Sunshine on my Shoulders

 Shoulder Pain

What You May Have Done For It:

Taken ibuprofen, acetaminophen, and naproxen sodium

Rested it

Stretched it

Exercised it

Ignored it

Asked a friend for advice

Asked Facebook for advice

Asked Google for advice

Iced it

Heated it

Wore a sling

Not slept on it

Not slept well in a long time

Saw your doctor

Saw your chiropractor

Saw your physical therapist

Saw your potential surgeon

Taken pain medications

Gotten injections

Gotten a massage

Had X-Rays and/or MRI

Thinking about or have had surgery

And………You still have shoulder pain!

As a physical therapist of over 20 years and a dry needler for 10+ years, if you consulted with me, I would certainly ask you if you have tried dry needling. I would explain to you why and how it might help, whether it’s appropriate to try it on you, and find out if you are willing to try it since you have “tried everything.”  I’d be educating you about your rotator cuff, scapular, neck, thoracic, and arm nerves and muscles. Dry needling is not a miracle or cure-all. It may or may not help you. It may take a few or many follow-up sessions and a combination of all of the other things you have been doing for it. Dry needling may very likely speed up the healing process and decrease the pain. It may also have you rethinking surgical options, which should always be a last-case scenario. Just my 2 cents.

Brief Anatomy and Possible Key Players:

Muscles: supraspinatus, infraspinatus, subscapularis, teres minor, upper trapezius, levator scapulae, rhomboids, teres major, latissimus dorsi, serratus anterior, pectoral major and minor, deltoid, biceps, triceps, coracobrachialis, cervical and thoracic multifidus

Nerves: Cervical and Thoracic nerves originating at C5, C6, C7, C8, T1, T2, T3, T4

Common diagnoses: Rotator cuff injury/tear, thoracic outlet syndrome, cervical radiculopathy, labral tear, subluxation, dislocation, rotator cuff repair, neck pain, shoulder pain/strain

Dry Needling For You, St. Pete!

Provider: Julie Schumann, PT

Location: Valverde Chiropractic, 5203 Central Avenue, St. Petersburg, Fl  33710

Limited appointment times: Monday, Tuesday, and Friday

Email for an appointment or to discuss whether this type of treatment might help.

Website: www.dryneedlingforyou.com