chiropractic care can help with all these and other pain conditions. Chiropractic treatment helps with many issues related to the spine, and that is what many people know. Chiropractic also provides effective treatment for problems with the extremities.

Symptoms of Arm Pain and Problems

Common symptoms of conditions of the arm may include the following: pain, pins and needles, numbness, decreased mobility, stiffness and weakness. The pain symptom can be burning, sharp, dull or throbbing. These symptoms may be mild to severe in intensity. Although symptoms may come directly from the arm itself, more frequently, symptoms perceived as emanating from the arm and even elbow, are referred from a condition in the neck or in the shoulder, actually.

Chiropractic Care for Arm Pain

Chiropractic therapy is a very viable option for arm pain.

During the initial chiropractic consultation, a thorough assessment will be conducted to determine what may be causing your symptoms. A personalized treatment plan specific to your conditions and needs is developed so that the treatment can be started immediately. The goal of chiropractic care is restoring your body’s balance, lost function and mobility and to get you pain-free in the earliest possible time, in a natural way – without using drugs and invasive surgical means.

Chiropractic care has worked for arm pain cases with the following common conditions:

  • Acute problem from sports injury involving strained sore muscles, or a tear in the rotator cuff
  • Chronic condition, such as rheumatism or neuralgia that you have suffered a long time from
  • A condition that gets worse over time, which includes carpal tunnel syndrome or frozen shoulder or adhesive capsulitis
  • Referred pain not originating from the arm but from a problem in the upper back or neck.
  • Conditions resulting from various causes

The chiropractic assessment consists of a series of diagnostic tests to zero in on the exact cause of the condition. This procedure is vital in the successful treatment of your arm problem. The treatment plan will be different from other treatment plans, even if your symptoms are apparently similar to another patient’s symptoms (read more on this here). While most arm pain conditions can be treated well with chiropractic, you may be referred to another specialist for more appropriate care should your chiropractor determine that the cause underlying your arm pain is not suited for chiropractic treatment.

In the course of the chiropractic treatment, your chiropractor will use gentle, effective and safe techniques to relieve you of pain and get you mobile again quickly, all according to the treatment plan that has been developed specifically targeting the cause for your problem. The treatment will most likely include chiropractic adjustments. Other techniques your chiropractor may utilize are soft tissue therapy that can include myofascial release, physical therapy, active and/or passive stretching, IASTM or instrument assisted soft tissue manipulation and electrical stimulation. In addition, your chiropractor may give you advice on lifestyle habits and posture that trigger recurrence, to prevent your condition from developing again in the future.

Unlike some medical options in the treatment of arm pain and injuries that mask the condition’s symptoms and leaving their source untreated, chiropractic treatment treats the root cause while producing quick relief from the symptoms. It is effective, safe and conservative.