Treatment Advice For All Your Health Problems

What is Neck and Shoulder Pain

The neck and the shoulder regions are very closely related - both in their anatomy and in their function. Neck and shoulder pain can co-exist with each other and it is common to have a mixed pattern of both neck and shoulder pain at the same time.

All of the tissues that make up your shoulder come from the same development area of the growing embryo - the fifth neck segment.

This means that pain from any of these "shoulder bits" is felt in the same part of the arm - and at times all the way to the wrist. This skin area runs down from the shoulder on the outer part of your arm, over the elbow and towards the base of the thumb. It also means that pain from the bones or joints or discs of the fifth neck segment is felt in the same area.

This is why it can be difficult to work out if neck and shoulder pain is arising in the neck or in the shoulder - as far as the brain is concerned, these body areas are very closely related.

Pain in the fifth cervical nerve bit of skin - often called the C5 segment or C5 dermatome - can arise from the neck or from any of the shoulder anatomy structures.

Take a look at this chart for more information about the cervical dermatome patterns

Many people feel neck and shoulder pain from the neck across the yoke area of the shoulder and down the back towards the inner edge of the shoulder blade. Shoulder blade pain nearly always has its origin in the neck

What causes Neck and Shoulder Pain

Trapped nerves in the neck create neck and shoulder pain and shooting pain down the arm as far as the hand. This kind of pain is often associated with a feeling of pins and needles in the hand. 

You should be aware that combined neck and shoulder pain is often difficult to sort out - even for an experienced doctor or physiotherapist. Please seek help and advice from a professional if you have this kind of pain.
Neck and shoulder pain can sometimes be related to serious underlying disease so don't take any risks with your health - seek advice.

How to diagnose Neck and Shoulder Pain

You doctor or therapist will listen carefully to the story of your neck and shoulder pain

It's often difficult to decide if this kind of pain is arising from the neck or from the shoulder so your doctor will make a close and detailed examination of both areas. Remember that other areas of the body can also send pain to the neck area or the shoulder area so you may also need an examination of the chest or the abdomen.

It's important to check out the nervous system. The nerves from the neck pass through the shoulder region on the way down the arm and nerve pain from the neck to the shoulder is not uncommon.

Remember - neck and shoulder pain can be caused by serious underlying disease. This is rare but if you develop sudden severe pain in this area then seek medical attention as soon as possible.

It is sometimes necessary for the doctor to exclude other problems by performing blood tests or by arranging x-rays or scans.

An x-ray of the neck might show the wear and tear changes of cervical spondylosis. An x-ray of the shoulder might show calcium in the tendons or wear and tear in the shoulder joint.

Sometimes MRI scan of the neck is required to work out why you are experiencing your neck and shoulder pain

How to treat Neck and Shoulder Pain