How Years of Shoulder And Neck Pain Went Away Like Magic: A Success Story

This story is a fab example of how sometimes the area of pain isnt the problem, it's the victim. Niamh's story shows that looking at an area of pain in isolation isn't always enough, and that viewing the person and their history as a whole is necessary to figure out what is causing the pain and what needs to be done to fix it.

Her years of shoulder pain and weakness weren't caused by injury, but by something from when she was only 2 or 3 years old...

Thank you for sharing your story Niamh!

"Before coming to the HeathHub I was struggling with problems with my neck and shoulder (as well as a bunch of other pain). I was avoiding using my right arm for so many things which was really frustrating. My neck and shoulder would get sore after carrying even a light bag for any length of time, and if I carried heavy shopping I was guaranteed days of pain. In sports, I felt useless because I could barely use my right arm. I actually couldn’t throw a ball at all without it only going a few pathetic feet, and in jiujitsu I had to avoid falling on my right side altogether because otherwise my shoulder would be in pain for days afterwards. As an avid gardener who does lots of digging, planting and strimming, I found carrying heavy equipment or pulling weeds for any length of time meant I was pretty much guaranteeing myself shoulder pain after. Even just reaching forwards to plant things was painful.

I was worried that seeing as I’m only in my 20s, this would get worse and worse as I got older and would become debilitating, leading to me being unable to do the things I love. But, I thought everyone put up with constant pain and that it was just a fact of life. I didn’t realise that you’re not supposed to go around hurting all the time and having to avoid certain activities. Eventually I had enough and decided that I needed to do something about the pain I was experiencing, or else it would only get worse.

Going to the HealthHub was amazing. For the first time I felt taken seriously. I had been to the doctor’s about knee pain before and had been brushed off and told it would get better with time and if it didn’t I could get surgery (in my teens???!). Because of this I didn’t seek help for any other pain I was getting. But when I finally went to the HealthHub I was listened to and told that there was something that could be done.

The treatment I received helped get rid of the neck and shoulder pain I had experienced most of my life. I thought my neck and shoulder were the problem, but they were actually overcompensating for the fact that I wasn’t really using my hands and lower arms. They were just kind of hanging out and not doing very much!

I hadn't ever had an injury to my neck or shoulder, so I wasn't sure what was causing this. Vic soon realised that it was because I had never crawled as a baby. I had skipped straight to walking and so had missed out key developmental stage, and this had a knock-on affect on how I used my hands, arms, shoulders, trunk and neck.

We worked on activating my hands and arms with very easy exercises, which meant that my neck and shoulder didn’t have to overwork. As a result, they freed up and the pain went away, like magic. Since then I have been doing pilates classes twice a week and this has helped so much in making sure the pain stays away and I keep my hand and arm strength up! I can even now do a press up! Something I’ve never been able to do. 

If I hadn’t gone to see the HealthHub I don’t think I’d be enjoying the active life I have now. I am able to spend lots of time outdoors, hiking even with heavy packs, working at a permaculture farm which involves a lot of heavy lifting and digging, and doing all the different sports I enjoy. All without having to worry that pain will be set off again.

Thanks to the HealthHub, I can look forward to a long future of being active and knowing that if something does go wrong and gets sore, there is something that can be done about it and the HealthHub is there to help. I feel empowered and confident in my body and not completely at the mercy of injuries and pain.

If you’re in pain, just give the HealthHub a call. There is absolutely no reason to remain struggling in pain and feeling frustrated with your body. Why spend your life having to avoid activities you enjoy, or not being able to get the most out of life? It’s absolutely mad when you completely have the power to change things, you just need a helping hand to show you what to do."

I hope this story has inspired you to know that whether or not you've had an injury, there is something that can be done to fix your pain. You don't have to suffer, we are here to help and we will look at you as a whole person, not just your area of pain.

If like Niamh, you suffer from neck and shoulder pain, you can download our FREE guide of how to get rid of it, by clicking here. Or you can give us a call on 01548 852 355 or contact [email protected] to speak to someone about how we can help you get rid of your pain for good

With love,

Vic

and the HealthHub Team

P.S. If you want to know more about how to get rid of neck and shoulder pain for good click here for our FREE report on what to do!