Dr. Malcolm Warren, Jr., D.C.

The shoulder is a very complex joint, so it depends on where it hurts and the type of pain. For example, if one were to roll over on it and it wakes them with a sharp, maybe burning pain, at the tip of the shoulder or on top where the little bony area is, then it could be an AC joint injury or rotator cuff injury or even a tendonitis of the supraspinatus, which is a part of the rotator cuff.
Sorry for the ambiguity in the answer, but shoulder problems are very complicated and seeing a doctor so that they can perform a few orthopedic tests would be the best move. Then at least you know what is there. Vitamin C, copper, and iodine are great for soft tissue inflammation. Iodine is a great topical anti-inflammatory as well as a great supplement. I often use arnica for a topical as well as supplementing with Bromelain vitamin C and quercetin. Hope this helps, but at the end of the day, it is always best to see your doctor, then make a decision from there to make sure that it is nothing serious.

This is a highly contentious topic, but I believe that it can be and even your Chiropractor will tell you that certain times you don't need an adjustment based on their analysis revealing that there is no subluxation present. That's the only reason that we adjust. Pain is only a symptom and not the cause of problems, we seek to correct the cause of problems, and adjusting when it is not needed can actually create problems. It's like having surgery when it's not needed. Every time the spine is adjusted or even other joint outside of the spine, a burst of information is sent from the joint to the brain and from the brain to the joint or other organ systems. This is why some docs may use Computed Infrared Spinal Thermography which is simply a system that looks for human error codes in a similar way that you mechanic looks for error codes in your car. So, for myself, if I do not detect a thermal pattern in my patient, there is no need to adjust and we let their system be.

Not all docs require many visits, this is par for the course in many full spine based practices because it is a dose based relationship to the correction of the problem. Over time a bone will " get stuck " this leads to all of the ligaments that hold it in place reforming into this stuck position and helping it stay like this. This is called a " loss of instantaneous axis of rotation " aka subluxation and the dose specific nature of many full spine practices is to " retrain " those ligaments' old ways and get them to let your bone go freely not " re-stick " it to the old pattern but to allow it to move normally.

Ya know, it's different for everyone, for the most part there is an audible crack or pop and a feeling of relief. Depending on where in the spine that the adjustment takes place there can be a feeling of relaxation due to the release of endorphins and other feel good hormones while the body shifts into a more " rest and digest neurology "

Sometimes yes. It depends on the circumstances, but oftentimes, when something hasn't moved for a long time and starts moving, it can feel sore like you recently worked out.

Normal, loose-fitting clothing, no jewelry, and have a hair tie with you if you have long hair.

For the most part, yes. This is a complex topic, but yes.

I think it's good, of course that's my bias being one, however the reason we do what we do is that we are seeking to influence the body to stay in a "health and healing type neurology" more often that the "stress neurology" which is referred to as parasympathetic vs sympathetic. The body naturally ebbs and flows between these two and certain bodily functions needs to happen under one type versus another type of neurologic function. The problem occurs when we stay too long in one type of system versus another, similar to when the thermostat on your car gets stuck. The thermostat should ebb and flow in a certain range to regulate the car's system and our body's system should also ebb and flow in a specific range in order for it to thrive. The adjustment is a means of adjusting or correcting the lack of flow.

Yes, this is a form of Osteoarthritis and it helps very well with this.

It does this by first increasing the motion within the joint by causing large diameter nerve fibers which detect motion to start reporting motion which then drowns out the noise of the small diameter fibers that sense pain. Next is through restoring motion which starts to pump inflammation out of your joints. Finally though the release of endorphins and enkephalins or feel good hormones. If the adjustment is performed in the neck it can release the above mentioned chemicals into the spinal cord through what is called the periaqueductal grey or a rain gutter that travels the length of the spine and can Fed Ex pain relievers to the places that are asking for it.

Yes, just depends on your state's laws

As with all procedures in health care there are risks however the risk from injury due to manipulation are extremely small. Your D.O. also performed manipulation it's just a preference of the methodology that your doctor employs which should influence your choice of "manipulator" if I may.

That really depends on your preference. In some instances if your Chiropractor feels that it is something outside of their scope of practice they will refer to a podiatrist and vice and versa.