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Neck Injuries
Life-threatening injuries to the neck may be subtle, leading to dangerous delays in diagnosis. The most immediate risks to life are airway compromise, hemorrhage, and cervical spine injury. Vascular and airway injuries may initially be occult, particularly with blunt trauma.
Causes
Shoulder and neck pain results from injury to muscles and ligaments. The spinal cord, heart, lungs, and some abdominal organs also can cause neck and shoulder pain. Here are some examples:
- Broken collarbone: Falling on your outstretched arm can cause your collarbone to break.
- Bursitis: A bursa is a sac over the joints to provide a cushion to the joints and muscles. These bursa can become swollen and painful after injuries.
- Heart attacks: Although the problem is the heart, heart attacks can cause shoulder or neck pain, known as "referred" pain.
- Whiplash injury: Injury to the ligamentous and muscular structures of the neck and shoulder can be caused by sudden acceleration or deceleration, as in a car accident.
- Tendonitis: The tendons connect the muscles to the bones. With strain, the tendons can become swollen and cause pain.
- Gallbladder disease: This can cause a pain referred to the right shoulder.
Signs
- Hematoma
- Ecchymosis
- Dyspnea
- Stridor
- Bruit
- Dysphagia
- Focal neurologic deficits
- Subcutaneous emphysema
- Horner's syndrome (miosis, ptosis, anhydrosis)
Treatment
- Heat: take a nice hot shower and let the water run on your neck or place a heating pad or hot water bottle on your neck. Keep it on long enough to allow your skin to turn a little red and warm up.
- Medicine: try an over the counter anti-inflammatory drug. Follow the instructions on the package, and stick with it for a couple of days.
- Rest: try to avoid movements which aggravate your symptoms.
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