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Shoulder, Arm & Hand Problems
"Frozen" ShoulderProblems with the neck, shoulder and arm are often called different things by patientsl neuritis; bursitis; neuralgia; rheumatism; frozen shoulder; fibrositis; sprained; strained or sore muscles or "poor circulation." Some people may blame their shoulder (or other joint) problems on "old age" even though their other shoulder, which doesn't have any problems, is just as old. Brain Control
The brain "talks" with the rest of your body through a vast telecommunications system made up of nerves. Nerves come out of your brain in a large bundle called the spinal cord and travel down your back inside the spinal column. As the nerves from your brain travel down your spinal cord, they first have to pass through holes (foramina) between the spinal bones (vertebrae). Some nerves go straight to their point of destination, but some first mix with other nerves to form complicated nerve networks called a nerve plexus.
Brachila PlexusThe Brachial Plexus is made up of nerves which come up the middle and lower neck and upper back. After they interconnectto form the brachial plexus, they branch off to supply different areas, especially the shoulders, arms, elbows, wrists, hands, and fingers. Brachial Plexus Injury
The most common form of brachial plexus damage is to the nerves that make up the brachial plexus as they exit the spinal column through the foramina plexux. In the foramina, the nerves are surrounded by a ring of bone and meninges (tough coverings), and if the ring becomes smaller, the nerves may become compressed or "pinched." What causes the nerves to get "pinched"? Many things: long-standing spinal stress; old injuries such as falls from childhood; new injuries such as sports mishaps or car accidents (especially whiplash - a situation where the head and neck are suddenly "snapped" forward and backward); arthritis; being twisted, pulled or shaken; or even sleeping in an awkward position as well as many other stresses and strains of daily living. Results of Brachial Plexus Injury
Depending on which brachial plexus nerves are damaged, different symptoms and problemsmay be experienced. Neck pain or neck stiffness may be one of the first signs of brachial plexus damage. In some people the pain may radiate to the shoulder and down to the arm, wrist, hand or finger. Sometimes there's extremity pain but not neck pain. Sometimes there's no pain but numbness - a sure sign of nerve damage - and sometimes there's pain in one area the brachial plexus goes to and numbness in the other. "Puns and needles" of the fingers or other areas can be a sign of brachial plexus problems, while weakness of the involved parts may be another. Other Conditions
Because of the complicated way nerves interrelate, conditions such as headache; migrane; facial pain; dizziness; limited; painful or stiff motions in the head and neck; throat conditions; thyroid and nasal problems and even elipsy have been reported as being caused by brachial plexus. Lower back pain has been reported to be caused by cervical or neck spinal damage as well. Carpel Tunnel Syndrome
Carpel Tunnel Syndrome or CTS is now so common its been calle dthe "occupational disease of the 1990s." Symptoms include tingling and numbness in the hand, fingers and wrist; pain so intense that is awakens you at night and similar symptoms in the uper arm, elbow, shouldersor neck. Increasing numbers of people are seeking chiropractic care. As one researcher has written: "Faulty innervation caused by spinal joint lesions is one of the main factors in the production of wrist swelling, carpel tunnel syndrome, and tennis elbow." The Chiropractic Approach
Although the chiropractor's success with shoulder arm, and hand problems is well donumented, it is not a treatment for those problems. The chiropractic approach to a person's health problems is very different from the medical approach. Rather than treat the condition a patient has, the chiropractor concentrates on the health of the patient. Vertebral Subluxations
Chiropractic is devoted to correcting abnormal spine structural conditionsm called vertebral subluxations which cause abnormal spine and joint motionand nervous system stress. The nervous system is what coordinates and organizes your body, and when it is functioning without subluxations you are more organized, more balanced and more "whole." Should You see A Medical Doctor or A Chiropractor?
As a general rule it is wisest to explore drugless, non-surgical methods of healing first, before having to undergo more extreme routes of drugs and surgery. In actual practice many people go to chiropractors after they've gone throught the medical runaround and are fed up and tiredwith the drugs they've been taking. Too often drugs only give you a temporary relief of symptoms - after they're worn off the problems come back. In an emergency, however, it is especiallyto use drugs and evensurgery. but one must be prodent about such extreme therapies.
PreventionEven if your fender bender did not cause you any great pain or symproms, it would be wise to have your spine checked to see if any vertebrahave been "knocked out of place" or subluxated. By having your and your family's spines checked on a regular basis, many of the problems caused by and unhealthy spinal column can be protected and even prevented befor they become seriousness. Ann ancient Chinese medical saying is: "If people pain attention to their little health problems, they wouldbn't have big health problems."