Neck/Shoulder pain-How to determine if it is muscular, nerve, or alignment?

[AngelaGT]

I have had an ongoing left sided levator scapulae and trapezius area pain and now into the rotator cuff area.  I have tried massage and 4 dry needling sessions.

I am considering acupuncture and chiropractor.  How do I determine what might be the root cause and how do I determine a practitioner? 

It ends up being disappointing, time consuming, and costly. Massage is nice though.🙂

[Carrie12345]

It was a physical therapist for me.
It was also pressure on a nerve in my neck that was causing pain in my hand, not in my neck! But she fixed me up good… so long as I remember to do the exercises given.

[wintermom]

Often those small muscles need time to heal from injury, and then you have to build up strength in many small muscles around the joint. It's possible that a weakness in one muscle causes others around it to work harder and get strained. I'd stick with physio, as long as you plan to take the time to do the exercises the PT recommends. 

If you just want a quick fix and live with this pain forever, then pop pills. Not a great idea, though, obviously. 

Edited March 31, 2022 by wintermom

[cintinative]

I would personally try to find a physical therapist with lots of experience with the shoulder.  Massage is not bad though.  Do be careful because that sort of injury (rotator cuff) can easily lead to frozen shoulder.  I had bilateral frozen shoulder last year and it's really really bad.

 

[AngelaGT]

I did not even consider physical therapy. Thanks!

[Dianthus]

Try osteopathic manipulation