We wanted to share Laura’s story, as it is one we often see at goPhysio. Laura is a 49 year old, Chandlers Ford resident. A busy Mum of teenagers, a desk worker – often at a laptop. She enjoys holidaying, walking her dog and is someone who values being fit and active.
Laura came to see us a few weeks ago. She had just returned from her summer holiday the previous week and was really suffering with neck pain that was giving her headaches, waking her up throughout the night and impacting her ability to focus at work and generally making her feel really down. She was exhausted and having to take regular painkillers to get through the day. Sound familiar?
She’d had some neck pain before her holiday, but whilst away it had completely disappeared – only to return with a vengeance.
During Laura’s first appointment, we really delved into the history of her neck pain. Lot’s of questions helps us really hone in on what triggers it and what might be the underlying cause. This in turn guides us on what to look for during our physical examination.
What we found. Laura’s movement was really restricted in her neck. She was in a lot of pain, that went up into the base of her skull and down into the muscles in her back too. From the questions, discussion about her neck issue and from examining her neck, we identified some key issues.
She is often working at her laptop. When she demonstrated what position she tends to sit in, it was typical of many we see. Hunched over, head protruding forwards compressing a small area of her neck. As she works at least 6 – 8 hours a day at a laptop, this was the main factor. Her holiday obviously gave her a break from this, hence why, when the main cause was removed, the pain in her neck eased. The result was that Laura had some really stiff areas in her neck that weren’t moving well. She had also built up lot’s of tension in her neck and back muscles and even up into her jaw area.
So, what was the solution? We took an approach that tackled a number of issues:
- During her first appointment, we did some ‘hands on’ treatment that helped to release the tight soft tissues in the area and some gentle movements in her neck to try and help ‘free up’ her movement. This provided instant relief, so Laura left her appointment in less pain (and had her best nights sleep in over 2 weeks we’re happy to report!)
- We gave Laura a couple of exercises to do – just a few, so as not to overwhelm her. But these were targeted to help regain movement in her neck and ease the tension in the muscles.
- Next up was education and advice. This part is critical. Laura was only with us for 45 minutes, and with a few days until her next appointment, what she does in between her sessions is so important. With Laura’s case we explained exactly what was going on, offering reassurance and hope (a huge part of what we do) and discussed what she should do day to day to help ease her pain and optimise recovery. This included things like using heat a few times a day to ease tension, breaking up her working day, being aware of her posture and a huge but critical change, her desk set up!
- Having identified that Laura’s laptop was likely the biggest issue, her desk set up had to be addressed. Without looking at that, Laura could be stuck in a cycle of pain / recovery (and actually on probing further she did say she’s had mild neck pain on and off for a few years). So, we talked through options and Laura agreed to set up a separate screen, keyboard and mouse at home (where she works mostly). This would be at eye level so that her neck would be in a better position. Laura also agreed to try an orthopaedic pillow with neck support (like this) to try and make sure her neck stayed in a better position at night and to see whether it helped her sleep. (You can also use a small rolled up towel with your pillow, placed inside the pillow case).
We booked Laura in for a follow up session a few days later. She was delighted with her progress after a few days. She was sleeping better, pain levels had
reduced by over 50% and movement had increased. We continued ‘hands on’ treatment, getting a bit deeper into the tight areas and mobilising the neck joints to free them up and did some acupuncture treatment too. We also added an additional exercise to start working on the strength and stability of her mid back, as that plays a key part in issues like this.
We are delighted that Laura has continued to progress and is now pain free. Laura is thrilled with her new desk set up and confident going forwards. Because she’s finally got on top of this issue, Laura now wants to make sure she stays that way. So the plan is to have a regular soft tissue massage to help ensure tension in her neck and back doesn’t build up and also start Pilates classes to help strengthen her postural muscles and improve overall body awareness and movement. Overall, a real win!
So, what’s the magic solution? It’s a concept that we apply to most issues:
- We clearly identify the current issue, work on that to relieve pain and restore movement
- We find and address the underlying cause – a crucial step. If this is missed, what’s to stop it coming back?
- We use a range of treatments, that combine manual therapy to ease pain and help you move again, so that you can exercise and move better. It’s not a ‘one size fits all’ approach.
- We make sure you fully understand what is going on and our recommended plan of action, based on your individual goals and lifestyle, so that what we offer is realistic and achievable for YOU!
