I hope I can help someone with neck, shoulder and arm pain with this story. I was driving on July 1 2011, just driving when all of a sudden I felt like someone punched me hard on the arm. Long story short I could barely turn the steering wheel and went to the ER. My diagnosis was a pinched nerve in my neck. I went to the doctor and he said to get an over the door head harness traction ($22) fill the bag with 9 lbs of water and 3 times a day for 10 mins, use it. Well, I had such pain I took Aleeve twice a day with EXCELLENT relief, but never thought I would ever get out of this pain without it. I could not lay down on either side. I had to sleep on my back and I used ice packs, heat packs and cervical collar. In 2 - 2 1/2 weeks it was 90 percent better. I could lie down on either side and did not need pain meds!

All the causes do not address a very common condition: a stiff neck and dull pain in the neck and upper/rear shoulders. I know that many people and I sometimes have this pain after some time at the PC and/or desk and when tired. It feels that fatigue and stress contributes to it. Sadly, I am afraid that most doctors will not be able to diagnose/pin-point this, because, unlike an obvious injury, the cause may be so subtle and hard to find (in my opinion), and several comments support my opinion. I am a 58-year-old avid athlete, and I exercise regularly and safely, and I only rarely have this pain (or rather discomfort), but my college-age daughter regularly suffers for the last few months. We feel it may be due to her hours at the PC/desk and/or stress and anxiety, and I believe that her worry about this aggravates the pain. I give her daily massage, but it only alleviates her pain for a short time (until next day). Good luck to everyone in your fight against this pain.

I have sinus headaches which originate as a dull pain in either the left or right side of my neck shoulder and shoulder blades. I have found low pressure and high humidity contribute greatly to the frequency. The only relief I get is buy taking 2-3 500mg. extra strength cold Tylenol daytime or equivelent such as Life brand usually twice daily. Regular Tylenol does not work along with many other brands and I have tried many over the decades. These headaches will last 2 to 3 days and then often switch to the other side. Occassionaly a heating pad is also needed. For men this will cause a restricted urine flow due to the soft tissue shrinking effect of the pills which is why it relieves the pain in neck and and sinuses. I Hope this helps someone out there.

I got spasmodic torticollis.

I had a sharp pain seeminly eminating from my collarbone up the left side of my neck. It did not feel muscular or structural. Off and on, it last about an hour. No other symptoms.

My Arthritis pains can be at various parts of my body but I have never had them in my neck before so am curious as to whether they are possible effects of my Arthritis.

I had neck surgery in 2010, and this past February I had lower back spinal fusion done. In the past couple of months I have been having bilateral shoulder, elbow, and wrist pain that is bad enough so I can't sleep at night.

I've had severe fibromyalgia pain and recently I had a neck and face lift that cut nerves in that area. The night before the surgery I had horrible fibromyalgia then no pain for three weeks until my nerve feeling came back. Last night (three weeks after surgery I had horrible fibromyalgia. Thought this was very interesting since we now know fibro is connected with nerves in muscles.

I fell on the sidewalk and jammed my shoulder into my neck several months ago. Had X-rays and nothing was broken but I still have recurring pain in my neck, shoulder and down my arm. I have days when the pain is unbearable and days when it doesn't hurt at all.