Shoulder pain and the neck above it
A shoulder that aches, catches, or will not lift the way it used to.
What is shoulder pain?
The shoulder is the most mobile joint in the body, which makes it dependent on everything around it: the shoulder blade, the upper back, the neck and the posture you hold all day. Shoulder pain can come from the joint, from the rotator cuff and surrounding soft tissue, or from the neck referring pain into the shoulder. It is one of the most common reasons people from Meridian and across the Treasure Valley come to see us.
Why does it keep coming back?
Because the neck and shoulder are so closely linked, a neurologically based exam looks at both, along with the upper back and how the shoulder blade moves.
How we look at it at Bonfire
The first visit is the same careful process whatever brought you in: a nerve scan with a chiropractic assistant, then your history, a thorough exam with the doctor, and X-rays the same day. Visit two is the report of findings, where you hear what was found and what care could look like, before your first adjustment.
What does care involve?
Care may involve adjustments to the neck, upper back and shoulder as findings indicate, corrective exercise for shoulder-blade control, and SoftWave therapy where the doctors think it may help.
Two minutes from the doctors
Questions about shoulder pain
Is it a rotator cuff tear?
The exam includes tests that help point to the rotator cuff versus the joint or the neck. The doctors will refer for imaging or to another provider if a tear is suspected.
Can shoulder pain come from my neck?
Yes. Nerves from the neck supply the shoulder and arm, and neck problems commonly show up as shoulder pain.
This page is general education, not medical advice. Individual results vary. Talk with a qualified healthcare provider about your own situation, and never stop a prescribed medication without speaking to the doctor who prescribed it.