Shoulder, Arm and Hand Problems

Dr. Anselmi is very familiar with the many different types of shoulder, arm and hand problems that affect individuals. Dr. Anselmi treats these conditions with a combination of therapies that will give each individual patient the best outcome.

Problems with the shoulder, arm and hand include neuritis, bursitis, neuralgia, rheumatism, frozen shoulder, fibrositis, sprains, strains, sore muscles or even "poor circulation."

The Brachial Plexus
The Brachial Plexus is made up of nerves that come up the middle and lower neck and upper back. After they interconnect to form the brachial plexus, they branch off to supply different areas, especially the shoulders, arms, elbows, wrists, hands and fingers.

The most common form of brachial plexus damage is to the nerves that make up the brachial plexus as they exit the spinal column through the foramina plexus. In the foramina, the nerves are surrounded by a ring of bone and tough coverings called meninges. If the ring becomes smaller, the nerves may become compressed or "pinched." This can be due to a wide range of causes, including:

• Long-standing spinal stress.
• Old injuries such as falls from childhood.
• New injuries such as sports mishaps or car accidents.
• Whiplash - a situation where the head and neck are suddenly "snapped" forward and backward.
• Arthritis.
• Being twisted, pulled or shaken.
• Sleeping in an awkward position.
• Stresses and strains of daily living.

Depending on which brachial plexus nerves are damaged, different symptoms and problems may arise. Neck pain or neck stiffness may be one of the first signs of brachial plexus damage. The pain may radiate to the shoulder and down to the arm, wrist, hand or finger. There may be extremity pain but no neck pain. There might be no pain but numbness - a sure sign of nerve damage. Sometimes there is pain in one area that is accessed by the brachial plexus and numbness in the other. A "pins and needles" sensation in the fingers or other areas can be a sign of brachial plexus problems, while weakness of the involved parts may be another.

Because of the complicated way that nerves interrelate, a number of seemingly unrelated conditions can be caused by injury to the brachial plexus, including:

• Headache
• Migraine
• Facial pain
• Dizziness
• Limited, painful or stiff motions in the head and neck
• Throat conditions
• Thyroid and nasal problems
• Epilepsy
• Lower back pain

Carpel Tunnel Syndrome
Carpel Tunnel Syndrome is a very common condition treated by Dr. Anselmi. Symptoms include tingling and numbness in the hand, fingers and wrist; pain so intense that is awakens you at night and similar symptoms in the upper arm, elbow, shoulders or neck. Click here for more information about Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.

The Chiropractic Approach
Dr. Anselmi treats shoulder, arm and hand problems with a combination of chiropractic care and Active Release Technique (ART). If you are presenting with symptoms that affect your shoulders, arms and hands, Dr. Anselmi will thoroughly evaluate you to find the root cause of the problem. His examination will determine the best approach to correcting any abnormal spine structural conditions, or Vertebral Subluxations, which might be the cause of your pain. Through a customized series of drug-free and non-invasive treatments, Dr. Anselmi can solve the majority of these complaints and restore you to your healthy and active life.

If your pain is the result of a trauma or accident, it would be wise to have your spine checked by Dr. Anselmi, even if the pain seems mild. By having your spine checked on a regular basis, many of the problems caused by an unhealthy spinal column can be prevented before they become serious.