Is a Pinched Nerve Causing Your Shoulder Pain?

Considering how shallow your highly mobile shoulder joint is, and how many muscles, ligaments, and tendons keep it that way, it’s no wonder shoulder pain is a common complaint. If you use your arms and shoulders for work, play sports, or lift weights, you’re at increased risk for shoulder pain.

Contrary to our former beliefs, shoulder pain tends to worsen with age. At one time, doctors assumed shoulder pain decreased with age due to elderly adults being less active. But today’s adults over 50 continue to be active in sports and manual labor, leading to increased shoulder pain with age. 

If you have shoulder pain, you may be unclear about what, exactly, is causing your discomfort. Is it a sore tendon or muscle? If your pain doesn’t resolve with rest, it could be due to a pinched nerve. 

Dr. John East, an expert osteopath, takes time to evaluate your shoulder structure and movement to diagnose the cause of your shoulder pain. At our office, Addison Pain + Regenerative Medicine in Addison, Texas, Dr. East and our team ensure you get the treatment you need for a pinched nerve or other causes of shoulder pain so you can use your arms freely again.

Is your shoulder pain the result of a pinched nerve? Here’s why it might be.

Shoulder nerves get compressed

The brachial plexus is a system of nerves that transmit signals from your spine down your arm. One of the most likely nerves to be compressed within the shoulder or nearby area is the suprascapular nerve, which travels through your trapezius muscles. As it heads toward your scapula, it passes several points where it could become squeezed by swollen tissue or bone.

Because the shoulder joint is so shallow, and therefore highly mobile, you need a number of muscles to keep your joint bones in place, including:

• Four rotator cuff muscles
• Rhomboids
• Trapezius
• Deltoids

Each muscle is attached and stabilized by tendons and ligaments. An injury to any of these tissues can cause inflammation that creates pressure on the nerve.

Neck nerves can affect your shoulders

Even if the brachial plexus isn’t affected in your shoulder area, a pinched nerve in your neck can cause shoulder pain. Swollen tissue in your neck, or a bony protrusion such as a bone spur, can push against a nerve and cause symptoms that radiate to your shoulder, such as pain, tingling, or numbness.

A pinched nerve in your neck may be caused by a slipped disc, degeneration of a vertebral disc, or a traumatic injury.

If your symptoms don’t resolve

Most of the time, pain from a pinched nerve resolves by itself, especially if you limit the motions that irritate the nerve. However, don’t completely immobilize your shoulder. It’s important to keep your shoulder — and all joints — moving gently every day to maintain mobility and stimulate the release of lubricating synovial fluid.

If, however, your pain persists, you may need medical intervention. We thoroughly evaluate your shoulder pain with a physical exam and imaging, such as an X-ray. If you have a pinched nerve, we aim to start with the least invasive treatment options, such as:

• Chiropractic care
• Physical therapy
• Non-narcotic medications
• Cervical collar

If these don’t help, we may move on to therapies that address your pain and inflammation more directly, such as:

• Trigger point injections
• Nerve blocks
• Radiofrequency ablation
• Peripheral nerve or spinal cord stimulation

You may also benefit from platelet-rich plasma (PRP) or bone-marrow aspirate (BMA) injections. These two treatments use your own body to create serums that help you heal an area of injury by providing concentrated ingredients, such as growth factors and pluripotent cells. 

If your shoulder pain doesn't resolve or interferes with your work and quality of life, schedule an evaluation today by calling our office at 972-380-0000 or requesting an appointment online.