The shoulder and the neck are not just in close proximity with each other but are also related in anatomical and functional terms. There are a number of structures that cross from the neck to the shoulders. These include muscles, ligaments, blood vessels and ligaments. This is the reason why pain originating from the shoulders may also be experienced from the cervical region and vice versa. There are a number of things relating to neck and shoulder pain Edmonton patients need to know.
Pain is described as being acute or chronic. In the acute type, the symptoms have lasted for less than two weeks. The most common causes in this case include trauma and infections. The pain will be termed as being chronic if it has existed for more than two weeks. Causes of the chronic type include persistent infections (such as osteomyelitis and tuberculosis), trauma, degenerative conditions and fibromyalgia among others.
A majority of the cases that are seen in hospital are those that affect the soft tissues in the neck, the shoulder or both. Whiplash injury, which may be seen following motor vehicle accidents, affects both the neck and the regions. Most of the other cases are mainly due to muscle and ligament strains. Home remedies are usually sufficient to relive the symptoms in 24 to 48 hours.
One of the things that you need to do is to have a rest and to elevate the injured area. This serves to reduce further injury and to initiate the process of healing. Self made remedies that can be considered include the use of cold packs, heat therapy, pain medications and massage therapy. Cold packs are useful in reducing the inflammatory response and the warm compressions help in improving blood flow to the area.
Symptoms that fail to respond to home remedies such as cold compressions and analgesics should be reevaluated by the doctor. One of the things that the doctor will do is to take a history and perform a physical with the aim of establishing the exact cause of your condition. Various investigations may be required to help in making this diagnosis. These include radiographic images such as the CT scan and the MRI.
Imaging studies have the capability to pick a wide range of abnormalities. Degenerative arthritis in the cervical spine is one of them. In this condition, intervertebral disc spaces are narrowed over time due to the formation of bone spikes (osteophytes). Consequently, the structures which exit the spinal column are frequently pinched leading to pain in the neck and shoulder regions. This is what is known as cervical radiculopathy.
Other conditions which may be diagnosed include dislocated joints, tumors, fractures, bursitis and so on. The definitive management will depend on the findings after you have been evaluated. Most of the conditions will be treated medically with just a few requiring surgical intervention. For persons that are at an increased risk of suffering from these types of injuries (such as athletes), regular stretching exercises will help reduce the incidence.
The nerve supply of the shoulder is the same as that of some abdominal structures. Whenever these structures are irritated or injured, symptoms are referred to the shoulders. This is frequently seen in cases of gall bladder disease. However, these cases are rather rare and establishing such a cause usually takes quite long.
Pain is described as being acute or chronic. In the acute type, the symptoms have lasted for less than two weeks. The most common causes in this case include trauma and infections. The pain will be termed as being chronic if it has existed for more than two weeks. Causes of the chronic type include persistent infections (such as osteomyelitis and tuberculosis), trauma, degenerative conditions and fibromyalgia among others.
A majority of the cases that are seen in hospital are those that affect the soft tissues in the neck, the shoulder or both. Whiplash injury, which may be seen following motor vehicle accidents, affects both the neck and the regions. Most of the other cases are mainly due to muscle and ligament strains. Home remedies are usually sufficient to relive the symptoms in 24 to 48 hours.
One of the things that you need to do is to have a rest and to elevate the injured area. This serves to reduce further injury and to initiate the process of healing. Self made remedies that can be considered include the use of cold packs, heat therapy, pain medications and massage therapy. Cold packs are useful in reducing the inflammatory response and the warm compressions help in improving blood flow to the area.
Symptoms that fail to respond to home remedies such as cold compressions and analgesics should be reevaluated by the doctor. One of the things that the doctor will do is to take a history and perform a physical with the aim of establishing the exact cause of your condition. Various investigations may be required to help in making this diagnosis. These include radiographic images such as the CT scan and the MRI.
Imaging studies have the capability to pick a wide range of abnormalities. Degenerative arthritis in the cervical spine is one of them. In this condition, intervertebral disc spaces are narrowed over time due to the formation of bone spikes (osteophytes). Consequently, the structures which exit the spinal column are frequently pinched leading to pain in the neck and shoulder regions. This is what is known as cervical radiculopathy.
Other conditions which may be diagnosed include dislocated joints, tumors, fractures, bursitis and so on. The definitive management will depend on the findings after you have been evaluated. Most of the conditions will be treated medically with just a few requiring surgical intervention. For persons that are at an increased risk of suffering from these types of injuries (such as athletes), regular stretching exercises will help reduce the incidence.
The nerve supply of the shoulder is the same as that of some abdominal structures. Whenever these structures are irritated or injured, symptoms are referred to the shoulders. This is frequently seen in cases of gall bladder disease. However, these cases are rather rare and establishing such a cause usually takes quite long.
About the Author:
When you are searching for the facts about neck and shoulder pain Edmonton residents should go to the web pages online here today. More details can be seen at http://citycentrehealth.com now.