Neck and shoulder pain is pain you should not ignore. According to ClevelandClinic.org, although the structure of your neck provides great range of motion, it also makes this area less stable than other parts of your body and more susceptible to injury. Although pain medication is a common way to treat neck and shoulder pain, careful consideration of its causes might provide better treatment options.
Types
Harvard Medical School Harvard Health Publications identifies seven types of neck and shoulder pain that can occur only in the neck, only in the shoulder, or in both the neck and shoulder. These include muscle pain, muscle spasms, cervical headaches, facet joint pain, nerve pain, referred pain and bone pain.
Muscle pain usually involves the neck and shoulders. Muscle spasms result from contractions of the neck muscles, and cervical headaches most often involve muscles in the upper neck and skull.
Facet joint pain occurs within the vertebrae in your neck, affecting your ability to move your head from side to side.
Nerve pain, commonly called a “pinched nerve,” is an example of referred pain. Although pain originates in the roots of spinal nerves, the resulting pain often travels into your arm and hand.
Another example of referred pain is pain you feel in your shoulder that results from a heart problem. Bone pain, or pain that occurs within the cervical vertebrae, is uncommon and requires medical attention.
Causes
Causes of neck and shoulder pain range from pain you inflict upon yourself to a serious medical condition. Pain resulting in acute or chronic muscle strain is the most common cause of neck pain, according to ClevelandClinic.org.
Other causes of neck and shoulder pain include tendinitis because of overuse, a dislocated shoulder, bone fractures, pinched nerves and trauma, such as whiplash.
Less common, but more serious causes can be the presence of bone or joint abnormalities, tumors, cancer or a degenerative disease such as heart disease or arthritis.
Diagnosis
Pain can have a severe impact on your quality of life. Even the pain that results from a simple stiff neck can be agonizing. It is important to pay attention to neck and shoulder pain, especially if you cannot pinpoint its cause, and get medical attention to diagnose its cause.
Methods used to determine the origin of neck and shoulder pain include, from the most to least commonly used: X-rays, magnetic resonance imaging, also called an MRI, myelography/CT scanning, electromyography, also called EMG and nerve conduction velocity, also called NCV.
Prevention
Improving your posture and observing safety rules when lifting objects are two important ways you can prevent neck and shoulder pain. According to MayoClinic.com, proper posture involves working with the forces of gravity by keeping your head centered directly over your spine.
Other things you can do to prevent neck and shoulder pain include not gritting your teeth or clenching your jaw, not sleeping on your stomach and using a headset versus tucking a telephone under your chin.
Treatment
NeckSolutions.com recommends taking frequent stretch breaks, using a back and neck massager, taking a hot shower or wearing a moist heat neck wrap.
If you sit for extended periods, NeckSolutions recommends the following stretching exercise: Lie on your back and put your arms and hands together, resting on your chest. Raise your arms over your face with your elbows as close together as possible, and then straighten out your arms and stretch upward. Bring your arms back down, keeping your elbows and wrists against the floor and swing them downward against your body.
