Shoulder Pain and Car Accidents

If you suffer from shoulder pain after a car accident, don't despair. Dr. Zapf sees this type of problem often in our Burke office. Let's look at the root cause of shoulder pain after a car accident and see how chiropractic care can help.

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

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

More commonly, Dr. Zapf finds that shoulder or arm pain doesn't immediately appear after a crash, but begins 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 spine can squeeze nerves in your neck, causing tingling, numbness, or soreness in your shoulder, elbow, or wrist.

We've worked with both kinds of shoulder pain in our Burke office. This treatment involves chiropractic adjustments to restore your spine's natural flexibility and exercises that strengthen your neck and shoulder.

If you've been hurt in a car crash and you're suffering from shoulder pain, Dr. Zapf is here to help. Dr. Zapf 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 (703) 455-9555 and we'll get you back on the road to health.