Neck pain
definition
Shoulder neck pain is a very common problem. At least every second person has had this problem at least once in their life. The causes can be varied. The most common cause is muscular tension, but diseases of the spine or shoulder joint must also be considered.
Causes of Shoulder Neck Pain
Often the cause of shoulder neck pain is muscular tension that is triggered by chronic poor posture. In addition, signs of wear, such as e.g. a herniated disc of the cervical spine may be the cause. Diseases of the shoulder joint, such as bursitis or shoulder joint osteoarthritis, should also be clarified if the symptoms persist. Inflammatory causes are also possible. These include rheumatic diseases such as Bechterew's disease, but a bacterial-induced disc inflammation is also possible. Ultimately, dental problems or pathologies emanating from the ears can also lead to neck pain.
Appointment with a shoulder specialist
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Who am I?
My name is Carmen Heinz. I am a specialist in orthopedics and trauma surgery in the specialist team of .
The shoulder joint is one of the most complicated joints in the human body.
The treatment of the shoulder (rotator cuff, impingement syndrome, calcified shoulder (tendinosis calcarea, biceps tendon, etc.) therefore requires a lot of experience.
I treat a wide variety of shoulder diseases in a conservative way.
The aim of any therapy is treatment with full recovery without surgery.
Which therapy achieves the best results in the long term can only be determined after looking at all of the information (Examination, X-ray, ultrasound, MRI, etc.) be assessed.
You can find me in:
- Lumedis - your orthopedic surgeon
Kaiserstrasse 14
60311 Frankfurt am Main
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Unfortunately, it is currently only possible to make an appointment with private health insurers. I hope for your understanding!
You can find more information about myself at Carmen Heinz.
Tension leads to shoulder neck pain
Muscular tension is by far the most common cause of shoulder neck pain. The pain spreads from the neck to the shoulder blade and the mobility of the neck is reduced due to the pain. Tension often results from chronic poor posture, such as is consumed while sitting in front of the PC or looking down at a tablet or mobile phone.Bad posture when sleeping also play a role. It is also postulated that tension occurs more often if the shoulder and neck muscles are not trained enough.
Read more about pain when sitting
Herniated disc as a cause of shoulder neck pain
A herniated disc in the cervical spine is also a common cause of discomfort in the neck area. While the herniated discs are not as common in this part of the spine as in the lower back, some people have a herniated disc in the cervical spine without any discomfort. Pain only occurs when the incident results in compression of the nerves in the spinal canal (also: Spinal canal) leads. The pain can also radiate into the arm. A herniated disc occurs either in older people as a wear and tear or in younger people following trauma with jerky neck movements.
Spinal canal stenosis of the cervical spine
Spinal canal stenosis is a narrowing of the spinal canal. Most of the time, the narrowing occurs at an advanced age and is a result of remodeling of the spine that occurs due to disc instability. As the intervertebral discs wear out, the pressure on the vertebral bodies increases and bone processes are formed that narrow the spinal canal. Congenital spinal stenosis is rarely present. The spinal canal stenosis of the cervical spine manifests itself in an increasing awkwardness of the hands. In addition, there is often a feeling of numbness.
Inflammation of the cervical spine
An inflammatory process is also a possible cause of the shoulder neck pain. This can be an inflammatory, rheumatic disease such as Bechterew's disease. This mainly affects the spine and leads to a stiffening of the joints. Inflammation of the bursa that surrounds the shoulder joint can also cause pain, as the enlarged bursa causes muscles and tendons to become trapped under the bones. Furthermore, bacterial inflammation of the vertebral bodies and intervertebral discs is possible.
Accompanying symptoms with shoulder neck pain
The shoulder neck pain can be accompanied by various symptoms. If a herniated disc is the cause, it can sometimes lead to numbness and muscle weakness in the supply area of the affected nerve. In the case of the cervical spine, this is usually noticeable on the arm. In addition, hand clumsiness can also occur in spinal stenosis. Muscular tension, on the other hand, sometimes radiates into the back of the head and can often be felt directly as hardening. If the symptoms are caused by a rheumatic disease of the spine, there are often pain and stiffness in other joints. In Bechterew's disease, for example, the sacrum and iliac joint is usually also affected and there is strong morning stiffness. Sometimes the muscle tendon attachments are also changed by inflammation. More complex clinical pictures like that Barre-Lieou syndrome are sometimes associated with other critical complaints such as swallowing difficulties, hearing and visual impairment and dizziness. This suggests that the blood vessels supplying the brain, which go from the cervical spine to the head, are involved.
Neck pain extends into the arm
Pain that extends from the shoulder or neck to the arm quickly suggests nerve damage from a herniated disc. If there is also a reduction in strength in the arm, a doctor should be consulted quickly, since the nerve must be relieved as quickly as possible. Much more often, however, the cause of the pain is of a more harmless nature. Muscle tension can very often lead to pain radiating into the arm. In addition, shoulder problems, such as a Impingementlead to pain radiating to the arm. In the case of impingement syndrome, muscle tendons are trapped below the roof of the shoulder.
Difficulty swallowing with neck pain
If shoulder neck pain is accompanied by difficulty swallowing, it may be Barre-Lieou syndrome. It is characteristic here that the pain radiates into the back of the head and it can also lead to dizziness and visual or hearing impairment. Barre-Lieou syndrome is a disease of the cervical spine in which instabilities, e.g. rheumatic diseases, trauma to the cervical spine or signs of wear and tear can lead to irritation of nerves and possibly also to a narrowing of the basilar artery leading to the head.
Neck pain after sleeping
Shoulder neck pain after sleeping is not uncommon but can have a variety of causes. On the one hand, an unsuitable pillow or a cramped sleeping position can lead to muscular imbalances and painful tension. Grinding teeth at night also leads to tense muscles and therefore promotes neck pain in the morning hours. In addition, shoulder pain can also show up, especially at night, if it is due to a bottleneck syndrome. During the day when standing, the arm always hangs down, which means that the space between the muscle tendons and the shoulder roof is enlarged. At night, however, there is no pull on the arm, which means that narrow spaces are created and pain can be increased due to the narrowing of tendons or bursa. In addition, many people sleep lying on their arms, which increases the pressure on bursa. If these are inflamed, it is extremely painful.
Diagnosis of shoulder neck pain
The diagnosis of the cause of the shoulder neck pain is made by an orthopedic surgeon. For some entities, however, the family doctor can already help. Based on the accompanying symptoms and the exact location and characteristics of the complaints, the selection of possible causes can usually be limited. If a herniated disc or other nerve or soft tissue lesion is suspected, imaging such as an MRI or CT scan can help make the diagnosis.
Treatment of shoulder neck pain
Regardless of the cause of the symptoms, in the vast majority of cases, strengthening the muscles of the shoulder, neck and back is recommended. This prevents instability and compensates for incorrect loads. In addition, a stronger muscle structure also leads directly to a better posture of the body. Strengthening the muscles in combination with the targeted avoidance of bad posture is often sufficient to prevent pain. Bad posture can be avoided by e.g. a pillow is used at night that optimally supports the neck and is neither too high nor too low, so that the spine remains straight. Furthermore, during daily office work, care should be taken to ensure that the chair and table height is adapted to the body size.
However, if the cause is not just muscular tension, operations may also be necessary. Spinal canal stenosis can be surgically corrected by removing bony attachments that narrow the spinal canal. A herniated disc can also be surgically corrected if physiotherapy and pain medication are insufficient to alleviate the symptoms. Rheumatic diseases can often be treated with medication in addition to exercise therapy. Cortisone can be used in severe attacks. Antibodies that intervene in the body's immune processes can be used as reserve agents. In the case of ankylosing spondylitis, for example, a TNF-alpha inhibitor can be used.
Exercises against tension in the shoulder and neck muscles
Various exercises can be used to relax the painful and tense shoulder and neck muscles. The exercises are easy to perform and should be used several times a day with short breaks from work. A simple exercise is shoulder circles. Here you let both shoulders rotate forward and then backwards approx. 20 times at the same time. The exercises can also be performed with a slight time lag between the right and left shoulder. If the upper shoulder and arm muscles are to be more involved, the exercise can also be carried out in the same way as arm circles with arms outstretched. Stretching exercises can also help relieve pain. To do this, the hands are folded at the back of the head and the chin is moved slightly towards the chest. The hands exert light pressure on the back of the head. A lateral stretch, in which the head is carefully tilted towards the roof of the shoulder with the ear first, can also have a relaxing effect. If the head is tilted towards the roof of the right shoulder, the right hand can exert pressure on the left side of the head and thus increase the stretch. Another stretching exercise involves placing your right hand on the left side of your chin and carefully turning your head so that you are looking over your right shoulder. The exercise is then repeated in the other direction.
Taping used to treat shoulder neck pain
Tapes can be used to relieve joint and muscle pain. At the moment there is no scientific evidence for the benefit of the tapes, but the tapes are very popular with athletes. The elastic tape is supposed to support joints and regulate the tone of the muscles. The tapes are used e.g. with bottleneck syndrome of the shoulder, but also with osteoarthritis, muscle tension and poor posture. The tapes are sold freely and can also be attached yourself. However, since success depends crucially on correct attachment, the technique should be learned from a sports doctor or physiotherapist beforehand.
Homeopathic remedies for treating shoulder neck pain
Since neck and shoulder pain are a very common problem, more and more people are trying to find an alternative to common painkillers with few side effects. Some people describe their pain easing when treated with homeopathic remedies such as Arnica globules, rue or black cohosh, have improved. In principle, the effectiveness of homeopathic remedies is highly controversial and has not yet been scientifically proven.
How long does shoulder neck pain last?
Neck pain is often a chronic or recurring problem. This is primarily because the trigger is not removed. Bad postures are e.g. taken in by an office job every day. Regular exercise (see also: Fitness) can prevent the early recurrence of the symptoms and in the long term lead to a balance of tension. Osteoarthritis pain, e.g. Pain caused by wear and tear of the shoulder joint often lasts for years and can often only be completely eliminated by surgery. Here, too, sufficient exercise can help to strengthen the surrounding muscles and thus relieve the joint. It is essential to ensure that there is no muscular imbalance.
Which doctor treats shoulder neck pain?
Even if the family doctor can often help and determine the cause of simple shoulder neck pain, the orthopedic surgeon is the right contact for long-lasting and frequently recurring complaints. Accompanying symptoms, such as muscle weakness in the arms or feelings of numbness, are a reason to contact an orthopedic surgeon. If swallowing problems and hearing or visual impairments also occur (see also: Dizziness and visual disturbances), you should act quickly and consult a neurologist.
