Neck and Shoulder Pain
Without question, neck and shoulder pain is one of the most common complaints that we see here at the Ottawa Physiotherapy & Sport Clinics. By the time that people come to see us, they have probably already tried various things to get the discomfort to go away. Their attempts can range from giving it time and rest to medication to YouTube diagnoses!
Most people that end up seeing us come because their previous attempts to fix the problem haven’t worked and sometimes aggravated the symptoms. Neck and shoulder diagnosis is difficult to do and often leads to frustrations in trying to get the right solution.
Is Your Neck and Shoulder Pain More Resilient Than You Had Anticipated?
Have you noticed neck or shoulder pain gradually creeping into your life? Have you thought that you could have made a wrong motion or slept in an awkward position? Have you tried to get your neck and shoulders to feel better only to have them feel the same or worse even after your best efforts? You are not alone.
Reach Out For More Information Today!
Having issues with the form? Get in touch with us and we'll send you more information on how to stop neck and shoulder pain.
7 Reasons Why Your Neck or Shoulder Pain Is Lasting Longer Than It Should:
- You were hoping it would go away on its own. A lot of us do this....we hope that things will get better with a bit of time. With neck and shoulder pain, it usually is a symptom of an underlying issue and will require a bit of work. Beyond that, the source is not always easy to diagnose.
- You went to see your doctor and got prescribed rest and medication. This can take off the edge from the pain and maybe eliminate the flare-up, but usually that relief is temporary at best.
- You have come to accept the fact that neck and shoulder pain is a natural part of growing older. If you accept the pain as a reality that you will be faced with, you will not take any steps to make things better. Shoulder and neck pain associated with aging is a myth and you should not accept that aging necessarily means issues with your neck and shoulders.
- You have tried other health care professional services without success. We sometimes give up on improving the situation when our first attempts fail. Like with anything else, if we don’t succeed at first we need to try again!
- You tried heating pads or TENS machines without success.
- You thought that all that was needed was some rest. Rest is a good remedy for a lot of things, unfortunately, the neck and shoulders don’t always play by the same rules. Sometimes the rest only makes the area more stiff and tight making the recovery process more difficult.
- You tried to massage your way out of the problem. Massages on neck and shoulder pain will often offer immediate and temporary relief from the pain. Unfortunately, the pain returns and the underlying issue has not been addressed.
4 Things You Can Do To Get Better...Faster
- Decide To Get Help – This may seem obvious but it is completely natural to wait and see if pain will subside and disappear on its own. Many people wait until they get to the point that the pain becomes a normal part of their everyday life.
- Do The Right Exercises – Taking initiative and actively searching out exercises to help your neck and shoulders is good in theory, but in practice, without professional guidance, the expected outcome is not that great. Professional guidance in the exercises and the progression of exercises that you take on helps ensure the stretching and strengthening of the right group of muscles without antagonizing any surrounding areas. That is a delicate balance that most internet search results will miss.
- Avoid Sitting Or Sleeping In Awkward Positions – Sitting with poor posture is difficult on the neck and shoulders even in the best conditions. Remember what it feels like to get out of the sofa after sitting for a while – you will feel stiff and tense even under the best of circumstances. When your neck and shoulders are already in pain, the resulting discomfort will be amplified. Beyond that, try to avoid awkward sleeping positions as best you can. Prolonged exposure to an awkward position will impact neck and shoulder pain.
- Hands On Manipulation – Stretching and strengthening exercises alone will most often not get your neck and shoulders into the shape that you want. Some physical manipulation is often required to facilitate the natural range of motion that is needed. A trained physiotherapist can help with that.
If you have been struggling with neck and shoulder pain, don’t wait any longer. Inquire about our initial consultations and get some more detailed information on our approach to treating chronic neck and shoulder pain.
