In the course of a shoulder, the nerve root is compressed by a hernia of the nucleus pulposus or a bone growth (osteophyte). Moreover, the nerve root may become jammed in the narrowed intervertebral opening. The most common cause of the described structural changes is the degenerative disease of the spine resulting from bad habits (the position of the head tilted forward and forward). Less commonly, pressure can be caused by the mass of the cancerous tumor.

A typical symptom of shoulder pain is unilateral pain radiating from the nape of the neck to the upper limb (shoulder, elbow, forearm or fingers). Pain may be accompanied by sensory disturbances, numbness and weakness in the muscles of the shoulder girdle and / or upper limb. The severity of the pain usually depends on the current position of the cervical spine.

In most patients, adequate management is oral painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs, physical therapy and specialist spine rehabilitation. If necessary, the doctor performs a local injection of the spine with a steroid (cervical spine blockade). In the event of unsuccessful conservative treatment or aggravation of neurological deficits, a surgical procedure to decompress the compressed nerve structures is considered.