Neck and shoulder pain while laying down?
Saturday, March 20th, 2010 at
12:12 am
My neck hurts terribly while trying to go to sleep. I have tried all different kinds of pillows and sleep positions. My right shoulder also hurts when my neck hurts. It feels like the pain is deep inside the joint. Any advice?
Filed under: Shoulder Blade Pain
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It sounds as though your pain is radiating
from the neck to the arm, and if it is
in your lower neck, a compressed disk
could be causing tension on your nerve.
The question becomes whether the pain
is caused by muscles creating misalignment
or if the misalignment is structural.
A Dr could take an MRI to determine
which is the root cause.
First, sleep on your back with no
pillows under your head or neck. You
may be able to sleep on your side, but that
could create more problems. Do not
sleep on your stomach.
Have you had your vision tested? Sometimes
straining all day will stress the neck, but
the pain may not be noticeable until
the end of the day. Additionally, posture
while seated or standing may also cause
neck strain. Shoes may also cause neck strain.
Muscle strain can be relieved with massage,
rest, and either ice or heat, depending on the
particular case. Recent muscle strains, as
well as inflamed disks, can be relieved
with ice. After a few days, muscle strain
can be relieved with heat. Try ice and
heat to see which helps better, but heat
might irritate a disk if that is the primary
issue.
NSAIDs(ibuprofen, naprosyn, etc.) can
help relieve pain if you tolerate them.
NSAIDs should be taken with a little
food and plenty of water. Do not exceed
the label directions of any medicine, and
do not combine different types of NSAIDs
and accidentally take too many.
Limit or avoid Caffeine. Avoid alcohol
and smoking. Avoid artificial sweeteners.
All of those substances can aggravate pain,
although small doses of caffeine can relieve
pain, and chocolate contains caffeine, but
in small amounts may be therapeutic, as well
as tasty.
Drink plenty of water. Take a daily
multivitamin with minerals formulated
for your age and gender. Daily exercise,
such as a thirty minute walk, can help
prevent this type of pain.
If the pain persists or worsens, see
your Dr.
Good Luck!