Distracted driving is the leading cause of car accidents. It kills nine people every day in the United States. Even if you’re lucky enough to survive, you might suffer from injuries.
For instance, it’s not uncommon for individuals to have internal bleeding or broken bones. Whiplash and shoulder injuries are common as well. If left untreated, these injuries can easily limit your range of motion and worsen with time causing long-term pain and suffering. Are you experiencing shoulder pain after a car accident? Want to know what you can do about it? If so, you’re on the right page! We’ll be going over everything that you need to know below. Keep reading to learn more!
What Causes Shoulder Pain?
Several car accident injuries can lead to shoulder pain. For instance, it might be due to a torn rotator cuff—a group of muscles that surround the shoulder joint. The force of the crash can also throw you against the steering wheel, which can injure the soft tissues in the area. Aside from a shoulder injury, there is a possibility that you may have sustained a whiplash injury after a car accident. While typically this injury will cause pain to be felt in the neck, it can radiate down the shoulders and arms.
Symptoms of a Shoulder Injury
Shoulder injuries can lead to various symptoms:
- Shooting Pain
- Tingling or
- Numbness
- Burning sensations
- Loss of motion
In some cases, you might also experience difficulty moving your arm. Stiffness or tenderness is standard as well.
Treating Shoulder Pain After Car Accident
There are various ways to treat shoulder pain. It depends on the cause and severity of the injury.
Medications
There are different medications that you can take to alleviate the pain. For example, your doctor might recommend nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Not only are they great for pain, but they’ll also minimize any inflammation. With a prescription or referral to a specialist, corticosteroids are another option, these can be either taken by mouth or get them injected into your shoulder.
Applying Ice
Applying ice to the area can help as well. Ideally, you want to do this three to four times a day for 15 to 20 minutes at a time.
Keep in mind, however, that you don’t want to put the ice directly on the skin. Wrap it in a towel instead—that way; it won’t cause frostbite.
Chiropractic Treatment
Chiropractors can use various techniques to treat shoulder pain. For example, they might perform a spinal adjustment. Put it simply, and they’ll realign the vertebrae of the spine, which will reduce pressure on the shoulder joint. In some cases, they might also recommend physical rehab. Over time, these exercises can help improve your shoulder mobility and strength.
Chiropractic Shoulder Adjustments
Your shoulders can move out of alignment, leading to issues such as inflammation, pain, and muscle spasms. When this happens, gentle chiropractic adjustments to your shoulder can be performed to restore normal alignment. In addition to manual shoulder adjustments, the treatment may involve the use of equipment, such as a drop table piece, speeder board, or reflex-type hammer tool. Having your upper back and neck adjusted may also help minimize shoulder pain.
Treatment for Posture Issues
These days everyone is on the cell phone for a multitude of hours throughout the day, often causing the head to be looking down or neck hyperextended. Another common occurrence is being seated for prolonged periods with poor posture during work or downtime can lead to a condition known as a postural syndrome. This common condition happens when your shoulders roll forward and down, toward your chest, while your upper back slouches. Meanwhile, your head juts forward, centering over your chest. Chiropractic care can help improve the effects of the postural syndrome and teach you ways to maintain proper posture: when your ears line up over your shoulders, which stay back, down, and relaxed.
The health benefits of chiropractic care include:
- Improved range of motion
- Increased muscle strength and tone
- Reduced inflammation
- Reduced pain
- Improved flexibility
These benefits are important not only for your short-term ease but for preventing harm to your shoulders and surrounding body areas moving forward. Improvements in flexibility, motion, and muscle strength can lower your odds of falls, fractures, and sprains, for example. The education you’ll gain from the process can also serve as preventive medicine, allowing you to maintain better posture and other benefits for the long term.
Swann Medical – Top-Tier Tampa Auto Accident Chiropractor
If you’ve been injured in a car accident, it’s essential you choose the right doctor to create a treatment plan custom to your needs. Here at Swann Medical, we work with you to create a conservative, custom-tailored approach for your healing. Our car accident chiropractors have locations in South Tampa, East Tampa, and Plant City. If you have questions or need additional information, our team has someone ready to help 24/7 on our live chat, schedule an appointment online or you’re welcome to call us or walk-in our clinics for assistance.
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help@swannmedical.com
Our Office Locations
508 S. Habana Suite 100 Tampa, FL 33609
2525 E Hillsborough Ave. Suite 111 Tampa, FL 33610
1501 S Alexander St Suite 103 Plant City, FL 33563
Service Areas Include:
Auto Injuries Treatment Chiropractic Care Medical Services Physiotherapy Spinal Decompression