10 Causes of Neck and Shoulder Pain

The neck and the shoulders are complex parts of our body which are resplendent with several tiny yet important anatomical structures of the spinal cord.  This inherent complexity makes them prone to risks of pain, degeneration, movement restrictions and dangerous injuries.

Neck pain and shoulder pain are fairly common complaints in the busy lifestyle of people today. It is usually a result of bad postures, ergonomics, falls or over usage. Normally, these pains do not imply any serious medical condition and settle by themselves or with minimal home remedies.

However, if these pains continue for more than a week or are accompanied by other symptoms (like severe headache and nausea, numbness, dizziness, immobility or radiating pain in the arms and legs) it is advisable to seek appropriate medical help.

Causes of Neck Pain

Neck stiffness and pain may be caused by several reasons including-

• Physical trauma
• Mental stress and worry
• Wrong postures while sitting and sleeping and sudden jerks in accidents leading to muscle spasms and muscle strain
• Lack of exercise due to prolonged working hours and technology misuse
• Bone and muscle-related diseases like Osteoporosis, Rheumatoid Arthritis and Fibromyalgia
• Prolapsed disc caused by spine injury
• Scoliosis (deformation in the natural curvature of the spine) and Spinal Stenosis (narrowing of the spinal cord)
• Infections like neck tuberculosis and tumorous growths in the neck leading to structural damages
• Cervical Disk Degeneration(Spondylosis) wherein there is a narrowing of disc space resulting in stress of the spinal joints
• Critical ailments like Malignancy and Meningitis

Treatment for Neck Pain

• Medications – Usually, pain-relieving medications and muscle relaxants (ointments) are used. Doctors may prescribe antibiotics for treating infections and corticosteroid injections for relieving severe pain.
• Therapy and Medical Aids - Physical Exercises, Stretching, Traction and Physiotherapy under the guidance of trained therapists are the best ways to treat neck pain. Alternate ice and heat therapy may be used as a home remedy. Clinical Aids like cervical collars, braces and neck pillows also give relief by providing extra support and restricting movements for better healing.
• Hospitalization -This may be required for treating neck pain caused by Meningitis and Heart Attacks.
• Surgery -Chronic cases require surgical intervention. Surgery may involve removal of tumors or procedures for relieving Nerve Root and Spinal Cord Compression.
• Alternative approaches: Approaches like Acupuncture, Yoga, Massage and Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) may also be useful.

Causes of Shoulder Pain

• Dislocation
• Severe strain due to overexertion
• Fractures in the upper arm and collar bones
• Instability of shoulder joints
• Over-usage causing inflammation of tendons
• Frozen shoulder caused by conditions like arthritis and diabetes
• Neck problems like pinching of nerves in spinal column(Radiculopathy) and Herniated Disc
• Poor postures
• Lesions in the cervical spine and soft tissue damage
• Presence of cysts and tumors

Treatment for Shoulder Pain

• Home Remedies- Anti-inflammatory and non-steroidal drugs, pain medications, cold compression techniques, compression using an elastic bandage, heat treatment and muscle relaxants may be used to reduce swelling and ache in the shoulders. Lifestyle modifications in rest and activity routines are also beneficial.
• Shoulder exercises and Stretches- Regular exercises for maintaining flexibility and stretches like pendulum stretches and overhead shoulder stretches can aid in maintaining strong shoulders.
• Medical Intervention- Persistent symptoms of shoulder pain call for doctor consultation for diagnosing serious problems and injuries. Doctors recommend steroid injections for reducing inflammation in severe cases. Surgery may be necessary for shoulder dislocation and rotator cuff tear (caused by damage of muscles and tendons stabilizing the shoulder). Shoulder Arthroscopy (keyhole surgery) and Shoulder Joint Replacement Surgery are some procedures used in treatment.

Thus a combination of simple home exercises, medication and doctor guidance can help in relieving neck and shoulder pain substantially.