Extremities

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            Arm and Leg Pain –

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The actual cause of arm or leg pain can be difficult to self-diagnose. If you have had an obvious injury, such as stressing a joint through a repetitive pattern at work, dislocating a shoulder playing sports, or pinching a nerve by falling asleep in an awkward position, the source of your immediate pain may be obvious. However, when pain in the arms or legs develops slowly over time without the occurrence of an obvious injury or accident, or when the pain from an injury has become chronic and the source becomes perplexing, you may be in need of a more thorough assessment to determine the source.

There are a number of different possible sources for the pain including bursitis, arthritis and tendinitis, but misalignments (subluxations) of the vertebrae in the neck and lower back are responsible for the vast majority of chronic arm and leg pain. If the spaces where the nerves leave the spine become narrowed because the vertebrae or discs are out of position, the nerve can become irritated, and often produces pain down its entire path. Many patients are surprised when they see that the nerves travel from the spine all the way to the ends of their fingertips and toes.

As a result, injuries to the vertebrae in the spine can create the sensation of pain anywhere along the entire length of the arms and legs. The pain patterns associated with sciatica, which run from the hip all the way to the foot, are a good example of how this works. Due to the complexity of the joints and the vast number of possible causes of your leg or arm pain, it is important to have a professional evaluation to determine the source. Using a combination of a thorough review of your medical history, a physical examination, and advanced imaging techniques, a chiropractor can get a comprehensive picture that will lead to the root cause of your pain.

Using non-invasive and carefully applied adjustments, chiropractors assist the body in gently re-positioning the vertebrae which can provide both instant and long-term relief.

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            Carpal Tunnel –

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Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is usually accompanied by sensations of burning, pain, tingling, or swelling in the palm of the hands and extends into the first three fingers and the thumb. Occasionally people also report a feeling of swelling in the hand even when no swelling is present. Patients commonly experience weakness in the affected hand and have difficulty with picking up small objects. This condition can have a major impact on a person's lifestyle and in some sever cases, if left untreated, the damage to the median nerve can cause permanent loss of movement in the hand. Traditionally, Carpal Tunnel treatment has been limited to decompression surgeries, physiotherapy, and prescription medicines. Due to the fact that these options often fail to deal with the underlying problem, they may only provide short-term relief and, at times, can prove completely ineffective. When left untreated, or when unsuccessfully treated, people are forced to adapt their lifestyles to accommodate this debilitating issue. This may include quitting one's job and needing help with basic everyday living.

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            Shoulder Pain –

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We don't think much about our shoulders until they start to give us pain. The shoulder is the most mobile joint in the body and as a result it is subject to a wide range of injuries and conditions.

Shoulder problems that go unchecked can lead to lifelong, debilitating issues. In order to properly treat the shoulder joint and achieve long-term relief it is important to identify the cause of shoulder pain. 

The causes of shoulder pain are seemingly endless, but let's go over some of the more common causes for pain in the shoulder. Shoulder pain may be the result of conditions, such as:

• Neck and upper back tightness

• Spinal misalignment

• Arthritis

• Abnormal patterns of movement

• Athletic injuries and automobile accidents

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While a few of the items on this list may indicate localized swelling in the shoulder joint, more of them point to the spine as the probable source of pain. The nerves that control the shoulder originate in the spine. If the vertebrae around the neck and upper back are compressed or injured, the nerves that go to the shoulder will be irritated and cause pain. Even a minor spinal misalignment can interrupt communication between the nerves and the shoulder, and a cascade of problems can begin. So, what appears as shoulder pain may actually be referred pain from the spinal column.