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Lasting Relief for Stiff and Painful Neck and Shoulders
We Take Neck and Shoulder Pain Personally
For the people at APC Physio, pain is personal. Especially the kind of neck and shoulder pain that causes our patients to miss out on life. That’s why we take a professional and personal approach to pain prevention and management through physiotherapy. We understand living with pain, waiting for treatment, and hoping against hope for pain relief. And we’re here to help.
Our clinics in Cork City and Fermoy welcome you with open arms and proven solutions. We make it our mission to understand your neck and shoulder pain and give you an action plan to take control of it. And we welcome a challenge.
Welcome to APC Physio!
Our Process is designed to not only get you pain free, but to also keep you that way - long term
People with neck and/or shoulder pain are often unsure if physiotherapy is the way to go. With so much information online, it’s hard to tell apart the benefits of physiotherapy and deep tissue massage or dry needling. After our initial assessment we can guide you on the best course of action for your situation.
Enduring pain is something that affects every aspect of a person’s life. But the greatest hurdle to fighting it is knowing the right way to address pain. Week in week out, we share our tried-and-tested solutions to help you get back to having a highly active lifestyle.
Not sure if you need help for you neck and shoulder pain?
Try out these self check exercises that Patrick demonstrates in the video below. If you notice any issues, its time to take action:
5 Tips to cure and avoid Neck Pain
What every person with neck pain needs to know
In this exclusive guide we’ll reveal:
- 5 simple tips guaranteed to cure your neck pain & improve your confidence
- Proactive steps to get your neck pain under control, once and for all
- Why rest and medication are not best
- How to start moving with confidence today and build a new you for years to come
Neck and Shoulder Pain FAQs
What causes my neck and shoulders to ache?
The neck and shoulders can become sore through injury, bad posture, or even awkward sleeping positions. The most common type of injury however for neck and right or left shoulder pain sufferers is soft tissue injury. Your muscles, ligaments, and tendons are examples of soft tissue. By their very nature, these tissues can become inflamed and sore due to strain or trauma. These can lead to a variety of injuries, including whiplash, tendonitis, torn ligaments, rotator cuff injury, and bursitis. Your APC Physio will readily diagnose the type of injury and offer you suitable treatment and effective relief.
What causes neck pain that radiates to shoulder blade?
When the pain radiates from the neck to the shoulder blade, this indicates nerve involvement. A common cause for radiating pain is an injury that causes nearby tissues to compress the nerves. This symptom is called cervical radiculopathy, or ‘pinched nerve’. It can be due to disc herniation, as seen in degenerative disc diseases like cervical spondylosis. Also, it can just as easily be caused by the kind of ‘wear and tear’ changes that people experience with age, such as arthritis. Our experienced and knowledgeable physiotherapists in Cork and Fermoy will be able to examine your neck and shoulders to diagnose your condition.
How long does pain in the neck and shoulder last?
Neck and shoulder pain are a common yet troubling ailment. With a change of posture, sleeping habits, or mattress, the pain usually goes away in a matter of weeks. During that time, over the counter pain relief may be used to reduce the pain temporarily, provided the doses are adequate and they do not interact with other medication.
Can this pain indicate something serious?
Aside from the common causes of shoulder and neck pain mentioned above, there are a few conditions that are dangerous and even life-threatening. This includes organ abnormalities and bone conditions. Also, a broken shoulder blade or collarbone can cause right or left shoulder blade pain. This occurs due to falls and other types of trauma. But if this is a type of “referred” pain, then even if it is perceived as neck pain or pain between shoulders, it can have a very different origin. The cause could be a heart attack, gallbladder disease, or pleurisy, for instance. Highly trained physiotherapists can refer you for in-depth investigations, including private MRI scans and HIDA scans.
When to worry about neck and shoulder pain?
If neck, left or right shoulder pain lasts for more than 2-3 weeks, radiates down the arms or the legs, or comes with headaches, weakness, numbness, or tingling, it’s best to seek professional help. At APC Physio, we can help you get to the bottom of this pain quickly.
How do you relieve your neck and shoulder pain?
It’s not uncommon for people to receive conflicting advice, not just from friends and family, but also from the different professionals. The people that come to see us have usually tried it all. This includes physio, shoulder pain exercises, losing weight, changing posture, changing mattresses and pillows, having massages, applying compresses, taking over the counter medication, etc. but nothing seems to work. For this very reason, if you need help managing your pain, we recommend that you see an APC Physio for a bespoke pain relief experience.
Does massage help neck and shoulder pain?
There are various massage techniques, most of which aim to realign your tissues and relieve discomfort and pain between shoulder blades using pressure. Some work on the muscles, tendons, and ligaments, spine, neck, etc. However, not all of them are suitable for all types of pain. For example, there are times when weakness in a muscle causes the pain, and the only solution would be to exercise the muscle back to its former glory. At APC Physio, our experienced specialists can help where others have failed.
Does stress affect neck and shoulder pain?
Stress doesn’t cause neck or shoulder pain directly. But it can influence sleep patterns, posture, behaviours, and the way we perceive, respond to, and handle pain. By steering clear of situations that cause anxiety, burnout, and mental health conditions to manifest, people can minimise their physical discomfort. And when we’re exposed to stress, it helps to learn to improve the way the body responds to it. Your APC Physiotherapist can help you control your breathing, posture, and behaviour in times of stress to minimise the damage.
Is sleeping without a pillow better for your neck pain?
Pillows can align and support your spine while you sleep. But they are not made equal. Finding the right one for your sleeping position and habits doesn’t come easy when there are so many different types of pillows to choose from. Cervical pillows, memory foam pillows, bolster pillows, wedge pillows, V-shaped pillows, and goose down pillows are some of the most popular types. They can come with divots and grooves for better support, built-in gel pads for cooling, and high or low lofts to improve posture. If you’re not happy with your pillow, the staff at APC Physio can help you make the right choices for you.
Stay informed to manage your Neck and Shoulder Pain
We have prepared lots of valuable information for you regarding neck pain in our blog section, based on the latest research and drawing on our Physio’s expertise and extensive experience. New blog posts are added regularly here.
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