[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]In your neck and shoulders are a multitude of nerves, muscles, bones, arteries, ligaments, veins, and supporting structures. The diverse network can easily sustain an injury from overuse, sports, or an accident which causes shoulder blade pain and neck pain. However, certain life-threatening conditions, such as a heart attack, also create similar pain.
Common Causes of Shoulder Blade and Neck Pain
Here are the most common causes of shoulder blade pain and neck pain:
- Neck injury to the muscles, tendons, ligaments, or soft tissue.
- Whiplash
- Degenerative arthritis
- Degenerative disc disease (cervical spondylosis)
- Disc Herniation
- Cervical radiculopathy
- Abnormal conditions that affect the spinal cord, lungs, heart, and abdominal organs.
- Broken collarbone
- Bursitis
- Broken shoulder blade
- Rotator cuff injury
- Shoulder or A-C separation
- Tendonitis
- Inflammation of the diaphragm
- Gallbladder disease
- Heart attack
Diagnosis of Shoulder or Neck Discomfort
If you are experiencing pain and discomfort, but you cannot pinpoint the exact cause of the pain, then you may want to undergo several medical tests to diagnose the trouble.
- X-rays
- Electrocardiogram (ECG)
- Blood Tests
- CT Scan
- MRI
How to Combat Shoulder and Neck Pain
There are several ways to combat shoulder blade pain or neck pain. Mild cases of discomfort can usually be treated at home. Simple injuries often be treated themselves with chiropractic adjustment.
- Regular Chiropractic Adjustment: Regular visits to your chiropractor help keep your joints lubricated and prevent pain.
- Stretch Every Day: Every day, you should take the time to stretch your body’s muscles, especially the neck. Stretching helps keep the muscles loose and increases blood flow. Many people also seek out various forms of Yoga.
- Hot and Cold Compresses: If the pain makes day-to-day life activities difficult then you could try using hot and cold compresses. Ideally, you should alternate between heated and cold compresses.
- Massage: Professional or self-massage can help loosen tight muscles and stimulate blood flow.
Risk Factors That Lead to Shoulder or Neck Pain
Depending on your lifestyle, there are many risk factors which lead to neck and shoulder blade pain.
- Sports and Exercise: Athletes and those who push their bodies with exercise are at an increased risk for shoulder or neck injury.
- Lifting and Throwing: Also, if you lift or throw something heavy improperly you put yourself in danger of causing an injury.
- Aging: Natural aging frequently leads to neck or shoulder discomfort.
When to Seek Emergency Assistance?
If the pain starts to worsen, you should immediately call for emergency assistance or go to a doctor. Also, if you begin to experience worsening pain, numbness, coolness, color changes, or weakness, then you should seek the assistance of a physician.
You should seek immediate medical assistance if you are experiencing the following symptoms:
- Fever over 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Headaches
- Chest pains
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Chest Pain
- Shortness of breath
If you are experiencing shoulder blade pain or neck pain, we can help you at Harlan Chiropractic. Click below to request an appointment today![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vcex_button url=”https://drchrisharlan.com/contact-us/request-appointment/”]Request an Appointment[/vcex_button][/vc_column][/vc_row]