Neck and shoulder pain that sticks around for months wears on you. It makes it harder to sleep, to focus at work and to enjoy the outdoors here in Wyoming. At Hometown Chiropractic in Cheyenne, it is a common reason people walk through our door. Chronic neck pain is usually defined as pain lasting longer than three months, and the good news is that there are well-studied, drug-free ways to manage it. Here is what causes it, what the research supports and what care actually looks like.
What causes chronic neck and shoulder pain?
Most long-lasting neck and shoulder pain comes from the muscles, joints and soft tissues of the upper spine rather than from a single serious injury. A few patterns show up again and again:
- Hours at a desk or behind the wheel with the head drifting forward, which loads the muscles at the base of the skull and across the top of the shoulders
- Looking down at a phone for long stretches, sometimes called tech neck
- An old whiplash injury from a car accident that never fully settled down
- Sleeping on your stomach or on a pillow that props your head at an angle
- Stress, which tends to show up as tight upper trapezius muscles, the band of muscle running from the neck to the shoulder
Is it your shoulder or your neck?
Shoulder pain does not always start in the shoulder. Irritated joints or nerves in the neck can refer pain into the shoulder blade or upper arm. A good exam checks both areas, because a rotator cuff problem and a neck problem call for different care.
Does chiropractic care help chronic neck pain?
The research supports chiropractic care as part of a combined approach rather than as a stand-alone fix. A 2016 clinical practice guideline from the Ontario Protocol for Traffic Injury Management (OPTIMa) Collaboration, published in the European Spine Journal, suggests that for neck pain lasting more than three months, clinicians may consider patient education combined with options such as range-of-motion and strengthening exercises, clinical massage, and exercise paired with spinal manipulation or mobilization.
A separate 2016 guideline in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics reached a similar conclusion: a multimodal approach that includes manual therapy, exercise and self-management advice is an effective strategy for both recent and persistent neck pain.
Spinal manipulation, often called an adjustment, is a quick, controlled movement applied to a joint. Mobilization is a slower, gentler stretch of the same joint. Both aim to restore normal motion so the surrounding muscles can calm down.
What does treatment for chronic neck pain look like?
Care starts with a full history and exam, including posture, range of motion, strength and a neurological screen of your arms. From there, a plan usually blends adjustments or mobilization with soft tissue work and exercises you can do at home. Visits are often closer together early on and spread out as you improve, with progress rechecked along the way so the plan changes if something isn’t working.
What can you do at home between visits?
Small daily changes make adjustments last longer. Raise your monitor so the top of the screen sits at eye level, take a short movement break every 30 to 60 minutes, and switch to sleeping on your back or side with a pillow that keeps your head level. Gentle chin tucks and shoulder blade squeezes, done a few times a day, help retrain the muscles that hold your head up.
When should neck pain be checked by a medical doctor first?
Some symptoms need a medical evaluation right away. Seek care promptly for neck pain after a serious fall or car accident, numbness or weakness in the arms, trouble walking or with balance, a sudden severe headache unlike any you’ve had, or fever with a stiff neck. Left shoulder or arm pain with chest pressure or shortness of breath can signal a heart problem and needs emergency care.
How does Hometown Chiropractic treat neck and shoulder pain?
Dr. Ryan Walton is a 2010 graduate of Logan College of Chiropractic, where he earned his Doctor of Chiropractic along with a master’s degree in sports science and rehabilitation. Our office also offers deep tissue medical massage with Austin Bailey, who has practiced since 2012, so adjustments and soft tissue work can happen under one roof, the kind of combined care the research supports.
Chronic neck and shoulder pain can be stubborn, but it often responds well to a plan that pairs hands-on care with better daily habits. New patients get a free consultation at Hometown Chiropractic, so schedule a visit and let’s find out what’s behind your pain.