NECK PAIN
If you’ve got neck pain, shoulder pain, stiffness, or an ache, the most obvious thing is to ignore it at first. Maybe you assume that you just slept wrong or sat uncomfortably too long.
Does that sound like you?
It is true that neck and shoulder pain is usually the result of strains and sprains from overexertion or bad posture. Sometimes this pain will go away on its own. Stretching, massage and strengthening exercises can also treat the pain caused by bad posture.
However, the pain can also be caused by suboptimal breathing patterns or poor ribcage positions There’s no one single reason that it happens, but if it doesn’t get better soon, you must seek professional help.
Neck and shoulder pain can be of different types. Some people experience only neck or shoulder pain, while others experience pain in both areas.
NECK PAIN
Most neck pain is caused by sports sprains, strains, overexertion, or incorrect posture.
Common causes of neck pain include:
Abnormalities in the bone or joints
Osteoarthritis
Trauma
Spinal stenosis
Poor posture
Herniated disc
Degenerative diseases
Tumors
Muscle strain
Pinched nerves
Neck pain symptoms vary in severity and duration. Sometimes, neck pain lasts only a couple of days or weeks. Other times, it may become chronic.
SYMPTOMS
Common symptoms of neck pain include:
Muscle tightness and spasms
Stiff neck
Sharp pain like stabbing
Decreased ability to move your head
Radiating pain or numbness
Headache
SHOULDER PAIN
The shoulder is a ball and socket joint with a large range of movement. Such a mobile joint tends to be more susceptible to injury.
Shoulder pain can stem from one or more of the following causes:
Strains from overexertion
Tendonitis from overuse
Soft tissue injuries
Shoulder joint instability
Dislocation
Collar bone fracture
Frozen shoulder
Pinched nerves (also called radiculopathy)
SYMPTOMS
Common symptoms of shoulder pain include:
Warmth or redness in your shoulder
Neck pain, arm pain, or back pain
A clicking, popping, or grinding sensation when you move your arm
Muscle stiffness and weakness
Limited range of motion
Reasons why your injuries could be Lasting Longer
Like others, you assumed the pain would go away on its own...but it didn’t.
You ignored it, thinking “it’s only normal” because you’re getting older
The doctor or pharmacist suggested painkillers, which didn’t help much because, as soon as they wore off, your pain returned.
You tried other methods like therapy and exercises but didn’t continue because of slow progress.
You relied on google, youtube, and home remedies which didn’t make any difference (or maybe even made your pain worse!)
You thought rest and a few relaxing massages would fix the pain, but it was worse, or the pain returned a few days later.
If this sounds familiar to you, we would love to help you get rid of your pain within just a few days. You can easily book a call to talk with a movement expert and Doctor of Physical Therapy to find out what can be done to help you.
