Expert: Dr. Victor Dolan, DC, DACBSP - 3/11/2009

Question
Hello,
I am having a dull aching pain in my left medial shoulder that also at times seems to go down my left arm.  Last winter I feel and had bursitis in the same shoulder.  Did physical therapy for a few weeks with steroid therapy and seemed to fix the problem.  I joined a gym last October and have been going around three times a week.  For the last couple of weeks I have not gone due to the pain in my shoulder.  Lifting patients at work (I am a veterinary technician) seems to aggravate it even more.  I am wondering if it is bursitis again even though there is not the intense pain when moving my arm like before or if it is something else.  I was also thinking of trying a joint supplement since I also have off and on pain in my right knee with clicking.  Also what could this be?  Many weight lifting leg exercises I cannot do because I have intense pain in my right knee.  Look forward to a response.

Thanks,
Michelle from Nebraska

Answer
shoulder pain , Staten Island Shoulder Pain ,






Hello Michelle from Nebraska,

I am sorry to hear of your pain.  I am sorry to hear of your recurrent
shoulder condition.

Let me apologize for the delay in answering your question as well.  I have had a sick computer, and am only now back up and running.  I have been off the internet for two weeks+.  I hope my information will still be of help to you.

"I am having a dull aching pain in my left medial shoulder that also at times seems to go down my left arm", as a health professional, when we hear left arm, we always like to eliminate any heart condition as a source of radiating pain.  Women can present atypically with unexpected or isolated symptoms that actually relate to the heart.  I recommend you visit a local health professional to of course rule out this worst case scenario.  It is most probably NOT related, but I am not checking you in person and I am just touching on as many significant bases as possible.

"I am having a dull aching pain in my left medial shoulder that also at times seems to go down my left arm",  you have had a prior Left Shoulder complaint.  You obviously have a left shoulder that is not balanced, not coordinated properly.  Could this be the same/ similar problem of bursitis as it was before (ASSuming the first diagnosis was a correct diagnosis)?- yes it could be, but then we would have to say the first treatment regimen did not correct the problem because it came back.  Or the diagnosis was incomplete/ wrong.  Or certain factors have not been addressed.  Or you have done something to re-injure, re-aggravate this weak link in your chain.


"Did physical therapy for a few weeks with steroid therapy and seemed to fix the problem.",  'seemed to fix the problem'- interesting phrase to use.  The pain went away, but some sort of dysfunction remains in the shoulder to cause continued pain/ problems.

In my Staten Island Chiropractic office I hand out an information sheet on pain and pain medications, this may be interesting to you:




PAIN     

Pain  is a  ‘red light on the dashboard’.  

Pain is your body telling you that something is wrong.

That RED LIGHT on the dashboard of your car-
-- do you ignore it until the car breaks down,
or do you get it checked and correct the problem?  

Pain,
pain in your body-
-- do you ignore it until your body breaks down, or do you get it checked and correct the problem?   

Pain,  
do you cover up the pain by taking a painkiller?  
Take a painkiller, mask the pain, and allow a problem to progress in your body?


    NOTICE  ON  PAIN  RELIEVERS:
 
Label changes ORDERED by FDA;  the FDA announced proposed label changes for OTC over-the-counter pain relievers to include the potential for stomach bleeding and liver damage (FDA news  206- 207;  12-9-06) ;

The  American Heart Association issued a scientific statement recommending medical doctors change the way they prescribe OTC pain relievers from a first choice to an alternate of recommending non-pharmacologic treatment (AHA statement  2-26-07).

NSAID Acceleration of ARTHRITIS; an important side effect of Aspirin and other NSAIDS is that it will inhibit cartilage repair and accelerate cartilage  destruction ( Journal of Rheumatology, 1982; 9: 3- 5 ). Many times people take NSAIDS for the pain of Arthritis, not realizing these drugs may make the underlying condition worse.  These medications cover up the pain, and cause the problem to worsen.


Pain  can  often  be  the  result  of  the  Vertebral  Subluxation  Complex.

Vertebral  Subluxation           (  ‘VSC’ ,    ‘subluxation’   )
Vertebral Subluxation  is  actually  a  quite  common  condition.

  Doctors of Chiropractic look for pathological conditions which may require referral to other specialties,   and also look for ‘Subluxation’.

Other disciplines look for pathology, but overlook the importance of alignment and movement in the spine which affects our nervous system  (the master control system- ALL health disciplines learn this).  VSC- ‘Subluxation’ – can be the cause of many symptoms and conditions.


Only  a  Doctor of Chiropractic  will  evaluate  and  treat  for  VSC,   as  well  as  other  pathology.


The course of VSC is highly variable.   Some patients with VSC literally cannot walk, yet other patients with similar test findings may be able to run marathons or lift heavy weights.    Some patients immediately develop symptoms related to the VSC,  some patients take years to develop symptoms.  Some people suffer for only a few days with pain and symptoms, some people suffer for months.  Some people recover in days, some take months or years, depending upon severity of the condition.

A subluxation interferes with the proper functioning of the nervous system (the master system which controls and coordinates all function within the body) and may cause various other conditions, symptoms and problems.


The Vertebral Subluxation Complex describes what happens when spinal bones lose their normal movement patterns and position.  When subluxated, joints are in a stressed, vulnerable, compromised condition.  Subluxation may cause Arthritis, Disk Herniation, or aggravate such conditions.

       Vertebral  Subluxation   cannot   be corrected through chemicals (medicine), stretching,  yoga,  vitamins  or  physical  therapy  alone.       Subluxation- a neuro/skeletal/muscular-    mechanical-    problem  requires  a    mechanical correction-  -  -    a manipulation,         best  performed  with  the  chiropractic  adjustment.

Dr. Victor E. Dolan,   Doctor of Chiropractic;   Diplomat, American Chiropractic Board of Sport Physicians; Diplomat, American Academy of Pain Management; Certified Clinical Nutritionist (IAACN); FIRST  Chief of Chiropractic  in  a  Hospital  in  New York State (DHSI);  As  Seen  in  PREVENTION  Magazine
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++


The above information sheet speaks about medications and about spinal joint misalignment.  Just as a spinal joint can misalign, mal-align; so can any joint in the body- including a shoulder, a knee, any joint.
This misalignment, this imbalance can then cause bursitis, arthritis, early degeneration, inflammation, etc. in that joint.

I would recommend an in person, hands on, consultation with your local Doctor of Chiropractic.  Just as Medical Doctors have additional training, credentials, specialties; so do Doctors of Chiropractic.  You can seek care at your local DC or if you wish, look for someone with specialty in sports injury, orthopedics, rehab- http://www.acatoday.org/pdf/ApprovedChiropracticSpecialtyPrograms.pdf

Have you shoulder evaluated by a DC, have the joint balance and mechanics corrected, and your condition should improve, with complaints decreasing.


"I was also thinking of trying a joint supplement since I also have off and on pain in my right knee with clicking.", yes.  Do some supplements.  I recommend supplements routinely.  Supplements can be targeted for your specific issue.

Supplements for joint/ bone/ muscle support:
Glucosamine sulfate, Chondroitin sulfate (see book: the ARTHRITIS cure- theosadakis  MD author),  MSM, Vit C, Vit D, Calcium, magnesium.

If you need further information, do not hesitate to re-contact me here at AllExperts.com @
http://allexperts.com/ep/965-100794/Chiropractors/Victor-Dolan-DC-DACBSP.htm

Thank you for the question, sorry for the time lapse.

Good Luck and I wish you Good Health Naturally,

Dr. Victor Dolan, DC, DACBSP
http://drvictordolan.chiroweb.com (Email newsletter)