Neck and shoulder pain

How to put an end to neck and shoulder pain without waiting for a GP appointment, taking pain relief or surgery

Scroll below to download our “Free neck and shoulder pain guide” 

If you are experiencing neck and shoulder pain we are here to help. It’s easy to think that your pain is nothing and it will eventually get better. It’s easy to pass it off as a bit of pain caused by an awkward sleep or that everyone your age suffers from it. 

There is often no obvious reason why it’s even started and not knowing can make you feel frustrated with the pain, especially if it’s lasting longer than three months. 

If this is how you feel, you are not alone! 

I am regularly seeing patients in their 40’s, 50s, 60’s, 70’s who are frustrated, tired and worried as to why their neck and shoulder pain is not resolving. In fact, neck and shoulder pain are the one of the most common problem’s that I see in the clinic. 

Why am I still suffering with neck and shoulder pain after putting up with it for months? 

Unfortunately, neck and shoulder pain are on the rise due to postural strain, modern day living such as desk-based work, using mobile phones and long hours of driving are affecting more people than ever before. You may think that if you wait long enough your neck and shoulder pain will go away on its own like it did before. You’ve waited for weeks or even months but you’re finding that your neck and shoulder pain is still there or even that it’s getting worse than it was before it first came on. Does that sound like you? 

Here is typical scenario that I see in clinic;

People book an appointment to see their GP and told to “take these pain killers” and to “see how it goes” and too “take it easy” for the next few weeks and to return if there’s no changes. People then hope to wake up one morning and like magic the pain will be gone, but in most case’s the pain continues.

This is rarely the best advice and people return for another appointment a few weeks later and are given even stronger medication, advised more rest and usually given a referral to physiotherapy within the next 3 months.

Situations like these are some of the reasons as to why so many people develop chronic neck and shoulder pain. Has this happened to you?
 
Neck and shoulder pain are complex conditions and many people will present with different symptoms, that will further change depending on the duration of the pain, whether it’s been a week or 6 months. It’s easy to feel confused because you’ve been told different things by different people. Friends may say their pain was caused by lifting something heavy, a doctor may say it’s because of your posture, or your partner may say it’s started because you’ve been stressed with family or work. But really it is likely caused by a gradual increase of postural strain and stiffness in your neck and shoulder that amounted over a long period of time, and eventually a small trigger like bending over or twisting to fast, sleeping awkwardly is enough to trigger the pain. 

You are not an osteopath, chiropractor, or doctor so of course you would be confused about your pain. Many people often feel overwhelmed, frustrated and anxious about their neck and shoulder pain and often end up accepting it as a normal part of life or getting older. Do you feel this way too? 

What can I do to try and get rid of my neck and shoulder pain quickly? 
  1. Make a decision about getting help. Time is critically important when dealing with neck and shoulder pain, indecision and procrastination is one of the main reasons why people suffer for longer. 
  2. Avoid rest and increase movement. If you are 50+ you will have likely been told to rest when experiencing neck and shoulder pain, this is one of the worst things you can do. Resting for long periods of time will cause the muscles and joints in your spine to tighten and stiffen up, further decreasing your mobility and making your posture feel awkward. Increasing your movement will help you greatly by encouraging your spine to function correctly, improving circulation and reduce inflammation. 
  3. Ice, heat and exercise. Yes, these three techniques are incredibly powerful for improving and managing neck and shoulder pain. Although there is no clinical research to support the use of Ice and heat, it is my go too advice for helping people with lower back pain. The ice will help to desensitise the inflammation and the heat will help Improve blood flow to relax the muscles and joints. Exercise’s like stretching and strengthening movements will help to improve the mobility in your spine and muscles, reduce pain and improve overall functionality. Make sure that any exercises you do does not aggravate or worsen your neck and shoulder pain, I advise only doing these from a qualified therapist. 
  4. Get real, hands-on Osteopathy. We specialise in manual therapy techniques, including soft tissue massage, joint mobilisation, and spinal manipulation. These hands-on techniques help reduce muscle tension, alleviate pain, and improve mobility in the affected areas of your neck and shoulder. Neck and shoulder pain is the most common condition we treat in clinic, so we are confident that we can assess, treat and manage people effectively to improve your quality of life. 

Why choosing to see an osteopath at Will Bromham osteopathy can help you
We can help by reducing the pain and improving mobility within a couple of treatments 
  • We can assess and diagnose neck and shoulder pain safely and effectively, helping you understand the root cause of your pain and what you can do about it.
  • When you start to feel better, you won’t need to take pain relief anymore which aren’t good for your long-term health.
  • Pain can be exhausting especially if it’s keeping you up at night, we can help you get a good’s night rest to optimise your recovery.
  • We can help you get back to being you! When your back is better you can enjoy quality time with your family and friends and won’t need to worry about taking time of work.
  • We will make sure that your back pain is corrected and less likely to come back, expert management and understanding will help us work with you to achieve the best outcomes for your health. 

If you are ready to live your life without neck and shoulder pain, and want an expert in Aberystwyth to look after you I suggest ringing us to book and appointment, all the relevant information is below. If you are still unsure if we can help, download our “free neck and shoulder pain guide” to get started.