Shoulder Pain Treatment In Sun Prairie, WI

How We Eliminate Shoulder Pain in Sun Prairie, WI

Specific Chiropractic Care in Sun Prairie, WI

We believe in treating the root cause of the problem, not just the symptoms. When it comes to shoulder pain, that often means looking beyond the shoulder itself and examining the spine for underlying issues.

A subluxation is a misalignment in the vertebra that interferes with normal nerve function. When a spinal joint is out of place or not moving correctly, it can put pressure on surrounding nerves. These nerves control every function in the body, including those that serve the muscles and joints of the shoulder. If left uncorrected, a subluxation can lead to pain, reduced mobility, and dysfunction in all areas of the body. We use advanced techniques to detect and correct these subluxations, restoring proper communication between the brain and the body.

Shoulder pain does not always originate from the shoulder joint itself. The nerves that control the shoulder muscles stem from the cervical and upper thoracic spine. A subluxation in these areas can lead to referred pain or tingling down the arm, muscle weakness/spasms, limited range of motion, and frozen shoulder or rotator cuff issues. In many cases, patients who have tried physical therapy or pain medications without relief find that addressing these subluxations provides the breakthrough they need.

Posture Correction

Posture is one of the most overlooked contributors to chronic shoulder pain. Prolonged forward head posture – common with desk jobs and screen time – places extra stress on the upper back and shoulders. Over time, this leads to muscle imbalances, joint inflammation, and increased tension in the neck and upper back.

At Harvest Chiropractic, we assess posture and spinal alignment to identify postural habits that may be contributing to pain. Correcting these can bring long-term relief and help prevent future issues. Chiropractic adjustments help restore motion and alignment to both the spine and the shoulder. By correcting subluxations, we relieve pressure on the nerves, reduce inflammation, and help muscles function properly.

Benefits of Chiropractic Care for Shoulder Pain

• Improved mobility and flexibility
• Decreased inflammation
• Faster healing from injuries
• Reduced dependence on medications
• Better posture

Our care plans are personalized, combining spinal adjustments with posture correction for the most optimal results. Conventional care often focuses on symptom management, such as prescribing painkillers, recommending rest, or offering cortisone shots. While these options may provide temporary relief, they do not address the root cause of the problem.

Chiropractic care takes a different approach. We look for the underlying spinal cause of shoulder pain, provide natural, drug-free solutions, help patients improve function rather than just relieve pain, and focus on long-term wellness and prevention. In other words, we do not just chase symptoms; we correct the problem at its source.

If you’re struggling with shoulder pain and want a lasting solution, we invite you to visit Harvest Chiropractic in Sun Prairie. Our specific, neurologically based approach can help restore proper function and get you back to doing what you love without pain.

Common Causes of Shoulder Pain in Sun Prairie, WI

Bursitis

Shoulder pain is one of the most common complaints we see at Harvest Chiropractic, and one frequent culprit is shoulder bursitis. This painful condition can limit your range of motion, interrupt your sleep, and make everyday activities feel nearly impossible.

Your shoulder joint is a complex structure that relies on smooth, coordinated movement. Within this joint are small, fluid-filled sacs called bursae. These act like cushions, reducing friction between the bones, tendons, and muscles during movement. When a bursa becomes irritated or inflamed, especially due to overuse or poor alignment, it results in a condition known as bursitis.

Shoulder bursitis can cause a range of uncomfortable symptoms, including:

• a dull, persistent ache in the top or outer part of the shoulder
  pain when raising your arm
• tenderness when lying on the shoulder
• swelling near the joint
• decreased range of motion

Shoulder bursitis is often caused by repetitive movements or prolonged pressure on the joint, but spinal misalignments and postural stress can be underlying factors. Common causes include poor posture, repetitive overhead movements, spinal misalignments, muscle imbalances, and previous shoulder injuries. When the spine and shoulder joint are not moving correctly, the bursa is forced to compensate, leading to inflammation and pain. Prevention starts with healthy posture and proper shoulder mechanics. This is what we recommend: improve your posture, avoid repetitive stress, stretch and strengthen your muscles, and correct spinal misalignments by getting adjusted.

Conventional treatment for shoulder bursitis often includes rest, anti-inflammatory medications, and corticosteroid injections. While these may temporarily reduce pain, they don’t resolve the mechanical problems causing the inflammation. At Harvest Chiropractic, we take a more effective, long-term approach with chiropractic adjustments and postural correction. By treating the cause of your shoulder bursitis, not just masking the symptoms, we help your body heal naturally and stay pain-free.

Frozen Shoulder

If you’re experiencing shoulder pain and stiffness that seems to be getting worse over time, you might be dealing with a condition called frozen shoulder. This frustrating and often painful problem does not just limit your mobility but also interferes with your sleep, work, and daily life.

Frozen shoulder develops when the capsule of connective tissues surrounding the shoulder joint becomes thickened and tight. Over time, this causes the joint to lose its ability to move freely, resulting in stiffness and pain.

The condition typically progresses in three stages: freezing stage, frozen stage, and thawing stage. This process can take months or even years without intervention. Frozen shoulder often develops gradually and may seem to come out of nowhere. However, certain risk factors make it more likely, such as women between 40-60 years of age, people with diabetes (typically Type 1), previous shoulder injuries, poor posture, spinal misalignments, and thyroid disorders or autoimmune conditions. Limited shoulder use due to pain, injury, or surgery can also trigger the cascade of stiffness and inflammation associated with frozen shoulder.

Patients with frozen shoulder typically describe it as:

• a deep and aching pain in the outer shoulder and upper arm
• stiffness that makes it hard to raise the arm
• difficulty sleeping on the affected shoulder
• gradual worsening of symptoms over time

Unlike some shoulder injuries that result from a single event, frozen shoulder tends to slowly sneak up and worsen before it gets better–making early intervention crucial.

At Harvest Chiropractic, diagnosis starts with a thorough consult and different exams. We evaluate your range of motion, areas of tenderness or tightness, postural alignment and joint function, and any other underlying spinal or nerve interference. We also ask about recent injuries, surgeries, or any health changes to determine if your condition fits the typical frozen shoulder progression.

Conventional treatments often include anti-inflammatory medications, injections, or months of physical therapy. While these may provide temporary relief, they do not always address the root cause of restricted mobility. At Harvest, our approach is different. We focus on restoring proper joint movement and nervous system function through chiropractic adjustments and postural changes. By combining chiropractic care with postural adjustments, we help your body naturally, without the need for medication and surgery.

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis. It occurs when the protective cartilage that cushions the ends of bones gradually wears away over time. In the shoulder, OA typically affects the glenohumeral joint (where the upper arm bone meets the shoulder blade) and the acromioclavicular joint (where the collarbone connects to the shoulder blade). As the cartilage deteriorates, bones may begin to rub against each other, leading to pain, stiffness, inflammation, and often the development of bone spurs within the joint.

Common symptoms of shoulder osteoarthritis include:

• deep, aching pain that worsens with movement
• stiffness in the morning or stiffness after periods of inactivity
• grinding, popping, or clicking sounds during shoulder motion

Many patients experience decreased range of motion, such as difficulty reaching overhead or behind the back. Others may notice swelling, tenderness, or muscle weakness due to inactivity.

Those most at risk for developing osteoarthritis include individuals over the age of 50, people with a history of repetitive shoulder use (such as athletes and manual laborers), and those with prior injuries like fractures, dislocations, or rotator cuff damage. Additional risk factors include genetics, poor posture, obesity, and inflammatory conditions.

While osteoarthritis isn’t reversible, there are effective ways to manage symptoms and slow its progression, often without relying on medications or surgery. At Harvest Chiropractic, we provide gentle, specific chiropractic adjustments to restore joint mobility and reduce stress on the affected area. This helps to decrease inflammation, improve function, and reduce pain. We also incorporate postural correction and ergonomic guidance to prevent further irritation and strain on the shoulder. Additionally, we encourage low-impact activities like walking or swimming to keep the joint active without overloading it. Our goal is simple: to help you move better, feel better, and stay active, even with OA. With the right chiropractic care plan, long-term relief is possible.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease in which the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks healthy joint tissue. Unlike osteoarthritis, which is caused by wear and tear, RA causes inflammation of the synovial lining of joints, leading to pain, swelling, and eventual joint damage if not managed properly. RA typically affects multiple joints of the body, such as the hands, wrists, ankles, knees, and shoulders.

Rheumatoid arthritis can look different for everyone, but the most common signs include:

• swollen/tender/warm joints
• stiffness
• fatigue or feeling unusually tired
• low-grade fever
• joint pain that comes and goes, or progressively worsens

RA can also cause systemic symptoms like muscle aches, weight loss, and even involvement of organs like the eyes, lungs, or heart in advanced cases. Anyone can develop RA, but certain factors increase your risk. Examples of these would be a family history of RA, age (usually between 30 and 60), smoking, and obesity.

Early diagnosis and proactive care are essential in managing the progression of this disease. While chiropractic care does not cure rheumatoid arthritis, it can significantly improve the quality of life by addressing the mechanical stress that RA places on your joints and spine.

At Harvest Chiropractic, our goal is to help RA patients by improving joint mobility, reducing muscle tension, enhancing nervous system function, and promoting better posture and biomechanics. We use gentle and specific adjustments that are safe and tailored to the stage and severity of your condition. For patients in a flare-up, we focus on reducing and supporting nearby joints that may be overcompensating. For those in remission, we work to maintain alignment and mobility to prevent future issues.

Rotator Cuff

The rotator cuff is a group of four muscles and tendons that surround the shoulder joint. These structures work together to stabilize the shoulder and allow for a wide range of motion–like lifting, rotating, and reaching. You use your rotator cuff every day, whether you’re lifting groceries, brushing your hair, throwing a ball, and reaching overhead. It plays a crucial role in both strength and mobility, making it one of the most active parts of the body.

Rotator cuff injuries can vary in severity, but common symptoms include:

• a dull ache deep in the shoulder
• pain when lifting or lowering your arm
• weakness or fatigue in the arm
• trouble sleeping on the affected arm
• limited range of motion or stiffness

Pain is often worse with overhead movement, and in some cases, patients may notice a catching or popping sensation during shoulder activity.

Rotator cuff injuries can happen suddenly or develop gradually over time. Common causes include repetitive overhead movements, acute trauma, degeneration, shoulder impingement, and spinal misalignment. At Harvest Chiropractic, we often find that poor posture and upper spine misalignments play a significant role in shoulder injuries. Healing a rotator cuff injury takes time, but the proper care can speed recovery and prevent it from becoming a chronic problem.

While surgery is sometimes recommended for severe tears, most cases respond well to non-invasive care like chiropractic. At Harvest, we focus on chiropractic adjustments to improve the spinal alignment and reduce stress on the shoulder, along with postural correction to reduce future strain. Our care plans are personalized based on your specific injury, activity level, and healing timeline. That way, you get exactly what your shoulder needs to recover.

Tendinitis

If you’re feeling sharp pain near a joint, especially with movement, you might be dealing with tendinitis. This common condition can disrupt your routine and lead to long-term problems if ignored. Whether it’s your shoulder, elbow, wrist, or knee, tendinitis is your body’s way of signaling that something is not moving right.

Tendinitis is the inflammation or irritation of a tendon, a thick and fibrous cord that connects muscle to bone. Tendons are tough but not invincible, and repetitive stress or sudden strain can lead to tiny tears and inflammation. Symptoms of tendinitis usually develop gradually and worsen with activity.

• localized pain and tenderness
• a burning or aching sensation
• stiffness or weakness
• swelling
• increased discomfort after repetitive use

The pain may start mild but can become sharp or limiting if the tendon becomes more inflamed or starts to fray. Tendinitis is typically the result of overuse, but poor mechanics and posture play a big role, too. Common causes include repetitive motions, sudden increase in activity or intensity, poor posture or body mechanics, muscle imbalances or weakness, and spinal misalignments.

At Harvest Chiropractic, we often find that tendinitis develops when one part of the body is compensating for a misalignment or restriction elsewhere, especially in the spine. Prevention comes down to reducing strain and improving movement. We recommend seeing a chiropractor for regular adjustments, warming up before physical activity, avoiding repetitive stress, and improving posture.

The key to healing tendinitis quickly is to reduce inflammation while correcting the cause of stress. We take a natural, effective approach that includes chiropractic adjustments and posture correction. While rest and ice may help temporarily, lasting relief comes from correcting the movement dysfunctions that caused the problem in the first place.

Frequently Asked Questions About Shoulder Pain

Can chiropractors help with shoulder pain?

Yes, chiropractors can help relieve shoulder pain by improving joint alignment, reducing muscle tensions, and restoring proper movement through spinal adjustments.

Why is my shoulder pain not going away?

Chronic shoulder pain often doesn’t go away because of underlying issues like joint misalignment, poor posture, or soft tissue damage that has not fully healed. Without correcting the root cause, the pain will continue to worsen over time.

How do I stop severe shoulder pain?

To stop severe shoulder pain, address the root cause with treatments like chiropractic adjustments. Ice, rest, and improved posture can help temporarily relieve the inflammation, but chiropractic adjustments will get to the root issue.

Can a chiropractor help with rotator cuff?

Yes, a chiropractor can help with rotator cuff injuries by improving shoulder mechanics, reducing joint stress, and healing through adjustments and posture correction.

How do I get rid of a pinched nerve in my shoulder?

To relieve a pinched nerve in your shoulder, chiropractic adjustments can help realign the spine and reduce nerve pressure, while stretching, posture correction, and rest support healing.

What can cause shoulder pain without an injury?

Poor posture, spinal misalignments, repetitive strain, nerve irritation, or other underlying conditions like arthritis or tendinitis can cause shoulder pain without an injury.

If you’re experiencing shoulder pain, consider chiropractic care at Harvest Chiropractic. Our patient-centered approach involves developing a shoulder muscle pain treatment plan tailored to your specific condition, using a variety of techniques to reduce pain and restore function. Our experienced chiropractors will work with you to achieve lasting shoulder health so you can enjoy a comfortable and active lifestyle. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.