Neck/Shoulder Pain Advice

moutuakilla

I have had neck/shoulder pain on and off for a number of years, but mostly seemed to have it under control until starting my new job a few months back. My new job involves lots of sitting at a desk for long periods (something I am not used to due to past jobs involving being outside or walking around restaurants), so I imagine some of it is associated with posture. It mostly seems to be trapezius pain, and there is generally a lot of collar bone and shoulder joint popping. If I was based in the same place all the time I would ask for my desk to be converted and to see if I could get a better chair etc, however I am moving around to different places quite a lot, so I don't think carrying a chair with me or converting all manner of desks is a viable option. The doctor wasn't particularly helpful, and I am sure you lot are more knowledgeable with all your life experiences.

Basically I am looking for some advice if anyone has had similar problems and has found ways of dealing with it, exercises etc. I like being active, fairly sporty etc, and this has prevented me from being able to do so. Any advice would be very much appreciated.

cafcnick1992

Nurofen?

CharltonPete

Arnica gel

Tom

Ripped my trapezius 2 years ago. Not been right since. I'm an engineer so I do a lot of driving. But if I drive too far it really aches so I guess a lot of it must be down to posture. Even ends up with me getting a head aches. Stretching my neck to one side helps.

Chunes

divorce

Fanny Fanackapan

Might be worth an Osteopath appointment, moots, so that the problem can be defined.

A massage to relax the area, maybe followed by some manipulation to ease the joints and some exercises/advice as how to keep it relaxed in future.

harveys_gardener

Don't know about the popping but could be frozen shoulder. Buy a rubber band and Google exercises for the problem.

mistrollingin

Ask your GP for Arthrotec 75. Very good, I speak from past experience.

cafcdave123

Ask your gp Tramadol

ShootersHillGuru

A prescription anti inflammatory like Naproxen. It's likely to be arthritis and a good AI will work wonders.

Wheresmeticket

Personally I'd think twice about simply medicating for the pain - this will not prevent the problem, just hide it. Get your GP to refer to physiotherapist which should be part of your NHS entitlement (osteopathy probably wouldnt be, at least not within a reasonable timescale) and they will identify the problem, and probable causes which you can then address in order to avoid causing more damage \(if there is any). If you have been stressed more than usual recently this can also be a cause of unconscious tension which can exacerbate this sort of discomfort. Good luck,

ShootersHillGuru

Wheresmeticket? said:

Personally I'd think twice about simply medicating for the pain - this will not prevent the problem, just hide it. Get your GP to refer to physiotherapist which should be part of your NHS entitlement (osteopathy probably wouldnt be, at least not within a reasonable timescale) and they will identify the problem, and probable causes which you can then address in order to avoid causing more damage \(if there is any). If you have been stressed more than usual recently this can also be a cause of unconscious tension which can exacerbate this sort of discomfort. Good luck,

This is true but only up to a point. Joint inflammation won't go away with any amount of exercise. The underlying cause is likely to be within the joint. A good maintenance regime of stretching could help but an anti inflammatory is the quickest way to find relief enough to embark on an exercise regime.

_MrDick

Diclofenic will always mask the pain but it definitely sounds like you need an osteopath. Sarah Breare in Dartford will sort you out 01322 220928

ShootersHillGuru

Diclofenic has too many side effects. Naproxen is far better. I would recommend finding the cause of the pain before getting anyone pulling you about.

Rylo

I'm a Sports Massage Therapist. Also do deep tissue and Swedish massage. Based on Welling but can do home visits. PM me if you need anything.

moutuakilla

Thanks for the advice so far! I am based up in Sheffield at the moment, so the south east based therapists are a bit far away at the moment I think the physio is the way forward, the doctor wasn't keen on offering much more than telling me to roll my shoulders. Been checking out youtube for some yoga moves to see if that helps it out. Preferably I'd want to get to the cause of the problem rather than just dosing up on medication, but I have been using anti-inflammatories if it is preventing me from carrying out my work properly. I travel quite a lot, so it is difficult to seek any medical advice very often.

tangoflash

harveys gardener said:

Don't know about the popping but could be frozen shoulder.

I actually suffered with this in both my shoulders after having to give up work to be full time carer for my son. At times it was absolute agony and found myself being woken by it in the middle of the night, when flinging my arms around in my sleep.

Have always been involved in active work throughout my adult life (never had an office job).
The cure for me was Blackheathaddick asking me to demolish & re-build his kitchen. Within a couple of weeks of ripping out cupboards, plastering and general manual work, I found the mobility had returned to my shoulders.

So, if this sounds like it might be similar to your problems, I'd suggest either DIY or going to the gym to keep the joints supple.............

moutuakilla

tangoflash said:

harveys gardener said:

Don't know about the popping but could be frozen shoulder.

I actually suffered with this in both my shoulders after having to give up work to be full time carer for my son. At times it was absolute agony and found myself being woken by it in the middle of the night, when flinging my arms around in my sleep.

Have always been involved in active work throughout my adult life (never had an office job).
The cure for me was Blackheathaddick asking me to demolish & re-build his kitchen. Within a couple of weeks of ripping out cupboards, plastering and general manual work, I found the mobility had returned to my shoulders.

So, if this sounds like it might be similar to your problems, I'd suggest either DIY or going to the gym to keep the joints supple.............

My shoulder doesn't tend to lock up, it just pops a lot when rotating it/moving it forward and back (no problems at all with other shoulder). I am unsure whether I should be resting it or putting it through it's paces - don't want to do further damage if there is any!

tangoflash

moutuakilla said:

tangoflash said:

harveys gardener said:

Don't know about the popping but could be frozen shoulder.

I actually suffered with this in both my shoulders after having to give up work to be full time carer for my son. At times it was absolute agony and found myself being woken by it in the middle of the night, when flinging my arms around in my sleep.

Have always been involved in active work throughout my adult life (never had an office job).
The cure for me was Blackheathaddick asking me to demolish & re-build his kitchen. Within a couple of weeks of ripping out cupboards, plastering and general manual work, I found the mobility had returned to my shoulders.

So, if this sounds like it might be similar to your problems, I'd suggest either DIY or going to the gym to keep the joints supple.............

My shoulder doesn't tend to lock up, it just pops a lot when rotating it/moving it forward and back (no problems at all with other shoulder). I am unsure whether I should be resting it or putting it through it's paces - don't want to do further damage if there is any!

Sorry, didn't mean to pile straight into the gym.

Try gentle execise, such as basic movement of the joints and if you find after a couple of weeks this eases the pain, then you can consider stepping it up to gym activity.

Sillybilly

Having similar issues at the moment. Had problems with the left side of my neck and shoulder last Christmas time. Had some osteopathy (Sarah Breare who's contact details are in a previous post and I can also recommend her) which didn't help (Sarah had previously been a great help so it was the nature I the injury rather than the treatment). My doctor then diagnosed a torn trapesia and prescribed a mild dose of diazepam as a relaxant and rest. My symptoms gradually receded. However, it has come back with a vengeance and I've been in agony for the last three weeks. I went to the doc yesterday and have been referred for an MRI scan and given some painkillers in the meantime. Got to get to the bottom of it.

Loco

I've had frozen shoulder for the past year and the only thing I've found that helps is heat. I've tried painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs but nothing works like a bag of buckwheat fresh out of the microwave. What's more keep it warm at all times, use a scarf across your shoulders in air conditioned rooms, lean on an insulated rest on a desk etc. I Hope that helps.

harveys_gardener

Loco said:

I've had frozen shoulder for the past year and the only thing I've found that helps is heat. I've tried painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs but nothing works like a bag of buckwheat fresh out of the microwave. What's more keep it warm at all times, use a scarf across your shoulders in air conditioned rooms, lean on an insulated rest on a desk etc. I Hope that helps.

http://www.jointessential.com/6-best-exercises-for-frozen-shoulder-syndrome/

but forget the pulley, get a band and attach to door handle or similar. Improvements felt within days.


http://www.newitts.com/product/IT045443/Fitness_Mad_Resistance_Bands.htm?gclid=CP6k2evr_8ECFeLItAod92UAwg

cafcfan

patient.co.uk/health/Rotator-Cuff-Injury-and-Inflammation.htm

I've had this for years - could be your problem? it's never really gone away but is much better these days. For some surgery seems the only option....

Lincsaddick

chiropractor

Lincsaddick

and a better chair, especially if the problem has reoccurred through a change of workplace environment

rikofold

moutuakilla said:

I have had neck/shoulder pain on and off for a number of years, but mostly seemed to have it under control until starting my new job a few months back. My new job involves lots of sitting at a desk for long periods (something I am not used to due to past jobs involving being outside or walking around restaurants), so I imagine some of it is associated with posture. It mostly seems to be trapezius pain, and there is generally a lot of collar bone and shoulder joint popping. If I was based in the same place all the time I would ask for my desk to be converted and to see if I could get a better chair etc, however I am moving around to different places quite a lot, so I don't think carrying a chair with me or converting all manner of desks is a viable option. The doctor wasn't particularly helpful, and I am sure you lot are more knowledgeable with all your life experiences.

Basically I am looking for some advice if anyone has had similar problems and has found ways of dealing with it, exercises etc. I like being active, fairly sporty etc, and this has prevented me from being able to do so. Any advice would be very much appreciated.

My other half had a very similar sounding issue. Seen the doc and various back specialists over the years. Last year she went to see a sports physio. Coincidentally she said just this week that she'd not felt a problem since those visits (think she went 3 times).

Re posture, you could ask your employer to provide a sit/stand desk, which can help avoid sitting in the same position all day long. That said they're under no obligation to provide that, but can only say no after all.

croydonaddick

I would advise seeing a specialist in musculoskeletal problems, be it physio, chiropractor or osteopath. They should all be able to assess the cause of the problem and commence treatment or advise best management. Personally would go with a physio, but if you have had successful treatment for anything in the past you may have your own preference, or know someone who can recommend a practitioner. Usually this type of pain is posture related, and may need exercises / posture correction to effect a long term improvement.
Pain around the neck and shoulder could have many causes, a lot mentioned already. And although lots on here have benefitted from various strategies and have kindly shared them, I would think it best to get a proper diagnosis before trying differing remedies.
Hope you manage to settle it down soon

PL54

I have a few slipped discs, a shoulder thing that is odd (c/o a full flight fall down a set of steps after a home game) and regular upper back pain.

I advise alcohol.

Bryan_Kynsie

Moutouakilla, I can recommend the Bramley clinic in Sheffield just around the corner from The Crucible and up from Ego restaurant. Will not be cheap but ask for Laurence who has always sorted out any of my back problems in double quick time.

Wheresmeticket

GP refers to Physio and offers anti inflammatory. You take AI and go to physio. Physio identifies problem and suggests either exercise or further referral to specialist or both. Also advises re use of AIs. Please tell me that the suggestion of using anti arthritics or tramadol was a joke...Antiarthritic medication if it isn't arthritis is a big mistake. Tramadol is an opioid several times stronger than over the counter codeine, can lead to addiction ,especially if used when it shouldn't be and has been associated with a number of drug related deaths in the last few years....sorry - was that a rant? By the way, because at least some people in the UK are still paying their tax we still have an NHS. Use it first.

moutuakilla

I started this topic around two years ago. Since then I have been passed from pillar to post until finally today I got a referral to an extended scope practitioner (someone who know's what they are doing) and they have diagnosed me as most likely having a slipped/prolapsed disc in my neck. Very frustrating it has taken this long for them to send me to someone who can diagnose the problem in ten minutes.

Has anyone else had similar problems?