Neck and shoulder pain is a very common and stubborn health condition. It has affected most of us at some point in our life. Although most mild cases of neck and shoulder pain are easily treatable, they might come back frequently if we do not address the root cause of our neck and shoulder pain. Once we know the cause, it gets easier to treat it, both in the short run and in the long run.
Here are 10 possible causes for neck and shoulder pain:
- A sedentary lifestyle
One of the most common causes behind neck and shoulder pain is simply our lifestyle. If our neck, back, and shoulder muscles are not getting enough movement, then some discomfort is inevitable. An easy way to deal with this problem is to take a few minutes and stretch these muscles regularly.
- Lifting heavy stuff
Lifting heavy stuff regularly, from a backpack to stuff around the house, can cause a lot of strain to our neck and shoulder. Make sure you are careful while lifting any weight, and reach out for support frequently.
- Muscle strain
A number of factors, ranging from long hours in front of the computer to reading in bed to gritting our teeth, can cause muscle strain. This strain goes on to trigger cases of neck and shoulder pain.
- Bad posture
Sitting or resting in a bad posture is a common reason behind neck and shoulder pain. We often do not even realize the issue with our posture until it causes some health issues. If you are feeling any discomfort in your neck and shoulders, then checking your posture is the first thing to tick off the list.
- Lack of support while sleeping
Poor support while sleeping can also cause prolonged neck and shoulder pain. This lack of support can be solved by changing our pillows or mattress or both.
We should also check our posture during sleeping – if our neck is positioned at a weird angle while we’re sleeping, getting a stiff neck is only a matter of time.
- Compression of nerves
Herniated disks and bone spurs can result in compressing the nerves in our shoulder area, resulting in long-term neck and shoulder pain.
- Wearing out of joints
Like every other body part, our neck joints also tend to wear out over time. Once the cushioning between our bones begins to wear out, our body naturally forms something called bone spurs. These spurs negatively affect our mobility, causing neck and shoulder pain.
- Certain diseases
A number of diseases increase the chances of getting neck and shoulder pain. These include osteoarthritis, herniated disc, fibromyalgia, etc.
- Prolonged stress
Not just physical, but prolonged mental and emotional stress can also take a toll on our neck and shoulder muscles.
- Injuries
Several serious injuries can trigger neck and shoulder pain. Some of these injuries can be caused by sudden jerks, repetitive movements, whiplash injuries, among many others.
Although pain relief sprays and heating pads can usually cure mild neck and shoulder pain– in more serious cases, the best thing to do is to immediately see a doctor.
