Causes of neck and shoulder pain and how to relieve it

Ever experienced pain on the part of neck and shoulders? I this is one medical complaint that is often experienced. Sometimes this complaint is also accompanied by stiff or tense on that part, even hurt head.

The neck structure consists of muscles, bones, blood vessels, nerves, ligaments, and spinal cavity. This structure allows the neck to move flexibly, drain blood from and toward the head, and support the head's load.

Causes of neck and shoulder pain and how to relieve it

When experiencing an injury, or an abnormality in the neck structure, neck and shoulder pain will arise.

Some Causes of Pain Neck and shoulders

Neck and shoulder pain can be caused by a variety of conditions, including:

1. Muscle tension

There are several causes of tightening of the neck muscles, including the use of muscles in the neck that are too frequent, too long to bow, reading while lying down, spasm (muscle spasm) of the neck, and position poor sleep.

2. Head and neck injuries

Head and neck injuries are one of the main causes of neck and shoulder pain. Neck injuries that cause head jerks (whiplash injury) or injuries that make the neck flexed can cause damage to muscles, bones and neck nerves, resulting in neck and shoulder pain.

3. Impaired neck joints

As we age, the risk of osteoarthritis or inflammation in the cervical spine joints also increases. This condition can cause the formation of new bone protrusions (calcification of bones) in the neck joint gap, causing pain.

In addition, spinal deformities, for example due to scoliosis or osteoporosis, can also cause neck pain.

4. nerves bones back and neck

A shift in the structure of the cervical spine can cause a pinched nerve. This will then cause pain, stiffness, or tingling that radiates to other body parts, such as shoulders to arms.

5. Certain diseases

Certain diseases, such as rheumatism, meningitis (inflammation of the lining of the brain), tumors in the area around the neck, and heart attacks, can cause neck and shoulder pain that radiates to the arms.

How to Relieve Neck and Shoulder Pain

To reduce the pain that appears on the neck and shoulders, there are several ways that can be done, namely:

1. Cold and warm compresses

For new neck pain, try giving a cold compress to the neck. Wrap the ice with a towel or cloth, then apply it to the sore neck for 15-20 minutes.

The next day, give cold and warm compresses alternately. Warm compresses can be done by soaking the towel in warm water, then attaching it to the affected part. Do this cold and warm compress combination 4 times a day.

2. Massage

Massage on the neck can be done to help reduce muscle tension. Make sure that the therapist who does the massage is a trained therapist massaging the neck.

3. Neck movement training

When the neck and shoulders are painful and stiff, there are several movements that can be done to reduce them, namely rotating the shoulders, turning left and right, and bending the head forward and backward slowly. Perform these moves 10 times each.

4. Change sleeping position

Wrong sleep can lead to neck and shoulder pain. Therefore, adjust the sleeping position so that the head position is not too high. One way is to sleep on a hard mattress without a pillow in a supine position. You can also use a special pillow to reduce neck muscle tension.

5. Taking drugs

If the previous steps have not been successful in reducing pain, try taking over-the-counter pain relievers, such as paracetamol . For severe neck pain accompanied by muscle stiffness, you may need a pain reliever and muscle relaxant that can be obtained by prescription.

In addition to the above, physiotherapy is also often needed to deal with pain in the neck and shoulders . You can consult your doctor to determine the best type of treatment to treat neck and shoulder pain.

Prevention of neck and shoulder pain

to prevent neck pain and shoulder, there are several ways you can do, including:

  • Improve body position. Make sure your shoulders are in a straight, straight and parallel position with your hips. The position of the head is also kept upright and parallel to the shoulder.
  • Rest your neck and shoulders. Relax the neck and shoulders when you are traveling far, or after you have worked for a long time. Do this rest for 10 minutes every time you move for 1-2 hours.
  • Adjust and adjust work equipment, such as the height of the table and chairs, or the direction of the computer screen, according to the body posture.
  • Avoid using one-sided sling bags or carrying heavy loads only on one shoulder.
  • Avoid reading or playing gadgets while lying down.
  • Do sports regularly, ie 3 times per week with a duration of 30 minutes, to prevent muscle tension and increase muscle flexibility.
  • Stop smoking and apply a healthy lifestyle.

Generally neck and shoulder pain alone can recover itself with the above treatment methods. But if neck and shoulder pain is accompanied by other complaints, such as tingling, pain radiating to the arms or hands, or legs and arms become weak, immediately consult a doctor for an examination and treatment.

Written by :

dr. Febriyani

Label : Health cat_Health

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