Shoulder to neck pain for years?
I have been experiencing bad pain from my left shoulder to my neck for a few years now. It is usually worst from the base of my skull to the base of my nexk on the left side, restricting my head movement. As well, my left shoulder joint hurts and feels loose, espesciall when I am exercising it. I am a competitive rugby player, and have played a variety of contact sports, and have injured my neck and shoulders before on many occasions, though I have not sought treatment (typical bonehead teenager decision). I worry that I may have partially separated my shoulder at some point, and that that is what is causing my pains. Also, I have some narrow disks in my spine, and am usually plagued with lower back pain. What can I do to lessen or alleviate my shoulder and neck pain? Thanks
Filed under: Shoulder Pain Treatment
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It could be coming from your sternocleidomastoid muscle, or your trapezius muscle – these go (respectively) from the front of the neck around to the base of the skull, and from the shoulder to the base of the skull. If you have narrowed intervetebral disc spaces, you have probably also lost some height, and (though u may be unaware of this), u may be ‘hunching over’, and if ur not, these muscles may well be trying to protect your sore shoulder and spine by tightening up to give your upper body support. When the body is injured, or has pain, accessory muscles surrounding a joint will tighten up, to try and protect the joint. You may have also subluxed your shoulder, ie: the bone has partially come out the joint, but it has not dislocated – that could be why it hurts, or it could even be a torn tendon. If you play rugby ur going to be putting ur shoulder under tremendous forces and shearing the cartilage, so u may have lost some cartilage and this is causing pain to (because the cartilage is worn, the bone surfaces can start to grate against one another – ie: a form of arthritis). Best to get an ultrasound, and if that doesn’t show anything, get an MRI I reckon. U need to start doing weights (if Dr OKs it) to get that shoulder strong AFTER u have it xrayed and/or the above tests are done. Do free weights, pectoral lifts, and exercises to strengthen ur back and abdominal and chest muscles. Use creams such as Ibuprofen (if u don have bleeding disrders) 4 the pain, or u can take it orally. Also use a wheat bag (u heat em up in the microwave) – they are great and help my neck when it’s sore (I was in a horrid MVA so know what neck pain is all about). U can also do simple stretches that help me: Bend ur neck to one side, hold down with the arm on that side for about 20-30 seconds, then release, do on other side. Stretch ur neck forward to ur chest (not to the chest itself), hold. Bend ur neck backward with ur mouth open and hold. bring one arm across ur chest, hold at the elbow with other arm, and turn ur neck to the opposite side and hold. Dont sit in front of computers for too long (it strains ur neck), and do get stronger pain killers if u need them and take them about 30 minutes b4 exercising – that will help u. Ice packs may help also. But u need that ultrasound done to see what damage there is. Good luk anyway, and don be slack – organise it today!