Addressing Shoulder Pain Due to a Pinched Nerve

Shoulder pain can be annoying because the shoulders is responsible for carrying the weight not just of external things but also of the many other body parts connected to it. It is also responsible for one’s movement range, so it can impact your daily activities and make it difficult to accomplish things like lifting, cooking, cleaning, working, and even getting a good night’s sleep. 

While many assume shoulder pains are due to muscle inflammation or strain from injury or overuse, they may also be due to a pinched nerve. If so, what are the best options for pinched nerves relief in Honolulu?

Pinched Nerve Basics

Nerves are like cables running through your body, connecting different parts of it to your brain and spinal cord. They carry electrical signals, which tell the brain what’s happening in various parts of your body. Pinched nerves usually result from never compression, which can develop due to many different things, including:

• Injuries from sports or accidents
• Poor posture
• Degenerative disc disease (a condition in the spine that causes pressure on the nerve)
• Tumors pressing against a nerve in your neck or back
• Conditions like vertebral compression fractures (VCFs) and osteoarthritis

Pinched Nerve Symptoms

If you pinch a nerve, it can trigger pain or numbness in that area of the body where the nerve is located. For example, if you have compressed nerves near the neck, you might notice pain or numbness in your ears and jawline. Additionally, you might have transferred pain which might come in the form of tingling or burning sensations on either side of the neck.

You may experience pain ranging from mild aching to debilitating. The pain you experience may depend on the location of the pinched nerve. A pinched nerve problem often occurs in one’s:

• Spine
• Neck
• Shoulder area. (This is the most common place for a pinched nerve.)
• Arms, hands, and fingers (upper extremities)
• Legs and feet (lower extremities)

You can also have pinched nerves elsewhere on the body, such as between joints (called entrapment) which can cause localized pain at these points. 

Entrapments don’t usually affect other areas far away from these points unless there is severe compression causing damage over time from repeated abuse. 

Abuse happens due to repetitive overhead motions performed repeatedly without rest periods between sets, meaning there is no recovery time for your muscles, nerves, and body parts when doing activities.

Of all the abovementioned body parts, the shoulder area is the most common place for pinched nerves as it is the body part used for most wide-range movements.

Identifying Pinched Nerve Pain

While both muscle and pinched nerve pain can make it difficult for you to move your shoulder, some essential differences can help you differentiate between the two types of shoulder pain. 

Pinched nerve pain usually causes a sharp, shooting sensation. You can feel it on one side of the body (the side opposite where you move your arm) but not on both sides at once. This type of pain tends to be constant instead of intermittent, like muscle pain. 

If you have pinched nerve symptoms in your upper back or neck, they may be present all day long without any relief! In addition, movement often worsens this kind of discomfort. So if your arm feels worse after trying some exercises or moving around in general, it could indicate something else besides muscle soreness, as often a result of overuse or over-lifting weights.

Upper Cervical Care: A Source Of Pinched Nerves Relief In Honolulu

Let’s be honest: when you experience pain, especially in your neck or back, you’re probably thinking about getting a massage. Although accessible and can alleviate shoulder and other body pains, the relief can only be temporary, and more often, it is not what your body needs. The good thing is that you can seek lasting relief from your compressed nerves with the help of upper cervical chiropractic care.

But, what exactly is upper cervical care? How can it provide lasting pinched nerves relief in Honolulu? The answer lies in the nature of the injury.

Shoulder pain caused by a pinched nerve will leave your neck, upper back, and shoulder area feeling numb, tingly, and weak. Thankfully, upper cervical chiropractors like Dr. Breuwet D.C. have the knowledge and training to resolve one of the leading contributors to nerve compression – cervical bone misalignments. 

Upper cervical chiropractic adjustments relieve pressure on the affected area by releasing tension on the spine and joints through manual manipulation of the topmost neck bones. The adjustment may also increase blood flow throughout these areas as chiropractors adjust each segment of the spine that they feel needs attention.

Begin Relieving Your Nerve-Related Shoulder Pain

If you are still aching for more information on how Dr. Breuwet provides pinched nerves relief in Honolulu, we encourage you to visit our practice. Upper Cervical Hawaii is the go-to place for many patients who experience cervical bone subluxation-related symptoms and conditions. 

Upper cervical care uses gentle and well-calculated C1 and C2 bone adjustments to restore the neutral curvature of the spinal column. It also helps minimize the risks of nerve compression that results from the bones that shift due to the compromised vertebral column. 

We strongly recommend consulting our upper cervical doctor to determine if you qualify for chiropractic adjustments. You may reach us at 808-201-1324 or drive to 1600 Kapiolani Blvd. #1421 Honolulu, HI 96814.