What to do about Shoulder Pain after an Auto Accident?
COMMON TYPES & CAUSES OF SHOULDER PAIN
We Address Shoulder Pain After a Car Accident
Your shoulder is one of the most mobile joints in your body because it can move forward, backward, side to side and in a circular motion. It is very easy to hurt or injure your shoulder in a car accident and even small amounts of discomfort are a sign that there may be a deeper issue.
When one of your bones or vertebrae is pushed out of its specific place through injury, poor posture, or sitting or driving for long periods of time, this misalignment can cause your muscles, tendons, and joints around your shoulder to become inflamed, overworked or pinched. This can cause anywhere from mild, annoying symptoms or discomfort, to very extreme and debilitating pain.
There are a variety of different types of shoulder pain which include:
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- Tendinitis: Inflammation of a tendon, most commonly from overuse, or overstretching your shoulder.
- Pinched Nerve: A result of compression or constriction of a nerve that causes numbness, prickling or burning sensation which radiates outward from the injured area. This is a fairly common shoulder injury from a car accident.
- Tear of the Rotator Cuff: An irritation or damage to the rotator cuff muscles or tendons in the shoulder.
- Arthritis: Painful inflammation and stiffness of the joints, such as the shoulder joint.
- Frozen shoulder: A difficulty in which the shoulder joint tissue becomes inflamed and stiff, decreasing the range of motion available, allowing for abnormal bands of tissue or adhesions to grow together and essentially freezing the shoulder in place.
- Bursiitis: An inflammation of a bursa, a fluid sac to cushion the tendons, joints, muscles, and bones, in the shoulder, knee or elbow.
- Dislocation: When your upper arm bone is pushed out of its socket or pops out of the socket that is connected to your shoulder blade.
Shoulder injuries in car accidents are common. It is important that if you hurt your shoulder to get treatment as soon as possible. Shoulder pain should not be taken lightly and can escalate quickly if not addressed. Also, know that to fully understand the injury it is not uncommon to get imaging such as x-rays or MRIs as part of the diagnosis and injury evaluation process.
How Can Shoulder Pain Affect Your Life?
SHORT TERM IMPACT OF SHOULDER PAIN
Because our arms, hands, and shoulders are used in so many daily activities, having your shoulder significantly affected by injury or pain can greatly reduce your productivity and your quality of life.
LONG TERM IMPACT OF SHOULDER PAIN
With shoulder injuries, long-term pain can cause a lack of mobility and chronic inflammation which only leads to persistent pain and over time you may not be able to lift your shoulder due to muscle weakness.
Regardless of which type of shoulder pain you have, if you leave it unresolved for long periods of time only increase your risk for chronic pain and disease.
LASTING RELIEF FROM PAIN OR DISCOMFORT
How Does Chiropractic Care Focused on Your Needs Benefit You?
Any Axcess chiropractor is trained to help decrease stiffness and inflammation. When it comes to shoulder pain, we are trained to look deeper at your shoulder to ensure that we can address the pain appropriately.
Shoulder pain will resolve with chiropractic adjustments and care that:
- Address the cause of your shoulder pain
- Support & Strengthen the Muscles
- Increase Blood Circulation & Tissue Healing
- Appropriately Stretch and Adjust the Bones & Muscles
- Improve Range of Motion
- Decrease Risk of Future Disease
- Reduce Potential Arthritic Pain
Through quality chiropractic care, our team can help your shoulder feel better. We will do everything we can and are trained to do to resolve your pain and help you gain mobility in your shoulder. With severe shoulder injuries, chiropractic care may not be enough, and we will always be sure to refer you to a certified and trustworthy specialist who can help you make a full recovery.
At the end of the day, we will empower you to get better and do what it takes to help you have a fast recovery time so you can enjoy your life without unnecessary pain.
DON’T JUST SHOULDER UP THROUGH THE PAIN
We Use a Unique Integrative Treatment Plan to Help Reduce Your Shoulder Pain
We create a unique treatment plan focused on your needs to empower you during your recovery. Your treatment plan might include: Chiropractic, Massage, Acupuncture, Ozone Injections, E stim Therapy and even Shockwave Therapy in our American Fork Clinic and West Valley Clinic. We know there are multiple ways to rehab and restore shoulder range of motion and decrease pain. Call us today to get started 801-701-8222. Or Visit us in Spanish Fork, Provo, American Fork, and West Valley City in Utah.
Can Ozone Injections help Shoulder Pain?
Understanding Ozone Injections:
Ozone injections involve the administration of medical-grade ozone gas into the affected area, in this case, the shoulder joint. Ozone is a highly reactive molecule composed of three oxygen atoms (O3) and is known for its potent antibacterial, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory properties. Medical ozone is produced by passing medical-grade oxygen through an ozone generator, resulting in a concentrated ozone-oxygen mixture suitable for therapeutic use.
The process of ozone therapy typically begins with the extraction of a small amount of the patient’s blood, which is then mixed with the ozone gas to form an ozone-oxygen mixture known as ozone autohemotherapy. This mixture is then injected directly into the shoulder joint or surrounding tissues under ultrasound or fluoroscopic guidance.
Mechanism of Action: Ozone injections exert their therapeutic effects through various mechanisms, including:
- Anti-inflammatory Action: Inflammation is a common underlying cause of shoulder pain, often resulting from conditions such as tendonitis, bursitis, or arthritis. Ozone injections help reduce inflammation by inhibiting the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines and promoting the production of anti-inflammatory mediators.
- Analgesic Effect: Ozone therapy has been shown to have analgesic properties, helping to alleviate pain associated with shoulder injuries and conditions. By modulating pain signaling pathways and reducing nerve sensitivity, ozone injections can provide effective pain relief without the need for medication.
- Improved Circulation: Ozone therapy enhances blood circulation and oxygen delivery to the injured tissues, promoting faster healing and tissue regeneration. Increased oxygenation also helps reduce tissue hypoxia, which is often associated with chronic pain and impaired healing.
- Immune Modulation: Ozone therapy modulates the immune system, enhancing the body’s natural defense mechanisms against infection and inflammation. By stimulating the production of immune cells and improving immune function, ozone injections can help accelerate the healing process and prevent recurrent shoulder injuries.
Benefits of Ozone Injections for Shoulder Pain: The use of ozone injections for shoulder pain offers several potential benefits, including:
- Minimally Invasive: Ozone injections are minimally invasive and are performed on an outpatient basis, allowing patients to resume their normal activities shortly after the procedure. Unlike surgery, which carries inherent risks and requires extensive recovery time, ozone therapy offers a safe and convenient alternative for shoulder pain relief.
- Non-Surgical Option: Ozone injections provide a non-surgical alternative for individuals who wish to avoid invasive procedures or are not candidates for surgery due to medical reasons. By targeting the underlying cause of shoulder pain, ozone therapy helps restore function and mobility without the need for surgical intervention.
- Quick and Long-lasting Relief: Many patients experience significant pain relief and improvement in shoulder function shortly after undergoing ozone injections. While the duration of relief may vary depending on the severity of the condition, ozone therapy has been shown to provide long-lasting benefits for many individuals, reducing the need for ongoing pain medication or other treatments.
- Safe and Well-Tolerated: Ozone therapy is considered safe when performed by trained healthcare professionals using sterile techniques and medical-grade ozone. Side effects are rare and typically mild, with most patients reporting minimal discomfort or temporary soreness at the injection site.
Can Shockwave Therapy Help Shoulder Pain?
Shockwave acoustic therapy, also known as extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT), involves the use of high-energy acoustic waves to stimulate the body’s natural healing response. These acoustic waves are generated by a device and delivered to the affected area through a handheld applicator.
During the procedure, the applicator is placed directly on the skin over the shoulder joint or the site of pain. The acoustic waves penetrate deep into the tissues, targeting areas of inflammation, scar tissue, and dysfunction. This stimulates cellular repair processes, improves blood circulation, and promotes tissue regeneration, ultimately leading to pain relief and improved function.
Mechanism of Action: Shockwave acoustic therapy exerts its therapeutic effects through several mechanisms, including:
- Cellular Microtrauma: The high-energy acoustic waves create controlled microtrauma within the tissues, triggering the body’s natural healing response. This leads to increased production of growth factors, cytokines, and other signaling molecules involved in tissue repair and regeneration.
- Neovascularization: Shockwave therapy stimulates the formation of new blood vessels (neovascularization) in the affected area, improving blood flow and oxygen delivery to injured tissues. Enhanced vascularization promotes faster healing and reduces inflammation, leading to pain relief and improved function.
- Disruption of Calcifications: In conditions such as calcific tendonitis, calcium deposits can accumulate within the shoulder tendons, causing pain and limited mobility. Shockwave therapy helps break down these calcifications, allowing the body to reabsorb them and restore normal tissue structure and function.
- Modulation of Pain Pathways: Shockwave therapy has analgesic effects, meaning it helps reduce pain by modulating pain signaling pathways in the nervous system. This can provide immediate pain relief and improve patient comfort during and after the treatment.
Benefits of Shockwave Acoustic Therapy for Shoulder Pain: Shockwave acoustic therapy offers several potential benefits for individuals suffering from shoulder pain, including:
- Non-Invasive: Shockwave therapy is a non-invasive procedure that does not require surgery or anesthesia. It is performed on an outpatient basis, allowing patients to resume their normal activities immediately after treatment.
- Effective Pain Relief: Many patients experience significant pain relief following shockwave therapy, with improvements in shoulder function and mobility. The analgesic effects of the treatment can provide long-lasting relief from chronic shoulder pain, reducing the need for pain medication or other interventions.
- Accelerated Healing: Shockwave therapy stimulates the body’s natural healing processes, promoting faster tissue repair and regeneration. This can lead to quicker recovery times and improved outcomes for individuals with acute or chronic shoulder injuries.
- Minimal Side Effects: Shockwave therapy is generally well-tolerated, with minimal side effects reported. Some patients may experience temporary redness, bruising, or mild discomfort at the treatment site, but these effects typically resolve quickly.
Application in Treating Shoulder Pain: Shockwave acoustic therapy can be used to treat a variety of shoulder conditions, including:
- Rotator cuff tendonitis
- Shoulder impingement syndrome
- Frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis)
- Calcific tendonitis
- Shoulder bursitis
- Shoulder instability
