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What Causes Shoulder and Neck Pain?

What Causes Shoulder and Neck Pain?

Pain in the neck that spreads into the shoulders can be overwhelming. It can make it difficult to sleep, work, and even drive your car. There are several potential reasons your shoulders and neck might be hurting. While some clear up over time, others are chronic conditions that may worsen or never go away. Here is a look at some common causes of neck and shoulder pain. 

Hormonal Factors

When you are under large amounts of stress for extended periods of time, your body doesn’t only respond mentally—you also wind up paying the price physically. Hormones released by stress tend to keep the body continuously prepared for action—which means tense muscles. When the stress is chronic, however, these hormone levels never back down, and the muscles stay tight. They pull on everything they are attached too, eventually causing some serious discomfort. 

Posture

Poor posture can also affect the neck and shoulders. Sitting or standing hunched over, holding your phone to your ear with your shoulder, or carrying your purse or bag on one shoulder can all impact the muscles in that location, causing strain and tension. Aim to stand with squared shoulders, rolled slightly backwards so that you’re body is aligned from head to heel. To avoid exacerbating or creating neck and shoulder pain while you’re sleeping, find a pillow that’s optimal for your normal sleeping position and a mattress that provides you with proper support.  

Anatomical Factors

Abnormalities in bones and joints can affect the way the body moves and feels. This explains why, when the musculoskeletal system isn’t positioned exactly right, stress and tension may be increased in specific parts of the area that aren’t meant to bear the full extent of the load. Ultimately, the muscles again become strained and uncomfortable, leading to chronic discomfort. 

Certain conditions may also impair the integrity of the spine. Just growing older can increase the chances of developing one of these disorders as the spine loses strength and gets used and worn out. Degenerative diseases can play a huge role in neck and shoulder pain. For example, degenerative disc disease is a condition in which the discs of the spinal column slowly begin to wear out and “degenerate.” They may begin to fragment; the cushy pads between each column can herniate, or begin to leak out of their harder shell. Tumors in the spinal cord may also cause pain and muscle weakness. 

Short term issues, like cervical radiculopathy (a pinched nerve in the neck) can also cause neck and shoulder pain. A pinched nerve occurs when the nerve root and myelin sheath (the nerves’ protective lining) are compressed. The amount of pressure can interrupt the signals that pass between the brain and nerves causing pain, weakness, a pins and needles sensation, and interfering with mobility. The pain may radiate out from the exact location, spreading pain from the cervical portion of the spine out into one or both shoulders. Overuse may also irritate the tissues in the neck and shoulder region sufficiently to lead to a few days of serious discomfort. 

Trauma

Trauma, such as a sports injury or traffic accident, is another leading cause of neck and back pain. This sort of injury may temporarily inflame the area causing tension and pain. Whiplash, for example, is a specific traumatic movement in which the neck whips forward and then whips back. This violent motion can lead to damaged bones and joints, neck pain, and headaches. It can take months to years for the repercussions of some of these types of accidents to clear up. Some injuries, such as fractures to the spine, can be very long-term and result in chronic neck and shoulder pain. 

Last Updated: March 30, 2017