When Shoulder Pain Isn’t Really a Shoulder Problem
Many patients in South Miami, South Florida, and Central Florida come to us convinced they have a rotator cuff or shoulder joint issue. But after months of therapy, injections, or imaging that shows “nothing wrong,” they still hurt.
The truth? In many cases, persistent shoulder pain actually starts in the neck specifically with ligament instability in the cervical spine. If these ligaments can’t properly stabilize the vertebrae, it can cause nerve irritation and referred pain into the shoulder and arm.
At DMX Miami, patients from across Florida, the U.S., and throughout Central and South America and the Caribbean come to find answers through Digital Motion X-Ray (DMX) a dynamic imaging technology that can identify hidden cervical instability often missed by static X-rays and MRIs.
How the Neck and Shoulder Are Connected
The cervical spine and shoulder are intricately linked. Nerves that supply sensation and motor control to the shoulder muscles like the supraspinatus, deltoid, and rotator cuff originate from the C4–C7 spinal segments.
When ligaments in the neck are lax or damaged, abnormal vertebral movement can:
- Irritate or compress nerve roots
- Cause referred pain into the shoulder blade or deltoid area
- Create weakness or numbness in the arm
- Mimic rotator cuff or bursitis symptoms
That’s why some patients spend months treating the shoulder when the real source of the pain is instability in the cervical spine.
Why Traditional Shoulder Imaging Misses the Problem
A common scenario goes like this:
- Shoulder MRI: normal.
- Shoulder X-ray: normal.
- Physical therapy: temporary relief at best.
- Pain: unchanged.
That’s because standard shoulder imaging doesn’t look at cervical movement or ligament stability. Even when neck MRIs are performed, they are static they don’t show how the cervical spine behaves when the head moves, which is often when symptoms appear.
What Digital Motion X-Ray Can Reveal
Digital Motion X-Ray (DMX) allows our team to watch the cervical spine in motion, identifying abnormal vertebral movement and ligament instability that can cause referred shoulder pain.
DMX can detect:
- Ligament laxity at C4–C7 and upper cervical regions
- Instability that irritates nerve roots feeding the shoulder
- Post-whiplash injuries that never fully healed
- Subtle mechanical dysfunction that’s invisible on MRI or CT
Patients often say, “No one ever showed me this before.” That’s because DMX is one of the few diagnostic tools capable of visualizing this hidden movement in real time.
Common Symptoms of Neck-Origin Shoulder Pain
If your shoulder pain is really coming from the neck, you may experience:
- Aching or sharp pain between the shoulder blade and neck
- Pain that worsens with head turning or looking down
- Tingling, numbness, or weakness down the arm
- Difficulty sleeping due to pain radiating from the neck
- Normal shoulder MRI but persistent pain
This pattern is especially common in post-accident patients, athletes, and people with chronic postural strain.
Why Patients Travel to South Florida for DMX
Our South Miami location has become a destination for patients from Central Florida, across the U.S., and countries like Colombia, Mexico, Argentina, Chile, and the Caribbean because:
- DMX uncovers instability that standard imaging misses.
- Reports are highly precise and treatment-focused.
- We offer bilingual care for international and U.S. patients.
- We work closely with referring specialists for targeted treatment.
Many patients who struggled for months or years finally find clear answers at DMX Miami.
Why Identifying the Source Matters
When the real source of shoulder pain cervical ligament instability is identified, patients can receive the right treatment instead of wasting time on ineffective shoulder therapies. This may include:
- Cervical stabilization and rehab
- Neuromuscular retraining
- Targeted regenerative care guided by DMX findings
The first step, however, is an accurate diagnosis.
Take the First Step Toward the Right Diagnosis
If you’ve been struggling with shoulder pain that won’t go away, even after shoulder-focused treatments, the problem may actually be in your neck.
At DMX Miami, we help patients from South Miami, across Florida, and throughout Central and South America and the Caribbean uncover the true cause through Digital Motion X-Ray.
Learn more: Treatment
Schedule your appointment today: Appointments
Call 305-275-7475 or book your appointment online
Dr. Rodolfo Alfonso, D.C.
Dr. Mark N. Berry, D.C.
Sunset Chiropractic and Wellness
8585 Sunset Dr. STE 102
Miami, Florida 33143