Shoulder pain and headaches are frequently treated by Osteopaths.
Shoulder pain isn’t always caused by the shoulder joint, for example problems in the neck can cause pain then is actually felt over the top of the shoulder and into the shoulder blades or in the upper outer arm – this is known as referred pain. If your shoulder pain is accompanied by a tingling sensation in your arm or hand, this is more likely to be caused by a problem in the neck.
Shoulder pain may also be part of rheumatoid arthritic conditions, or simply normal wear and tear (osteoarthritis) or injury. However, if you have right shoulder pain which you may also feel in the arm or even in the jaw and you feel unwell please see your GP as soon as possible as it may be a heart problem.
Headaches are commonly caused by over tight muscles, long-term muscle tension in the shoulders and neck pain may result in tension headaches. The tension is often associated with stress, anger, overwork, anxiety and posture. Some forms of migraine can stem from irritation of the nerves close to the neck vertebrae or may be triggered by muscle tension.
Headaches and migraines can often be relieved after osteopathic treatment. We help you by relaxing the tense muscles and take the pressure off the irritated nerves. We also can give advice on prevention.
