Introduction of Shoulder Neck Pain:
We all try to maintain a balance between our work environment and home life. If time permits, you might get a chance to take care of yourself. The chances of this are, however, minimal to nil.
We have no time to relax and detox our bodies with our busy schedules, resulting in body pains. One of the most commonly experienced problems in adults is shoulder and neck pain.
It causes persistent discomfort which cannot be gotten rid of quickly. Physical pain is always an unwanted companion to us. It slows us down and disrupts our days and nights alike.
The Causes of Pain:
There can be several causing factors for shoulder and neck pain. Some of them are:
Posture: If you have a desk job or you sleep in the wrong position for too long, your shoulders and neck will be the first to start aching. Many people are not conscious of the way they slouch when they sit.
Physical Injury: Getting physically hurt can also be a significant reason
Stress: Another major factor is excessive tension or stress, which strains the muscles in that area and causes pain.
Arthritis: Conditions like arthritis can also cause both shoulder and neck pain because of the degeneration of the bone in that area.
Disc Problems: Herniation of the disk can cause severe pain locally
Bursitis: Swelling of the bursae can lead to irritation and pain
Is Your Shoulder Pain Actually a Neck Problem?
The key to finding a solution for your pain is to see where it arises. The pain starts from the neck and radiates to the joint in different conditions. Any damage or pinch to a nerve in the neck will cause pain in the shoulder.
Cervical radiculopathy is one such problem that causes discomfort in the shoulder and neck. It is thus essential to diagnose the root of the pain, to give proper treatment which results in speedy recovery.
Symptoms of Shoulder and Neck Pain:
Mentioned below are a few signs and symptoms that will help you gain a better understanding of neck or shoulder pain. Traits help gauge the intensity of the pain and the urgency to treat it:
1) One may experience difficulty in moving your neck in all angles. Our necks are supposed to turn up to 180 degrees which are not possible when there is some problem about the neck or shoulders.
2) Not being able to look in a particular direction for too long as your neck might start hurting
3) Frequent headaches as a result of stress that is experienced by the body because of neck pain
4) Stiffness of the local muscles which is especially evident in cases of shoulder pain
5) Frequent spasms or pulls as muscles are weakened by illness
6) The pain might start radiating towards your hands as well in severe cases
How do Health Care Professionals Diagnose Shoulder and Neck Pain?
Seeking professional help for pain relief is the safest option there is. There are different methods by which doctors diagnose a patient. It helps them understand and find a reason so that a suitable solution can be given. Some of these are
X-rays: In cases where a patient has arthritis or similar conditions, X- rays are taken to understand the situation of the bones
Myelogram: A coloured dye is sent through the spine to view its status and check if there is any problem near the discs, spinal canal and more
MRI and CT Scan: A CT Scan uses images from different angles to get a better picture of the bones. An MRI uses no radiation, unlike CT. It uses radio waves and gives a clear picture of the soft tissues and bones
Bone Scan: This also uses radiation and detects places where there is maximum usage of the bone in the body.
Electrodiagnostic Testing: checks the electrical activity in the nerves
Once you have visited the doctor, one or more of the above tests might be performed on you to understand the problem better.
1 tip of 7 tips how to Get Relief From Pain:
A plethora of options is available to find a long term or immediate relief. Below is a detailed and elaborate list of all the things you could try to feel better
Physical Therapy:
Such therapy should be done under professional supervision and regularly. Some methods of physical therapy are:
TENS/EMS: The Transcutaneous electric nerve stimulator (TENS) is a small device that has various electrodes that send electrical impulses to the body. Different levels of intensity can be adjusted.
The pulses block the pain signals from reaching the brain and also widen the blood vessels increasing the blood flow in that region. The electronic muscle stimulator works on muscle stimulation in a local area.
In cases of muscle cramps or spasms in the neck region, EMS works wonders. Both these machines aim at instant relief of pain in the shoulders or neck.
