Definition
Shoulder neck pain is a very common problem. At least every second person has had to deal with these complaints at least once in their life. The causes can be manifold. The most common cause is muscular tension, but diseases of the spine or shoulder joint must also be considered.
Causes of shoulder neck pain
Often the cause of shoulder neck pain is muscular tension caused by chronic poor posture. In addition, wear and tear, such as a slipped disc in the cervical spine, can also be the cause. Diseases of the shoulder joint, such as bursitis or arthrosis of the shoulder joint, should also be clarified if the symptoms persist.
Furthermore, inflammatory causes are also possible. These include rheumatic diseases, such as ankylosing spondylitis, but also bacterially triggered intervertebral disc inflammation is possible. Finally also tooth complaints or from the ears outgoing pathologies can lead to neck pain.
Muscular tension is by far the most common cause of shoulder neck pain. The pain spreads from the neck to the shoulder blade and the mobility of the neck is reduced due to the pain. Tension is often caused by a chronic poor posture, such as when sitting in front of a PC or looking down at a tablet or cell phone.
Bad posture when sleeping also plays a role. It is also postulated that tensions occur more often if the shoulder and neck muscles are not sufficiently trained. A herniated disc of the cervical spine is also a frequent cause of complaints in the neck area.
Even though herniated discs in this section of the spine are not as common as in the lower back section, some people have a herniated disc of the cervical spine without having any complaints. Pain only occurs when the herniation leads to a compression of the nerves in the spinal canal (also: spinal canal). The pain can also radiate into the arm. A herniated disc occurs either in older people as a sign of wear and tear or in younger people following trauma with jerky neck movements.
