Your Shoulder Pain Could Actually Be a Neck Problem

Shoulder and neck pain often feel similar, but they have different causes. This blog explains why they’re connected and how to tell them apart.

If your shoulder hurts, you might assume it’s due to overuse or a rotator cuff tear, but the most obvious culprit isn’t always the real cause. Sometimes, shoulder pain actually originates from a neck problem and vice versa.

At Performance Therapy Institute, with offices in Brentwood, Nashville, and Nolensville, Tennessee, our experienced team specializes in treating all types of musculoskeletal pain. Here, we explain the link between neck and shoulder pain and highlight potential treatments.

Why do neck and shoulder pain commonly occur together?

Neck and shoulder pain often overlap, because these areas are connected by multiple nerve pathways. If you injure yourself or have an underlying issue, like a pinched nerve, your brain may not always recognize the source. Doctors call this phenomenon referred pain, meaning you feel discomfort in one part of your body, even though the underlying cause is elsewhere.

How to tell if shoulder pain is caused by a shoulder problem

Even though referred pain can make identifying the underlying cause tricky, several factors can help clue you in.

For example, shoulder pain is often caused by a rotator cuff injury. The rotator cuff is a group of muscles and tendons that hold the shoulder joints in place. Discomfort from rotator cuff injuries is distinct. You may notice:

A dull ache
Pain that persists at night
Pain that radiates into your upper arm, but not past your elbow
Pain that worsens when you lift your arm above your head or behind your back

Nine times out of 10, these telltale signs indicate a shoulder injury or shoulder-related problem.

How to tell if shoulder pain is a neck problem

Shoulder pain caused by a neck problem is also distinct and has several defining characteristics. These signs include pain that:

Radiates to your shoulder blade or the bottom of your neck
Burns, stings, or feels like an electric shock
Radiates past your elbow and into your hand
Improves when you support your neck with a pillow or brace

Since shoulder and neck pain often overlap, it’s important to seek an expert if your symptoms last more than a few days and don’t improve with conservative treatments, like over-the-counter (OTC) pain medication or ice and heat therapy.

How are shoulder and neck pain diagnosed and treated?

We take a conservative, integrative approach to diagnosing and treating shoulder and neck pain.

During your appointment, we review your health records, ask about your symptoms, and examine your neck and shoulders. Then, we gently press on the affected area to identify sensitive spots and complete diagnostic imaging, like an X-ray or MRI, to look at your vertebrae, shoulder blades, and rotator cuffs.

After pinpointing the source of your pain, we make personalized treatment recommendations. Depending on the cause, we could suggest:

Rest
OTC pain medication
Heat or cold therapy
Gentle stretching
Physical therapy
Postural changes
Corticosteroid injections
Massage therapy
Prescription pain medication
Osteopathic manipulation
Laser therapy

Most neck and shoulder problems improve with conservative care, but in rare instances, we may recommend surgery.

You don’t have to live with neck and shoulder pain