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Shoulder and neck pain is a common disease in society. In young people, neck pain is more likely to be caused by an accident or injury. However, as we age, natural wear and tear occurs in the shoulder joint. Over time, this can become a nagging pain. So when you have shoulder pain, should you use muscle relaxants?
1. What causes shoulder pain?
There are many causes of neck pain and not all of these are due to problems with the shoulder joint or related structures.
1.1. Osteoarthritis Cartilage is a smooth, cushioned tissue that covers the ends of bones where they meet in a joint. Healthy cartilage helps joints move smoothly. Over time, cartilage can wear down, or be damaged by an injury or accident, leading to the development of osteoarthritis.
1.2. Shoulder cystitis The synovial membrane of the shoulder can become inflamed, a condition known as bursitis. Bursitis may be caused by another condition (eg, rheumatoid arthritis) or by trauma that may have no known cause.
Frozen shoulder is a condition that occurs when the shoulder capsule thickens and becomes inflamed and stretched. There may also be less synovial fluid to lubricate the joint. As a result, the shoulder becomes difficult to move.
1.3. Inflammatory Bursa Pain associated with an inflamed capsule also commonly occurs in the shoulder. An airbag is a small fluid-filled sac that reduces friction between two structures, such as bones, muscles, and tendons. In the shoulder, the capsule between the tendon of the rotator cuff and the acromion of the shoulder can become inflamed, most commonly with repetitive movements.
1.4. Injuries and Sprains Ligaments are the soft tissues that connect bone to bone that provide stability to the shoulder by keeping the bones in place. If a ligament is injured or sprained, it can cause short-term pain. This is the result of the trachea partially coming out of the joint (dislocation) or if the air leaks completely out (dislocation).
The soft tissue that helps hold the shoulder joint in place (labrum) can tear. This is called a 'lip tear', this can happen from trauma (e.g. falling on your outstretched arm) or repetitive actions (e.g. from playing sports regarding throws).
1.5. Neck and upper back Problems with the joints and associated nerves of the neck and upper back can also be the source of shoulder pain. Pain from the neck and upper back is usually felt at the back of the shoulder joint and to the outside of the arm.
1.6. Damage to the axillary nerve This nerve can be injured by a shoulder dislocation or fracture of the shoulder blade, and causes weakness when moving the arm away from the body.
2. Should I use muscle relaxants for shoulder pain?
Shoulder relaxants are medications commonly used to relieve pain, stiffness, or uncontrolled movements caused by muscle spasms. The muscle relaxers for shoulder pain directly act on the central nervous system, helping the patient to be sedated and blocking the nerves that signal pain to the brain. . Patients with symptoms of pain, poor mobility, stiff neck and shoulders should use muscle relaxants. Only use muscle relaxants for shoulder pain for 2 weeks, up to 3 weeks.
Here are the common antispasmodics. Remember, these drugs often treat acute muscle spasms. If you have been diagnosed with a nerve disorder that causes spasticity, look for it on the list of antispasmodics:
Carisoprodol is a centrally acting muscle relaxant. It is indicated for adults and adolescents 16 years of age and older. Carisoprodol comes in the form of tablets with dosages ranging from 250 to 350 mg. Typical guidelines are three times a day and at bedtime. Carisoprodol can be habit-forming and should only be used for two to three weeks. Chlorzoxazone is a skeletal muscle relaxant useful for the treatment of acute muscle strains, including in the back. It comes in tablet form and the usual dose for adults is 500 mg three or four times a day. One of the side effects associated with chlorzoxazone is red or purple urine. This is due to the way your body metabolizes the drug and is not a cause for concern. Cyclobenzaprine is another type of skeletal muscle relaxant. The drug is available as a tablet, suspension, or extended-release capsule. People with certain heart conditions such as heart failure, recent heart attack, or forms of arrhythmia should not use Cyclobenzaprine. Metaxalone is a centrally acting muscle relaxant, usually taken in tablet form, 800mg three to four times a day. Although drowsiness, irritability, and stomach or intestinal pain are the most common side effects, metaxalone has a long list of less common potential side effects. Methocarbamol: Like the other drugs in this section, methocarbamol is a centrally acting skeletal muscle stimulant. Orphenadrine is both a muscle relaxant and an anticholinergic, a drug that blocks the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. Because of its anticholinergic properties, orphenadrine is commonly used to control tremors caused by Parkinson's disease. The usual dose is 200mg to 250mg total, taken two or three times a day. In addition, patients with shoulder and neck pain may be prescribed some muscle spasticity medication if your muscle spasticity is caused by a neurological condition such as a spinal cord injury such as:
Baclofen is used for medical conditions. Chronic nerve damage that causes spasticity, such as multiple sclerosis or spinal cord injury. Tizanidine: This skeletal muscle relaxant is commonly used to treat muscle spasms caused by multiple sclerosis Note: Muscle relaxants for acute back or neck pain are often prescribed for short-term relief of muscle pain to avoid drug dependence. For these reasons, most doctors will prescribe the medication for less than 2 weeks.
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