Shoulder Pain and Car Accidents

Shoulder Pain is a common condition after a car accident, and it's something that Dr. Harrell sees frequently in our Tumwater office. Chiropractic is an excellent way to treat shoulder pain. Let's look at how shoulder pain is caused by a crash and how Dr. Harrell can help you.

There are at least two ways that you can develop shoulder problems after a crash: by direct injury to the shoulder joint or by referred pain from the neck.

Direct damage can be caused by striking your shoulder on a hard object in the car during the impact, or can occur if you have a tight grip on the steering wheel during a rear end collision. With this type of trauma, you'll usually be aware of the pain shortly after the wreck.

More frequently, Dr. Harrell finds that shoulder or arm pain doesn't immediately appear after a crash, but starts a few days or weeks after the accident. This type of shoulder pain actually starts in the neck. Injured soft tissue in your neck can pinch nerves in your neck, causing tingling, numbness, or soreness in your shoulder, elbow, or wrist.

We've treated both types of shoulder pain in our Tumwater office. This care involves chiropractic adjustments to restore your spine's natural flexibility and home exercises that strengthen your neck and shoulder.

If you've been injured in a car crash and you're struggling with shoulder pain, Dr. Harrell is here to help. Dr. Harrell will first determine what's causing your pain and then work to restore your body to its natural functioning. Give our office a call today at (360) 489-0635 to make an appointment.