Why do you have tingling or burning shoulder pain?
While you may be experiencing tingling and burning sensations in your shoulder area, the actual cause of the pain is likely to be coming not from your shoulder itself, but from an irritated, compressed or pinched nerve.
Why? Because your shoulder is supplied by nerves that originate in your neck or cervical spine, which is the uppermost portion of the spine.
The cervical spine is a complex yet delicate and flexible structure responsible for neck movement in all directions. The top portion of your cervical spine is connected to your skull, and the bottom portion is connected to your upper back.
Any compression, pinching or irritation of the nerves or nerve roots of the neck or the cervical spine can result in numbness, tingling, or burning pain in the shoulder.
Six Causes of a Pinched Nerve:
There are several reasons why you may experience a pinched nerve that causes shoulder pain:
1. Cervical Radiculopathy
A cervical pinched nerve, also known as cervical radiculopathy, is caused when a spinal disc herniation or bone spur in the neck compresses, pinches, or irritates the nerves of the cervical spine. When this occurs, it can be experienced as radiating arm and shoulder pain or numbness. You’re most likely to experience cervical radiculopathy as you get older, with the most common at risk group being men ages 50 to 54, according to the American Family Physician Journal.
2. Brachial Plexopathy
Brachial plexopathy is caused by trauma, infection, or inflammation in the nerves of the brachial plexus, which is a group of nerves originating from the neck or the cervical spine, and upper back or
thoracic spine. The branches of the brachial plexus supply nerves to most of the shoulder muscles.
Vigorous physical activities, such as weightlifting, gymnastics, and wrestling are the most common causes of brachial plexopathy. When the brachial plexus is injured, the result is a sharp, stabbing or throbbing pain.
3. Injury and Trauma
Any direct injury or trauma to the shoulder, such as a fall or accident, can compress, irritate, or pinch the shoulder nerves. This can result in pain, numbness, weakness, tingling, or a shock-like sensation.
4. Dislocated Shoulder
The shoulder joint is highly unstable and is very prone to dislocation, which can also result in a tear or rotator cuff injury. The rotator cuff is a group of muscles and tendons that stabilize the shoulder, and injury to the rotator cuff can cause inflammation, compression, or damage to the shoulder nerves. This
causes shoulder pain, numbness, or a tingling sensation.
5. Peripheral Neuropathy
Peripheral neuropathy is a hereditary or genetic disease that affects the peripheral sensory or motor nerves. If this disease impacts the shoulder nerves, you may experience shoulder pain along with numbness, tingling, burning, or an electric shock-like sensation.
6. Other Medical Conditions
Medical conditions such as diabetes and obesity can cause nerve inflammation that may result in a feeling of numbness, weakness, or tingling in the shoulder.
How to Treat Burning Shoulder Pain
If you have any shoulder pain or a feeling of tingling or burning in the shoulder area that lasts for three months or more, it’s important to seek professional medical advice and treatment.
The first line of treatment is typically focused on resolving pain and improving movement, often using prescription medications to reduce pain and inflammation. However, prescription pain medications only offer temporary symptom relief and are not recommended for long-term use.
Surgery is only recommended when all other treatment options fail to provide relief, or you have sudden worsening pain or a medical emergency. If you experience numbness in the shoulder along with chest pain, dizziness, or shortness of breath, seek emergency medical care.
How Chiropractic Care Can Help Treat Your Tingling, Numbing or Burning Should Pain
Chiropractic techniques, such as traction, manipulation, and adjustments can relieve pressure on the compressed nerve and reduce inflammation. Adjustments and manipulation in conjunction with massage therapy and chiropractic exercises can help resolve the underlying cause of your shoulder pain and provide effective long-term relief.
Treat your shoulder pain and related symptoms of weakness, tingling, burning or shock-like pain caused due to a variety of medical conditions naturally and effectively. Chiropractic care is a safe, non-invasive way to relieve your symptoms and a natural way to treat the root cause of your shoulder pain.
So avoid the multitude of side effects caused by prescription pain medications and contact our office today to schedule an evaluation and find out how our doctors and specialists can help you overcome your pain.
