Nerve Pain in the Neck & Shoulder

Neck pain is the sensation of discomfort in the neck area. Neck pain can result from disorders of any of the structures in the neck, including the cervical vertebrae and intervertebral discs, nerves, muscles, blood vessels, esophagus, larynx, trachea, lymphatic organs, thyroid gland, or parathyroid glands. Neck pain arises from numerous different conditions and is sometimes referred to as cervical pain.

What is the name for neck pain?
Neck Pain (Cervicalgia) and Torticollis.
How do you describe neck pain?
When your neck is sore, you may have trouble moving it, especially to one side. Many people describe this as having a stiff neck. If neck pain involves nerves, such as a muscle spasm pinching on a nerve or a slipped disk pressing on a nerve, you may feel numbness, tingling, or weakness in your arm, hand, or elsewhere.
What’s the cause of neck pain?
Neck pain can last from days to years, depending on the cause. Common causes include osteoarthritis, spinal stenosis, herniated disc, pinched nerve, mental and physical stress, and strain, poor posture, tumors, and other health conditions
How do I know if my neck pain is serious?
As a general guideline, the Mayo Clinic says you should contact a doctor if your neck pain:
  1. Is severe.
  2. Persists for several days without relief.
  3. Spreads down arms or legs.
  4. Is accompanied by a headache, numbness, weakness, or tingling.
How do I relieve neck pain?
  1. Apply heat or ice to the painful area. …
  2. Take over-the-counter pain relievers such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen.
  3. Keep moving, but avoid jerking or painful activities. …
  4. Do slow range-of-motion exercises, up and down, side to side, and from ear to ear.
What are the symptoms of neck spondylitis?

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  • Neck pain or stiffness. This may be the main symptom. Pain may get worse when you move your neck.
  • A nagging soreness in the neck.
  • Muscle spasms.
  • A clicking, popping, or grinding sound when you move your neck.
  • Dizziness.
  • Headaches.
What happens if neck pain is left untreated?
If left untreated, neck pain can progress and cause secondary conditions such as headaches, migraines, and shoulder pain that radiates into other areas of the body.
Will stiff neck go away?
Most people are familiar with the pain and inconvenience of a stiff neck, whether it appeared upon waking up one morning or perhaps developed later in the day after some strenuous activity, such as moving furniture. In most cases, pain and stiffness go away naturally within a week.
Does anxiety cause neck pain?
The areas where you’re likely to feel stress or anxiety-related tension are in your neck and shoulders. Over time, this can lead to chronic pain as well as other health issues. Fortunately, muscle tension in your neck and shoulders responds well to stretching, yoga, relaxation, and other stress management methods.
What vitamin is good for neck pain?
Magnesium. Doctors are increasingly recognizing the value of magnesium in skeletal health. If you are not getting enough magnesium, you may be more susceptible to neck pain, muscle tension, and muscle soreness. Magnesium is an essential mineral needed for the contraction and relaxation of your muscles.

What is best for neck pain heat or cold?
Neck Pain Tip 2: Apply Cold/Heat

Generally, the recommendation is to use ice for the first 24 to 48 hours after an injury to reduce swelling, followed by heat to loosen muscles and improve stiffness.
How do I loosen up my neck muscles?
  1. Keep your head squarely over your shoulders and your back straight.
  2. Slowly turn your head to the right until you feel a stretch in the side of your neck and shoulder.
  3. Hold the stretch for 15-30 seconds, and then slowly turn your head forward again.
  4. Repeat on your left side.
When I roll my neck I hear crunching?
Cracking, popping, and grinding sounds in the neck are called neck crepitus. They often result from neck tightness and stiffness, poor posture, or arthritis. While neck crepitus is generally not a cause for concern, chronic, repetitive, or painful cracking could be indicative of a more serious problem. Crepitus or crepitation is the noise that may be heard during joint movements, such as cracking, popping, snapping, or grinding. These sounds and sensations can occur in the neck as well. Most people at some point have experienced neck crepitus. One example is feeling a cracking sensation in the neck when turning the head to back up a car. eck crepitus is usually painless and typically does not represent anything serious. However, if crepitus occurs with other troubling symptoms such as pain or following trauma, it could indicate a more serious underlying medical condition is present.
The facet joints in the neck are where the back of adjacent vertebrae join together. There is a smooth surface on the end of each bone called cartilage. Inside the facet joint is synovial fluid, which lubricates the joints. At the front of the adjacent vertebrae is another connection called the intervertebral disc space. Neck crepitus is thought to occur when structures in the spine rub together and make sounds.
How do I fix my crepitus neck?
Physical therapy and neck stretching and strengthening can help decrease stiffness to improve the mobility of your cervical spine to decrease neck crepitus. If your neck crepitus is chronic, repetitive, painful, or causes swelling, talk with a doctor to determine if a more serious condition is causing your symptoms.
How do I get rid of crepitus?
In most cases, crepitus will improve without the need for medical treatment. Applying ice to the area and taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as aspirin and ibuprofen, will usually be enough to alleviate your pain and inflammation.

Some likely causes of neck crepitus include:

  • Articular pressure changes. Tiny gas bubbles can form and eventually collapse within synovial joints, be released, and then create the popping sounds, such as in the neck’s facet joints. These are the sounds that are heard when people crack their finger knuckles, which is not harmful. These joint-cracking sounds can happen during natural movement or during manipulations of the spine in physical therapy or by a chiropractor. The medical literature had been conflicted in recent years as to whether these sounds are created by the gas bubbles being created or collapsed. Most in the medical community believe that the sounds are from the bubbles collapsing, but it has yet to be proven conclusively.
  • Ligament or tendon moving around the bone. Ligaments and tendons both attach to bones. In some cases, it may be possible for a moving ligament or tendon to make a snapping sound as it moves around a bone and/or over each other. This can occur because our muscles and tissues are too tight or because they become less elastic as we age.
  • Bone-on-bone grinding. As facet joints degenerate due to osteoarthritis, the protective cartilage wears down and adjacent vertebral bones can start rubbing against each other, which may cause a grinding noise or sensation. This grinding can also occur due to disc degeneration resulting in less cushioning between the vertebrae.

Neck crepitus could be caused by any of these factors, or in some cases, it could be a combination of these or other factors. It should also be noted that crepitus can occur in any moveable joint in the body (with common examples including the knees and should

People who have some degree of pain with neck crepitus may be at a higher risk for having negative thoughts and stress associated with their neck cracking and grinding sounds. These negative thoughts might cause people to unnecessarily alter behaviors or worry that the neck has serious structural damage even when it does not. A study that looked at people with painful knee crepitus found that the participants had more worries that their knee-cracking sounds indicated premature aging, and they were also more likely to try to modify movements to avoid making the sounds.4 Similar results might hold true for people with neck pain and crepitus.

Neck crepitus can occur at any age, but it is more likely to occur as a person gets older. The frequency of neck cracking and grinding sounds can vary greatly. Some people might experience neck crepitus a few times a month, whereas others might experience it every day or even throughout the day with most neck movements.

Neck crepitus may go through some periods where it occurs more often than others. For example, neck cracking and grinding might occur frequently for a few days and then go away. In cases where neck crepitus is the result of bone-on-bone grinding due to facet joint osteoarthritis, the neck cracking and grinding sounds are more likely to occur frequently with movements and not go away.

While increased neck cracking and grinding sounds can occur with arthritis, there is currently no scientific evidence to suggest that frequent neck cracking can lead to arthritis. As we age, the sounds tend to move from louder and more pronounced cracks to more grinding or crunching sensations.

If neck cracking or grinding is accompanied by pain, stiffness, or other concerning symptoms, it may indicate an underlying medical condition that needs to be checked by a qualified health professional.

Is vitamin B12 good for neck pain?
Vitamin B12 specifically is a vitamin for nerves and joints – it protects the nerves, stimulates nerve regeneration, and could help reduce the pain from old injuries.
What food helps neck pain?
Rather than focus on a strict list of recipes that must be followed, it may help to instead consider some basic guidelines:
  • Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables. …
  • Choose healthier fats. …
  • Enjoy fish at least twice a week. …
  • Limit meats. …
  • Get more protein from legumes. …
  • Choose whole grains. …
  • Avoid heavily processed foods.

 

 

Can a trapped nerve in your neck cause shoulder pain?
Cervical radiculopathy, commonly called a “pinched nerve,” occurs when a nerve in the neck is compressed or irritated where it branches away from the spinal cord. This may cause pain that radiates into the shoulder and/or arm, as well as muscle weakness and numbness.

 

 

What is the best treatment for a pinched nerve in the neck?
  • Ergonomic workstation. …
  • Pain-relieving medications. …
  • Stretching and yoga. …
  • Massage or physical therapy. …
  • Splint. …
  • Elevate the legs. …
  • Ice and heat packs. …
  • Lifestyle changes.
What are the symptoms of nerve damage?
  • Numbness or tingling in the hands and feet.
  • Feeling like you’re wearing a tight glove or sock.
  • Muscle weakness, especially in your arms or legs.
  • Regularly dropping objects that you’re holding.
  • Sharp pains in your hands, arms, legs, or feet.
  • A buzzing sensation that feels like a mild electrical shock
How do you fix nerve pain?
  1. Extra sleep and rest. Sleep is essential for a healing nerve. …
  2. Change of posture. …
  3. Ergonomic workstation. …
  4. Pain-relieving medications. …
  5. Stretching and yoga. …
  6. Massage or physical therapy. …
  7. Splint. …
  8. Elevate the legs
What is the best exercise for shoulder pain?

Don’t push yourself beyond your limits, and discontinue the exercises if you experience pain that goes beyond mild discomfort.
  1. Across-the-chest stretch. …
  2. Neck release. …
  3. Chest expansion. …
  4. Eagle arms spinal rolls. …
  5. Seated twist. …
  6. Shoulder circles. …
  7. Doorway shoulder stretch. …
  8. Downward Dog Pose.
Does shoulder pain ever go away?
The problem often goes away after a period of time — but that can take up to three years, according to the AAOS. Physical therapy is sometimes recommended for frozen shoulder, but this can be quite painful in some cases, says Dr. Ramappa.

 

Shoulder Nerve Pain

A pinched nerve in the shoulder occurs when a nearby structure irritates or presses on a nerve coming from the neck. This can lead to shoulder pain and numbness of the arm and hand. Doctors may also refer to a pinched nerve in the shoulder arising from the neck as cervical radiculopathy.

What does nerve pain in the shoulder feel like?
Signs of a pinched nerve:
A pinched nerve usually causes pain in one shoulder only. It’s also typically a sharp pain, as opposed to a dull ache or a strain that you might feel if you overworked your muscles. Pain may also worsen if you turn your head.
What helps nerve pain in the shoulder?
  1. Adjust your posture. You may need to change how you’re sitting or standing to relieve pain from a pinched nerve. …
  2. Use a standing workstation. Standing workstations are gaining popularity, and for good reason. …
  3. Rest. …
  4. Splint. …
  5. Stretch. …
  6. Apply heat. …
  7. Use ice. …
  8. Elevate your legs.
What nerve causes shoulder pain?
Nerve roots C3 through C8 all pass through a specific part of the shoulder. If a cervical nerve root becomes compressed or irritated in the neck, it can cause pain and symptoms that radiate along the path of the nerve into the shoulder, arm, and/or hand. This is medically termed cervical radiculopathy. Cervical radiculopathy, commonly called a “pinched nerve,” occurs when a nerve in the neck is compressed or irritated where it branches away from the spinal cord. This may cause pain that radiates into the shoulder and/or arm, as well as muscle weakness and numbness.

 

How can you tell the difference between muscle pain and nerve pain?
Different Types of Pain
The pain is typically localized in the muscle itself, and it usually hurts when you use the muscle. You feel fatigued and may have trouble sleeping. Nerve pain is described as crushing, burning, tingling or numbness. It is sharp and you may feel pain on the skin above the nerves as well.
Can an MRI show a pinched nerve in the shoulder?
However, an X-ray can tell a doctor how much narrowing has occurred between the vertebrae and whether bone spurs have developed. An MRI is often more helpful at diagnosing a pinched nerve. That’s because an MRI can reveal the health of nerves and discs. An MRI is painless and doesn’t use radiation.
Cervical Radiculopathy

The most common areas in the shoulder for trigger points to form are the top of your shoulder, rotator cuff, inside your shoulder blade, and the back of your armpit. Depending on its location, the point can refer to pain down your arm into your hands, which often mimics a nerve issue.

Can trigger points cause shoulder pain?
When the pain spreads, that’s called referred pain. For example, a trigger point might be in your shoulder but shoot pain up your neck when prodded. Trigger points cause your muscles to become stressed and to contract, which results in muscle weakness and numbness, along with limited muscle movement.

Do trigger points ever go away?
These bumps—known as trigger points—usually go away with manual adjustment. But sometimes, they can become impossible to remove no matter how many self-massage tricks or stretches you try. Your trigger points may not go away on their own, but that doesn’t mean you have to put up with them forever.
What are the 5 pressure points?
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What are the hand pressure points?
  • Heart 7. Share on Pinterest. …
  • Small intestine 3. Share on Pinterest. …
  • Lung meridian. Share on Pinterest. …
  • Inner gate point. Share on Pinterest. …
  • Outer gate point. Share on Pinterest. …
  • Wrist point 1. Share on Pinterest. …
  • The base of the thumb point. Share on Pinterest. …
  • Hand valley point. Share on Pinterest.

What pressure point relieves shoulder pain?
Large Intestine 10: Located on the front side of the elbow, this point may be pressed to relieve shoulder pain and neck tightness.

Benefits of Neck and Shoulder Massage

Is a massage good for neck pain?
Along with relieving neck pain, receiving massage on a regular basis helps keep all your joints limber, which reduces your chances of pulling a muscle. It also improves your posture and flexibility, increases range of motion, lowers blood pressure and heart rate, encourages relaxation, and relieves stress.
What are the benefits of a neck massage?
  • Improves neck strength and flexibility.
  • Improves blood circulation especially to the brain.
  • Improves immune system.
  • Alleviates mild to moderate headache, migraine, neck and shoulder pain, and inflammation.
  • Relaxes the mind and relieves stress.
What kind of massage is good for neck pain?
A chair massage is best for people who want a quick massage that focuses on your neck, shoulders, and back. A chair massage can also be a way to introduce you to massage if you’ve never had one before. Chair massage also helps to relieve stress and promote relaxation. This type of massage uses light to medium pressure.
What is the best massage technique?
As massage therapists, this involves understanding the hottest and most requested massage techniques of 2018, and here are the top five.
  1. Myofascial Release. …
  2. Stretching. …
  3. Deep Tissue Massage. …
  4. Taping. …
  5. Medical Massage.
Where do you massage for neck pain?
  1. Lower your shoulders away from your ears. Straighten your neck and back.
  2. Locate the painful areas on your neck. Press firmly with your fingers.
  3. Gently move your fingers in circular motions. Repeat in the opposite direction.
  4. Continue for 3 to 5 minutes.
What part of the neck should not be massage?
Front of the neck/throat: You’ve heard of the expression, “Go for the jugular,” right? Well, this spot is where you find it. Steer clear of this area that also contains the carotid artery and major nerves. Side of the neck: It’s not quite as sensitive as the front of the neck, but you should still treat it gingerly.
Are neck massagers safe?
(CBS) The FDA is putting the squeeze on a popular massage machine that’s been on the market for almost a decade, saying. The agency’s safety alert advises owners to not just throw it away, but to toss the parts separately so others aren’t tempted to reassemble them and use them again.
How often should you get a massage for neck pain?
Massage is a way to relieve neck pain in the short term, and getting frequent massages may be most beneficial. One study found that getting a 60-minute massage two or three times a week showed more benefit for those with neck pain than getting a 60-minute massage once a week or a few 30-minute massages weekly.
How can I relax my neck muscles naturally?
  1. Keep your head squarely over your shoulders and your back straight.
  2. Slowly turn your head to the right until you feel a stretch in the side of your neck and shoulder.
  3. Hold the stretch for 15-30 seconds, and then slowly turn your head forward again.
  4. Repeat on your left side.
How should I sleep with a stiff neck?
  1. sleeping on your back slightly reclined.
  2. sleeping on your back with a pillow under your knees.
  3. sleeping in the fetal position.
  4. sleeping with a pillow between your knees
What helps a stiff neck in 60 seconds?
Here’s how:
  1. Step 1: Find the sore spot. …
  2. Step 2: Push into the knot with your fingers, using firm pressure. …
  3. Step 3: Turn your head slightly in the direction opposite the cramp, and bend it diagonally, as if you were trying to touch your armpit with your chin. …
  4. Step 4: Repeat steps 1 through 3 about 20 times in a row

Does massage relieve neck pain?

Some studies have found that neck massage can provide some neck pain relief and improved range of motion, especially when performed by a trained professional a few times a week for several weeks.
Is massage or chiropractor better for neck pain?
They both can help alleviate the pain that is disrupting your quality of life. But Chiropractic care address the spine and its alignment and massage therapists are more focused on the muscles.
more info at:

https://teachmeanatomy.info/neck/nerves/cervical-plexus/

https://teachmeanatomy.info/neck/nerves/phrenic/

https://www.spine-health.com/conditions/spine-anatomy/cervical-spinal-nerves

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_nerves_of_the_human_body

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cranial_nerves

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spinal_nerve

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sympathetic_nervous_system

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spinal_cord

 

 

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