Shoulder Pain and Car Accidents

Shoulder Pain is a common symptom after a car accident, and it's something that Dr. Slater sees frequently in our Saint Paul office. Let's take a look at why shoulder pain is commonly experienced after an auto injury and see how your chiropractor can help you recover.

There are at least two different ways that you can get shoulder problems after a crash: by direct trauma to the shoulder joint or by radiating pain from the neck.

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

More frequently, Dr. Slater finds that shoulder or arm pain does not immediately appear after a crash, but starts a few days or weeks after the accident. This type of shoulder discomfort actually starts in the cervical spine. Injured ligaments or muscles in your neck can squeeze nerves in your neck, causing numbness, tingling, or pain in your shoulder, elbow, or wrist.

We've treated both kinds of shoulder pain in our Saint Paul office. This treatment involves chiropractic adjustments to restore your spine's natural mobility and home exercises that strengthen your neck and shoulder.

Dr. Slater has been helping patients in Saint Paul since 1980, so we know what you're going through. We're here to help you, too. Dr. Slater will first determine what's causing your pain and then work to restore your body to its natural functioning. Ready to make an appointment? Give us a call at (651) 699-3366 and we'll get you back on the road to health.