Women with large breasts often ask us to help them make a case for the medical necessity of breast reduction, which by reducing the mass, size and weight of the breast tissue can reduce shoulder pain caused by their weight, and even from the bra that is moving that stress to the shoulder straps. Picking the right bra can relieve some pain while causing other areas of the shoulders and back to ache. It is not uncommon for us to discover that the problem of large breasts may not be the only reason you have shoulder, neck and mid back pain. Often, there are other mechanical issues resulting in why you have back pain. Often, these problems begin at the feet. There is also a functional and practical reason that smaller breasts are desirable. Many women are uncomfortable with the compromises they need to make with clothing, bras and athletic activity due to larger breasts which can be very sore after vigorous activity. Finding the best sports bra can be a challenge as it needs to hold the breasts closer to the chest wall during activity and prevent straining of the ligaments during many activities. Inconveniently, large breasts often become larger during pregnancy and during breast feeding which exacerbates many of these problems as well. Time magazine recently included an article regarding large breasts which you can read by clicking on the link below Large Breasts and Upper Back Pain: Here’s What You Need to Know Posture begins at the feet, not the shoulders. Overpronation Patients often assume that large breasts are the cause of of their back pain, yet, many have visited us after the reduction for the first time because they continue to have shoulder pain. While there are exercises that may help improve shoulder strength and tone, as well as posture, and devices that may improve how you stand, solving the problem often requires us to look at our feet. Many back pain sufferers are asymmetrical in how they stand and they may have flat feet which are different on both sides. This inherited trait will cause your shoulders to roll in, large breasts or not and cause mid back pain. Many patients have postural torsion, I often refer to as a DNA spine, that causes a strain in the mid back in the shoulder blades. Large breasts aggravate this rather than cause it. To see it, you just need to see yourself in the mirror. You will likely notice uneven hips and shoulders as the visual clues. Why visit a chiropractor first? Rather than running tests or sending you for care protocols to your shoulders to hopefully improve your posture, your chiropractor will evaluate how you stand, walk and move as part of their evaluation to determine why you have pain. Often, shoulder blade pain is a compensation from the lower body and the large breasts are aggravating an existing problem, rather than causing one. Chiropractors are holistic and will perform a thorough evaluation and a deep history. This is different than just asking you about your main symptoms and then assuming the large breasts are the cause while sending you for therapy on the shoulders and neck. Once the exam is completed, most chiropractors will treat you on the same day of the visit, and in many cases, patient feel a relief of symptoms that same day. In our chiropractic office, we treat patients using manipulation of the joints of the spine, and extremities to improve how you move. The latest research regarding most back pain suggests you should try treatment first and avoid diagnostic tests and medications as a first line of treatment. Our office also uses myofascial release and graston technique to improve function and movement and resolve painful adhesions in the fascia that often cause back, leg, shoulder and neck pain. Exercises are used to strengthen the problematic regions and retrain poor postural habits. If needed, x rays may be taken during your visits and if postural problems in the feet are found to be part of the reason you are in pain, foot orthotics may be recommended. Most patients feel immediate relief from both the treatment and the orthotics. If you need supportive letters for your doctor to help in the approval process for medically necessary breast reduction, we will help you in any way we can. In pain and need an appointment? Book online today.