Pain In Neck And Shoulder

Ways To Relieve Pain From A Shoulder Problem

If these measures fail to bring relief, you may need an MRI of your shoulder. If that shows a torn rotator cuff, then shoulder surgery may be necessary, says Dr. Ricchetti. If the physical exam and imaging indicate arthritis or a nerve-related pain in your neck, he recommends referral to a spine specialist. Spine specialists will conduct a thorough neurological examination, and do imaging and other tests. They will also begin with conservative care.

Ways To Relieve Pain From A Neck Problem

Whether you have chronic pain in your shoulder, your neck or both, dont wait to see an expert. Having a neck or shoulder specialist evaluate your complaints will determine where the main problem is and will get you started on the correct treatment, says Dr. Ricchetti.

How Is The Neck Structured

Your neck and back are made up of small bones called vertebrae. These are stacked on top of each other to form the spinal column.

The spinal column supports your head and protects the spinal cord. This is the main structure which links the network of nerves throughout your body. Messages travel along this network sending sensations, such as pain, to your brain.

The top seven bones in the spinal column form your neck, and these are called the cervical vertebrae. The bones are linked together by facet joints. These are small joints between your vertebrae that, together with your neck muscles, allow you to move your head in any direction.

Between the vertebrae are discs of cartilage. The discs act as shock absorbers and give the spine its flexibility. A slipped disc occurs when one of these discs slips slightly out of its natural position in the spine.

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What Are The Symptoms Of Back And Neck Pain

Symptoms associated with back pain may include:

• Dull, burning, or sharp pain in your back. The pain can be confined to a single spot or cover a large area

• Leg numbness or tingling above or below your knee

• Stiffness or achiness that occurs anywhere along your spine

• Sharp, shooting pain that radiates from your low back to your buttocks, down the back of your thigh, and into your calf and toes

• Consistent ache in the middle or lower part of your back, especially after standing or sitting for an extended period

Loss of bladder and bowel control, with weakness in both legs, are symptoms of a serious condition that requires immediate medical attention.

Symptoms associated with neck pain can be:

• Arm numbness or tingling

• Sharp shooting pains or a dull aches in your neck

Pain that occurs suddenly in your back or neck, due to an injury, is considered to be acute pain. Acute pain comes on quickly and may leave sooner than chronic back or neck pain. This type of pain should not last more than 6 weeks.

Pain that may come on quickly or slowly and lingers for weeks, 3 months or greater, is considered to be chronic pain. Chronic pain is less common than acute pain.

Safe And Effective Pain Management At The Spine And Rehab Group

Not all treatment plans are applicable to all patients. Youll need to find out the cause of your pain by consulting a licensed and credible specialist first. At The Spine and Rehab Group, we have a team of licensed therapists and doctors with extensive experience in pain treatments. We offer a wide range of therapiesfrom acupuncture and physical therapy to electrodiagnostic medicine.

All our clinics get consistently high approval ratings from clients. Weve also received the award for Castle Connollys Top Doctors from 2014 to 2021. If youre looking to get treatment for your neck and shoulder pain, feel free to browse our website or give us a call at 833-847-7463.

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When The Shoulder Is The Suspect

Shoulder pain is most often caused by an injury to the rotator cuff, a group of tendons and muscles that stabilize the joint. The rotator cuff develops wear and tear with age, and can be easily injured. When this happens, we compensate by using different muscles to pick things up or reach for them. This may cause both shoulder and neck pain, says Dr. Ricchetti. You may have a rotator cuff injury or other shoulder problem if pain:

• Develops in the shoulder itself or on the outside of your upper arm.
• Is dull and aching.
• Improves when you rest your arm.

Dr K Daniel Riew On Technology

You see it everywhere. In homes and offices, while walking down the street, riding the bus, or standing in line. Tech neck, the act of stressing muscles while using phones, tablets, and computers, resulting in neck and shoulder pain, stiffness, and soreness, is a problem thats getting worse.

Last year, Americans spent a daily average of 5 hours and 53 minutes with digital media, including 3 hours, 17 minutes a day on non-voice activities on mobile devices a jump of more than an hour since 2013, according to eMarketer.

The result? Headaches, neck spasms, and creaky shoulder joints, caused by holding ones neck still for long periods, says K. Daniel Riew, M.D., director of cervical spine surgery and co-director of spine surgery in the department of orthopedic surgery at the NewYork-Presbyterian Och Spine Hospital. Here, Dr. Riew breaks down the causes and symptoms of tech neck and offers ways to correctly and safely align the body while using mobile phones, computers, and other digital media devices.

Health Matters: What causes tech neck?Dr. Riew: When youre working on a computer or looking down at your phone, the muscles in the back of the neck have to contract to hold your head up. The more you look down, the more the muscles have to work to keep your head up. These muscles can get overly tired and sore from looking down at our smartphones, working on computers, or looking down at our tablets all day. Thats what we call tech neck.

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How Neck Pain Is Treated

A doctor will perform a physical exam and take your complete medical history. Be prepared to tell them about the specifics of your symptoms. Also let the doctor know about all prescription and over-the-counter medications and supplements youve been taking.

Even if it doesnt seem related, let your doctor know about any recent injuries or accidents youve had, too.

Treatment for neck pain depends on its cause. In addition to a thorough history and physical exam by your doctor, you may also need one or more of the following imaging studies and tests to help your doctor determine the cause of your neck pain and make a diagnosis:

What Causes Back And Neck Pain

Even with today’s technology, the exact cause of back and neck pain is difficult to determine. In most cases, back and neck pain may have many different causes, including any of the following:

• Overuse, strenuous activity, or improper use, such as repetitive or heavy lifting

• Trauma, injury, or fractures

• Degeneration of vertebrae, often caused by stresses on the muscles and ligaments that support your spine, or the effects of aging

• Abnormal growth, such as a tumor or bone spur

• Obesity, which places increased weight on your spine, and pressure on your discs

• Poor muscle tone

• Joint problems, such as arthritis

• Protruding or herniated disk and pinched nerve

• Osteoporosis and compression fractures

• Congenital abnormalities of your vertebrae and bones

• Abdominal problems, such as an aortic aneurysm

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Whiplash Or A Sudden Jolt To The Neck

Whiplash describes an injury to the neck where the head jolts forward and then back into place very quickly.

The movement resembles the crack of a whip. People tend to think of whiplash in relation to car accidents, but it can also occur as a result of sporting activities and other sudden movements.

Neck And Shoulder Pain: Causes Management And Prevention Strategies

Jennifer Gershman, PharmD, CPh, PACSPharmacy Times

Neck and shoulder pain can result in significant discomfort for patients, which affects their quality of life, can decrease work productivity, and increase outpatient visits and the emotional and financial burden on patients.1 Although the causes of both conditions may differ, treatment options are generally similar. Neck pain symptoms include difficulty moving the head, headaches, muscle spasms and tightness, and pain that worsens when holding the head in place for long periods, such as when driving or working on a computer.2 Shoulder pain can develop from the shoulder joint or any of the surrounding ligaments, muscles, or tendons.2 Pharmacists can play an important role in managing patients with neck and shoulder pain and providing prevention counseling tips.

CAUSES

The neck can be susceptible to conditions and injuries that may cause pain and restrict motion. Similarly, the shoulder is prone to injury because it is a mobile joint with a large range of movement. Neck and shoulder pain can have a variety of causes .

MANAGEMENT

Neck pain

Shoulder Pain

Prevention Strategies

Jennifer Gershman, PharmD, CPh, is a drug information pharmacist and Pharmacy Times®contributor who resides in South Florida.

REFERENCES

1. AAPM facts and figures on pain. The American Academy of Pain Medicine web- site. painmed.org/patientcenter/facts_on_pain.aspx. Accessed July 3, 2018.

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What Happens If The Pain Doesnt Go Away

It has been recommended that people suffering from cervical radiculopathy for more than a few days should seek medical attention.

A neck doctor is the right person to help you figure out what is causing this pain and how to relieve it quickly. The doctor may want you to receive an MRI or CT scan so that they can have a better look at the neck muscles, nerve root, spinal canal, and the affected nerve. The doctor may complete three courses of treatment depending on the condition of your nerve roots.

What Is The Prognosis For Shoulder And Neck Pain

Because most neck and shoulder pain is caused by sprains and strains, you can expect a full recovery or to recover with minor limitations on your activities.

Some conditions require hospitalization, surgical repair, physical therapy, or other rehabilitative measures. The extent of recovery may be complete or limited. Some conditions can be recurrent or persistent thus, you should have a treatment plan to learn how to deal with and adapt to any limitations.

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Poor Posture And Other Wear

Take note of how youre sitting or standing right now. Is your posture perfect? Or is your body relaxed, but your bones and muscles unsupported?

Bad posture habits can cause your body to relieve pressure or strain and shift it to another location, like your neck. Over time, these temporary solutions can cause neck and shoulder pain. Fortunately, you can correct your posture through practice and ergonomic furniture that supports your body.

Likewise, any repetitive movements you do at work can lead to pain further down the road.

What Is The Cervical Spine

The cervical spine is the neck region of your spinal column. It’s made up of seven small, highly mobile bones, and their associated ligaments, muscles, and shock-absorbing discs.

Anything that aggravates or comes into contact with your spinal nerve roots can lead to radiculopathy, and that includes several common conditions in which growths or abnormalities cause something to invade the space of the nerve root.

• Herniated disc: The shock-absorbing discs between vertebrae can become damaged and may develop a bulge and/or leak fluid.
• Synovial cyst: These lumps are caused by a buildup of joint fluid that forms a sac.
• Bone spur: An extra bit of bone forms in response to damage or chronic inflammation.
• Cervical spondylosis : This condition involves the formation of bone spurs in the neck.
• Spinal stenosis: An advanced stage of spinal arthritis, stenosis occurs when the spaces in the spine become narrowed, usually due to excess bone growth.
• Degenerative disc disease : Discs between vertebrae erode and fray over time, which may cause a herniated disc. In cases of severe degeneration, bone-on-bone contact can cause bone spurs in the joint.

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How Are Back And Neck Pain Treated

If you experience acute back or neck pain, it may simply improve with some rest. Over-the-counter medicines, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen, may also help with the discomfort. You should try to move gently during this period, so that you will not become stiff and lose mobility.

If you have chronic pain of your back and neck, you should try several remedies that may be helpful, before seeking surgical options. These include:

• Hot or cold packs

• Specific exercises to strengthen muscles and ease pain, such as stretching and flexing. Your health care provider can provide and demonstrate these exercises.

• Aerobic exercise may be permitted and can help with your overall fitness and strength

• Certain anti-inflammatory medications or muscle relaxants may be used, with your health care providers supervision

• Braces or corsets for extra support

• Injections for pain relief in the area

• Nerve block, which decreases pain signals from the affected nerve

Classification Of Neck/shoulder Pain In Epidemiological Research: A Comparison Of Personal And Occupational Characteristics Disability And Prognosis Among 12195 Workers From 18 Countries

1Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba-PR, Brazil

2Medical Research Council Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK

3Arthritis Research UK/MRC Centre for Musculoskeletal Health and Work, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK

2Medical Research Council Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK

3Arthritis Research UK/MRC Centre for Musculoskeletal Health and Work, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK

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How Do You Relieve Neck And Shoulder Pain

The treatment for relieving your neck and shoulder pain is ultimately shaped by the cause of your pain. Always be sure to follow your doctors orders to ensure successful pain relief and healing.

Some neck and shoulder pain treatment can be done from home, while other methods should be performed with a medical provider. Neck and shoulder treatments include:

Lets look at these in more detail.

Neck Pain On Right Side And Shoulder Causes:

There are many causes of neck pain on the Right side and your shoulder pain may be originating from the neck pain itself that means if you experience shoulder pain in association with neck pain, it may be the neck problem that is leading to your shoulder pain.

Causes of Neck painMost commonly the neck pain is caused by:

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Other Treatment Options At The Spine And Rehab Group

A multi-disciplinary approach is helpful for patients who dont respond well to home remedies and over-the-counter medications. Combining minimally invasive treatments can help make recovery faster. These treatments are all available at The Spine and Rehab Group, administered by our team of doctors and specialists.

What Causes Neck And Shoulder Pain

When neck pain and shoulder pain occur together, some people may find the neck pain more concerning. For others, the shoulder pain may be more painful or limit more activities. Depending on the cause of the pain, it is also possible for the neck and shoulder pain to alternate in intensity during different activities.

Learn about issues and conditions that can cause neck pain. Watch:Neck Pain Causes Video

Below are some of the potential causes of neck and shoulder pain to appear at the same time.

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How Are Back And Neck Pain Managed

Acute back pain usually gets better without special treatment. Using acetaminophen or ibuprofen will decrease pain and help you rest. Surgery and special exercises are generally not used with acute pain.

For severe, disabling, or chronic back and neck pain, rehabilitation programs can be designed to meet your needs. The type of program will depend on the type and severity of your pain, injury, or disease. Active involvement of the patient and family is vital to the success of rehabilitation programs.

The goal of back and neck rehabilitation is to help you manage disabling pain, return to your highest level of functioning and independence possible, while improving your overall quality of life. The focus of rehabilitation is on relieving pain and improving mobility .

To help reach these goals, back and neck rehabilitation programs may include the following:

• Exercise programs to improve range of motion, increase muscle strength, improve flexibility and mobility, and increase endurance

• Help with obtaining assistive devices that promote independence

• Patient and family education and counseling

• Pain management techniques

• Gait and movement retraining

• Stress management

• Ergonomic assessments and work-related injury prevention programs

• Vocational counseling

Other Remedies For Neck & Shoulder Pain Hot Cold And Tens Therapy

Heating pads, ice or cold packs, and TENS Therapy are natural ways to get relief from neck and shoulder pain. A general rule of thumb suggests choosing different therapies based on how long youve been experiencing pain.

Use cold for recent neck or shoulder pain

During the first six weeks after a fresh injury, experts recommend applying ice to help reduce inflammation and pain. Ice packs, cold sprays, and/or cold gels are great options to relieve acute swelling.

Use heat for chronic aches and pains

Heat encourages blood flow and helps relax tight muscles. This type of therapy can be introduced six weeks after an injury, and also works best for lingering aches and pains. Make sure your heat therapy isnt too hot. Try:

• Warm baths, whirlpools and saunas
• Warm baths with Epsom salts

Try TENS Therapy for short and long-term neck and shoulder pain

TENS, or Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation, is a drug-free alternative to pain relief that works for both short- and long-term pain. TENS units use mild, pain-free electrical currents to disrupt pain signals.

Make sure you dont place the TENS unit pads too close to your head or sides of your neck and spine. Please follow the manufacturers directions for the best and safest pad placement.

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