Muscles, nerves, ligaments, veins, bones, and many other supporting structures build our neck and shoulders. There are plenty of conditions for neck and shoulder pain causes. Some of these conditions are common while some can be life threatening.

Neck and Shoulder Pain Causes

Injury to the soft tissues like muscles, tendons, and ligaments is one of the most common neck and shoulder pain causes. Whiplash, tendonitis, and other such injuries could also result in neck and shoulder pain. Degenerative arthritis can pinch nerves which cause neck and shoulder pain. Degenerative disc disease or cervical spondylosis can cause neck and shoulder pain.

• Muscle Tension And Strain:

Neck and shoulder pain usually occurs due to muscle tension and strain. Muscle tension occurs due to poor posture, poor sleeping position, jerking the neck, and long hours at a desk job.

• Meningitis:

There is a thin tissue surrounding the brain and spinal cord. The inflammation of this tissue is known as meningitis. Fever and headache are some characteristics of meningitis, and it is often followed by a stiff neck.

• Broken Collarbone:

If you fall on an outstretched arm, it can break your collarbone.

• Bursitis:

If the bursa gets injured or swollen, it leads to neck and shoulder pain. Bursa is a sac covering the joint bones and usually gets injured during an accident or high-intensity training.

• Heart Attacks:

As the name suggests, it is a problem of the heart but areas nearby also get affected. Heart attacks can cause neck and shoulder pain.

• Broken Shoulder Blade:

If your shoulder blades get injured, then you will suffer from an intense trauma causing neck and shoulder pain.

• Rotator Cuff Injuries:

The rotator cuff is a tendon that supports our shoulders. These can be injured during high-intensity workouts, playing sports, or weight lifting. The injury to these tendons can lead to pain whenever you try to move the shoulder.

• Shoulder Or A-C Separation:

The collarbone and the shoulder blades in our body are connected with the help of ligaments. If the ligament is stretched or torn it can lead to massive pain in the neck and shoulders.

• Whiplash Injury:

Injury to the ligament or muscles in the neck and shoulder region can occur due to a number of reasons. Mainly, a sudden accident or a rough movement. This sudden injury is known as whiplash injury. The whiplash injury can cause muscle spasms in the neck and shoulders.

• Tendonitis:

Tendons play an important part in connecting the muscles and bones. Excessive strain to this region can cause swelling and injury. Tendonitis is a major part of neck and shoulder pain causes.

Medical Reasons For Neck And Shoulder Pain Causes

• Rheumatoid arthritis is another medical condition that can cause neck and shoulder pain. It causes pain, bone spur, and swelling in joints.
• Osteoporosis can weaken your bones which can result in small fractures. It also can be a cause of neck stiffness.
• If you are a patient of Fibromyalgia, then you definitely must seek help to understand the pain. It occurs throughout the body and especially in the neck and shoulder area.
• Aging is a big cause when it comes to neck and shoulder pain. Your bones become weak, and so it causes pain around your joints, muscles, etc.
• Slipped disc or ruptured disc is another cause for neck and shoulder pain. The disc around your back protrudes and adds pressure to the spinal cord.
• If the spinal column starts to narrow down, then it adds pressure to the spinal cord. This medical condition is known as spinal stenosis. The inflammation around the back causes neck and shoulder pain.
• Gallbladder disease can also cause pain in the right shoulder.

Home Remedies For Neck And Shoulder Pain

Minor injuries with less pain in the neck and shoulder area can always be treated at home. If the pain is uncontrollable and the main problem is unknown, then you must not delay in visiting a doctor. The following are some suitable home remedies.

• Take Ample Rest:

Try and use the affected area as less as possible. After two or three days slowly start exercising the affected area and see if you can move. Exercising always speeds up the recovery process for the neck and shoulder pain causes.

• Apply Ice:

Application of ice on the injury can help in a speedy recovery. Ice must be applied for 15 to 20 minutes every hour on the injury.

• Elevate The Affected Area:

If you are injured and experiencing pain in the neck and shoulders, then elevation is the best way to ease swelling and pain.

• Painkillers:

Over-the-counter medicines like Ibuprofen or Acetaminophen also help in easing the swelling immediately.

• Apply Hot Compress:

Application of heat during the first week can be dangerous because it raises the swelling and pain in the injury. You must apply heat on the affected area after one week to calm the muscles.