any help for shoulder pain--now going into my neck

I had this problem for the first week after surgery, and again when they started letting me eat solid food (was still swolen and the band would touch the nerve there).

The absolute best advice I got from the nurses at my surgeon's office was sip peppermint tea while walking.  I still keep a box around because it really, really helps.  When I didn't feel like walking, I would sip the tea while holding the heating pad and that helped too.