The shoulder and the neck are not just in close proximity with each other but are also related in anatomical and functional terms. There are a number of structures that cross from the neck to the shoulders. These include muscles, ligaments, blood vessels and ligaments. This is the reason why pain originating from the shoulders may also be experienced from the cervical region and vice versa. There are a number of things relating to neck and shoulder pain Edmonton patients need to know.
The pain may either be acute or chronic. The acute type is that which has been experienced for less than two weeks and is mostly the result of trauma or an infective process. The chronic type, on the other hand, is that which has been experienced for at least two weeks. The most common causes include trauma, prolonged infections (such as tuberculosis and osteomyelitis), fibromyalgia and degenerative conditions.
A majority of the cases that are seen in hospital are those that affect the soft tissues in the neck, the shoulder or both. Whiplash injury, which may be seen following motor vehicle accidents, affects both the neck and the regions. Most of the other cases are mainly due to muscle and ligament strains. Home remedies are usually sufficient to relive the symptoms in 24 to 48 hours.
The first thing that you need to do is to rest the injured area. This will reduce further injury and initiate the healing process. Home remedies that you can consider include warm compressions, cold packs. Massage therapy and analgesic agents. Warm compressions improve blood flow which in turn helps with healing. Cold compressions reduce inflammation in the area and the perception of symptoms.
Symptoms that fail to respond to home remedies such as cold compressions and analgesics should be reevaluated by the doctor. One of the things that the doctor will do is to take a history and perform a physical with the aim of establishing the exact cause of your condition. Various investigations may be required to help in making this diagnosis. These include radiographic images such as the CT scan and the MRI.
Imaging studies can pick a wide range of conditions. Degenerative changes present in the cervical vertebra (which often lead to arthritis) are one of the conditions that are frequently seen. In this condition, intervertebral spaces are narrowed progressively and osteophytes (bone spikes) make the problem worse. The consequence of this is that nerves that exit the spine through these spaces are pinched and this usually causes pain in the shoulders and the neck.
Other conditions which may be diagnosed include dislocated joints, tumors, fractures, bursitis and so on. The definitive management will depend on the findings after you have been evaluated. Most of the conditions will be treated medically with just a few requiring surgical intervention. For persons that are at an increased risk of suffering from these types of injuries (such as athletes), regular stretching exercises will help reduce the incidence.
There is a close relationship between the nerve supply of the shoulders and that of some abdominal structures such as the diaphragm. Irritation or injury of to these structures is a cause of referred pain to the shoulder region. Such cases are, however, quite rare.
The pain may either be acute or chronic. The acute type is that which has been experienced for less than two weeks and is mostly the result of trauma or an infective process. The chronic type, on the other hand, is that which has been experienced for at least two weeks. The most common causes include trauma, prolonged infections (such as tuberculosis and osteomyelitis), fibromyalgia and degenerative conditions.
A majority of the cases that are seen in hospital are those that affect the soft tissues in the neck, the shoulder or both. Whiplash injury, which may be seen following motor vehicle accidents, affects both the neck and the regions. Most of the other cases are mainly due to muscle and ligament strains. Home remedies are usually sufficient to relive the symptoms in 24 to 48 hours.
The first thing that you need to do is to rest the injured area. This will reduce further injury and initiate the healing process. Home remedies that you can consider include warm compressions, cold packs. Massage therapy and analgesic agents. Warm compressions improve blood flow which in turn helps with healing. Cold compressions reduce inflammation in the area and the perception of symptoms.
Symptoms that fail to respond to home remedies such as cold compressions and analgesics should be reevaluated by the doctor. One of the things that the doctor will do is to take a history and perform a physical with the aim of establishing the exact cause of your condition. Various investigations may be required to help in making this diagnosis. These include radiographic images such as the CT scan and the MRI.
Imaging studies can pick a wide range of conditions. Degenerative changes present in the cervical vertebra (which often lead to arthritis) are one of the conditions that are frequently seen. In this condition, intervertebral spaces are narrowed progressively and osteophytes (bone spikes) make the problem worse. The consequence of this is that nerves that exit the spine through these spaces are pinched and this usually causes pain in the shoulders and the neck.
Other conditions which may be diagnosed include dislocated joints, tumors, fractures, bursitis and so on. The definitive management will depend on the findings after you have been evaluated. Most of the conditions will be treated medically with just a few requiring surgical intervention. For persons that are at an increased risk of suffering from these types of injuries (such as athletes), regular stretching exercises will help reduce the incidence.
There is a close relationship between the nerve supply of the shoulders and that of some abdominal structures such as the diaphragm. Irritation or injury of to these structures is a cause of referred pain to the shoulder region. Such cases are, however, quite rare.
About the Author:
When you are searching for the facts about neck and shoulder pain Edmonton residents should go to the web pages online here today. More details can be seen at http://citycentrehealth.com now.