title: Neck and shoulder pain: differentiating cervical spine pathology from shoulder pathology.
abstract: Problems of the cervical spine and shoulder frequently have very similar presentations and can be difficult to differentiate. However, with a careful history, physical exam, imaging studies, and judicious use of diagnostic injections, the true source of a patient's symptoms can be deciphered and treated. Cervical spondylosis not only causes pain in the neck and shoulder area, but can also cause radiating pain in the arm and forearm that can be confused with rotator cuff pathology, nerve compression in the shoulder area, or brachial neuritis.
authors.affiliation: Town Center Drive, Suite 300, Reston, VA 20190, USA. dpateder@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Dhruv B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Pateder
authors.forename: Jeffrey H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Berg
authors.forename: Raymond
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Thal
mesh_terms: D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D007592:Joint Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D009333:Neck; D019547:Neck Pain / Q000175:diagnosis; D012785:Shoulder Joint; D020069:Shoulder Pain / Q000175:diagnosis; D055009:Spondylosis / Q000175:diagnosis