Neck and shoulder pain have many causes. Some require surgery while others can be fixed with self-care, chiropractic treatment or massage therapy. The first step in managing neck and shoulder pain is to consult a physician. Once the cause is determined, there are steps to take to manage pain and help with treatment.
Causes of neck and shoulder pain
Neck and shoulder pain can stem from many causes, including a spinal cord injury, heart attack, broken collarbone, bursitis or whiplash. Determining the cause is crucial to treating the pain. Once you determine the source there are two courses of action: finding immediate relief from the pain, and treating the original injury.
Relief from pain
Treatments for pain do not alleviate the symptoms of neck and shoulder ailments but can help manage the pain in the meantime. Some common reliefs include anti-inflamatory medications such as Aleve, Motrin or Tylenol for pain. Also effective for pain management are hot and cold compresses on the pain site.
It's also helpful to elevate the injured area above the heart to reduce swelling. Exercising or stretching the inflamed area is also beneficial, but be sure to rest the injured area for the first few days after the injury.
Although they don't treat the cause of the pain, heat rubs such as Icy Hot can soothe the injured area.
Treatment
Treating the core cause of the neck and shoulder pain is crucial to eliminating future pain.
Chiropractic care is one option. The hands-on approach of chiropractic care has been shown to help in chronic cases of neck and shoulder pain, especially those caused by trauma. Chiropractors adjust the spinal joints and bones to realign the spine to its optimal location. Heat and other measures are sometimes used to relax the muscles prior to alignment.
Massage therapy can be beneficial if the pain is caused by muscle tension. By releasing stress from the muscles, a massage therapist helps to eliminate the core cause of the neck and shoulder pain.
When the pain stems from improper posture at a desk, some simple measures such as sitting straight in the chair, keeping your chin up, and placing a rolled-up towel behind your back can help with existing pain, as well as avoiding future injury.
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