Pain in the upper neck, shoulders, and shoulder blades is common among people in various occupations, especially those who sit working in front of a computer for long periods. When experiencing neck or shoulder pain, patients often think it is not serious and do not see a doctor. However, visiting a doctor for symptom analysis can help distinguish whether it is Office Syndrome or cervical disc degeneration.
What diseases should be considered for chronic neck pain?
The most common cause of neck pain is improper neck posture. Whenever we use the neck in the wrong posture or rhythm, whether sitting in the same position for a long time, driving long distances, reading while lying down, or sleeping with a high pillow, it causes the muscles in the upper neck to tense for a long time, leading to fatigue and pain. There are also other diseases that can cause chronic neck pain, such as
- Cervical disc degeneration, which may cause bone spurs that compress nerves
- Herniated cervical disc pressing on nerves that supply the arms
- Degeneration of the cervical vertebrae due to aging
- Injuries directly related to the neck area, such as car accidents or being punched
Neck pain radiating to the arm: a dangerous sign requiring immediate medical attention
Whenever pain starts radiating down to the arm, accompanied by numbness or muscle weakness, this indicates nerve irritation in the cervical spinal cord. Patients may experience pain or numbness along the arm, elbow, or fingers.
For those with severe symptoms, muscle weakness may also occur, such as inability to lift the shoulder, move fingers, or bend the wrist, making it difficult to work, write, or button clothes due to muscle weakness in the area supplied by the compressed nerve. Additionally, if the compressed nerve affects other functions, it can cause muscle atrophy in that area. Some patients may also experience headaches, fever, blurred vision, pain around the eye sockets, ear discharge, shortness of breath, nausea, and vomiting.
Chronic neck pain for 2 weeks: see a doctor immediately
Whenever symptoms persist, such as neck pain lasting more than 2 weeks, accompanied by arm weakness and/or numbness or radiating pain to the arm, you should promptly consult a doctor for diagnosis with cervical spine X-rays. Knowing the cause of the symptoms will help plan targeted and faster treatment.
