<human>: My left shoulder/neck area has been hurting for about 3 weeks. It feels like I ve slept on it wrong. Some of the pain feels like a tight muscle (the neck area) and some is lower in the shoulder, beneath and at the bottom of the shoulder blade. Taking ibuprofen lessens the pain, but I don t like to take it often. Neither heat nor ice seems to affect the pain.
<bot>: Hello, You have got muscle spasm in your neck and only ibuprofen will not help. Muscle relaxants like thiocolchicoside are also needed with NSAIDs. Ibuprofen can be taken thrice a day. Avoid jerky movements of the neck. Use soft pillow of low height just to support the head. Local application of diclofenac gel is also needed. If not relieved within a week visit to an orthopedic specialist is needed. Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.