Neck and Shoulder Pain

Because the neck and shoulder are adjacent to each other, the origins of neck and shoulder pain can be hard to distinguish. Problems in either the neck or shoulder can result in pain in similar areas of the body, including the arm. Pain in both the neck and shoulder are likely to be due to a problem in the neck, especially if the shoulder pain occurs in the shoulder blade (scapula) region.

The causes of neck and shoulder pain are diverse. Problems with the five cervical vertebrae that make up the neck section of the spine are one possibility. Degenerative conditions such as osteoporosis can cause the vertebrae to deteriorate, leading to nerve entrapment.

The discs between the vertebras also degenerate with age, leading to slippage or herniation, and bony growths may develop on the spine. This is known as cervical spondylosis. Ankylosing spondylitis is another relatively common condition, where bony growth causes sections of the spine to fuse together, inhibiting movement and causing pain.

Related arthritic conditions can also affect the neck, causing pain in the neck itself but also potentially in the shoulder. The pain resulting from problems with the neck, or cervical spine, may be felt far beyond the affected site. With a trapped nerve, sufferers may experience shooting pains travelling down the arm, even causing pins and needles in the hand. The brachial plexus is an important concentration of nerves, with branches running from the neck to supply the shoulders, arms and upper part of the chest. Damage to the brachial plexus can cause very serious problems.

As well as originating in the bones and nerves of the cervical spine, some pain can be a result of problems with the muscles or ligaments of the upper part of the vertebral column. Injury can occur as a result of sport or exercise, or as a result of inactivity and poor posture. Neck pain is relatively common in those who sit at computers all day and, since typing also involves the arms, the pain may also extend to the shoulders.

Direct trauma to the neck and/or shoulder muscles is another cause of pain and discomfort. Whiplash, experienced by car accident victims, is one such cause of neck pain. After a short delay, stiffness that may also affect the shoulders sets in. Most cases resolve by themselves over weeks or months. Persistent pain may require specialist medical attention and lesions or cancerous conditions must be excluded.

Diagnosing the reasons for pain when both shoulders and neck are involved can be complicated. It is always possible that the problem does not have only one cause. In sport or accidents it is quite likely that two or more injuries to the same area of the body can co-exist. Alternatively, injury to one part of the body can have a knock-on effect. For example, restricted movement from arthritis-related neck problems can result in under-use of shoulder muscles that creates more pain. Some chronic pain syndromes such as fibromyalgia can cause pain in both neck and shoulder.