What Causes Pain In Shoulder And Neck?

Posted on Thu, 18 Dec 2014

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Thu, 18 Dec 2014 Answered on

Tue, 13 Jan 2015 Last reviewed on

Question : I am having stabbing like pains in my right shoulder and along the right side of my neck. It's like little pin pricks. This has been going on for several months now. It's only on my right side.

Answered by Dr. Rakesh Madhyastha (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Painful right shoulder

Detailed Answer:
Hello

Thanks for the query

I need a few more details in order to help you better, please get back to me with the following

1. Are your fingers and back painful as well?
2. Does it ache more when you move your shoulder?
3. Is the pain severe in the morning and gets better through the day?
4. Were you investigated for the same with an x ray or an MRI?
5. Does it come down to ibuprophen?
6. Was there any trauma to the right shoulder in the recent past?

Please get back to me, I will be waiting for your reply

Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Rakesh Madhyastha (16 hours later)

Answers to your Questions:
1) Fingers and back not painful.
2) The same whether moving shoulder or not.
3)Happens at various times during the day. More so when under stress.
4)Have not done anything yet No MRI or X-Ray.
5) Ibuprophen taken to hopefully help. The symptoms seems to go away on their own.
6) No trauma to the right shoulder recently.

The right side of my neck and top of my right shoulder is sore, and wondering if that could be where the problem is stemming from.

Answered by Dr. Rakesh Madhyastha (5 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Cervical Spondylosis

Detailed Answer:
Hello

Thank you so much for getting back with the answers

From the history you have given me it looks like you might be having Cervical spondylosis.
Since the pain does not change with the movement of the shoulder it is less likely to be arising from the shoulder blade itself, a close second differential would be frozen shoulder.

Here is what you should do

1. Meet an Orthopedician for an x ray of the cervical spine
2. Avoid quick movements of the neck
3. Sleep with a medium hard pillow
4. Avoid bending exercises
5. Watch out for dizziness
6. I donot recommend ibuprofen as a pain killer as it is nephrotoxic ( toxic to the kidneys) and it is notorious for causing gastritis. I recommend Tab Acetaminophen three times a day instead.

Please do not ignore this condition, approach a doctor as soon as possible.

Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad