It can be a delicate balance. After that, use moist heat, like a hot shower or a heating pad, to help it heal. Few would suspect the cause of shoulder pain to be something as typical and inactive as sitting at our desks. Make an appointment with your doctor if your neck pain isn’t improving with home treatments. Any abnormalities, inflammation, or injury can cause neck pain or stiffness. Shoulder and neck pain may be caused by bursitis, a pinched nerve, whiplash, tendinitis, a herniated disc, or a rotator cuff injury. Your doctor has many tools to figure out what’s wrong. Here are nine remedies you can use to relieve pain from a pinched nerve. Seek medical care if your neck pain is accompanied by numbness or loss of strength in your arms or hands or if you have … Examples of NSAIDs include aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen, and more. Sign Up for MedicineNet Newsletters! Discover rheumatoid arthritis (RA) symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment. Slowly stretch your head in side-to-side and up-and-down motions. Treatment incorporates medications, physical therapy, and exercise. It isn’t usually a symptom of a more serious health problem. Neck pain can come from common infections, such as virus infection of the throat, leading to lymph node (gland) swelling and neck pain. See additional information. Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are prescribed medications for the treatment of inflammatory conditions. If you buy something through a link on this page, we may earn a small commission. Treatment for polymyalgia rheumatica aims to reduce inflammation with aspirin, ibuprofen, and low doses of cortisone medications. Learn about osteoarthritis and exercises that relieve knee osteoarthritis pain, stiffness and strengthen the knee joint and surrounding muscles through this picture slideshow. By clicking Submit, I agree to the MedicineNet's Terms & Conditions & Privacy Policy and understand that I may opt out of MedicineNet's subscriptions at any time. In diagnosing the cause of neck pain, it is important to review the history of the symptoms. Any past injury to the neck and past treatments are noted. Neck pain can also come from rare infections, such as tuberculosis of the neck, infection of the spine bones in the neck (osteomyelitis and septic discitis), and meningitis (often accompanied by neck stiffness). Smart Grocery Shopping When You Have Diabetes, Surprising Things You Didn't Know About Dogs and Cats, Coronavirus in Context: Interviews With Experts. In rare instances, neck stiffness or pain occurs due to: If symptoms persist for more than a week, consult with your doctor. The muscle connects the atlas (the topmost vertebra…. Further testing of undiagnosed neck pain can include X-ray evaluation, CT scan, bone scan, MRI scan, myelogram, and electrical tests such as electromyography (EMG) and nerve conduction velocity test (NCV). Be prepared to tell your doctor about the specifics of your symptoms. Treatment options include rest, heat or cold applications, traction, soft-collar traction, physical therapy (ultrasound, massage, manipulation), local injections of cortisone or anesthetics, topical anesthetic creams, topical pain-relief patches, muscle relaxants, over-the-counter anti-inflammatory drugs, and surgical procedures.