NECK (CERVICAL) AND SHOULDER PAIN.

N/B: Pain is a symptom of the underlying pathology and it’s not a diagnosis.

The neck commonly referred to as the cervical spine, is made up of different structures like muscles, vertebral bodies, intervertebral discs, joints, nerves and blood vessels among others.

Dysfunction in any structures will result in pain in the neck or referred to the shoulder and upper limb.

Cervical pain can be classified as:

• Upper or lower cervical pain
• Spinal or Para-spinal pain
• Acute or chronic pain depends on the duration one has had the pain.

Among other classifications

NOTE: Cervical pain can be referred to the head causing tension-type headaches.

What are the causes of cervical pain?

For effective management, we need to identify the cause. This is usually a challenge to pinpoint the exact cause. The following are some of the causes of neck pain.

• Trauma
• Cervical degenerative disc diseases
• Cervical osteoarthritis
• Infections
• Spinal tumours
• Fibromyalgia
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Spinal stenosis among many others

However, the most common cause is Mechanical. This can result as a result of ergonomics or such.

Management and treatment:

This purely depends on the causes. Soon we will be discussing everyone individually.

The basic principle is finding the underlying pathology and giving focused treatment.

The management can be pharmacological, conservative/rehabilitative through Physiotherapy or surgical.

Physiotherapy management: This may include manual therapy, exercises, heat or ice, electrotherapy, cervical mobilization and such.

The main pillar in treatment is education on the cause of the pain and management option available and what you can do while at home.

Prevention should focus on;

• Muscle strength
• Flexibility
• Proper posture/ergonomics among others

SHOULDER PAIN

The shoulder is complex. It has 4 different joints, ligaments, muscles, tendons and vascular structures among others. It offers a wide range of motion.

Just like the neck, dysfunction of one or more structures can result in pain.

Causes

explanation on the video

• Osteoarthritis
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Impingement
• Sprain and strain
• Dislocation
• Can be referred from internal organs like the heart and diaphragm
• Bursitis among others

Management depends on the cause; it can be pharmacological, physiotherapy or surgery or both

Thanks for reading.