Karen – recovering from shoulder and neck pain
15 April 2026Eighteen months ago, Karen suffered a fall onto an outstretched hand whilst walking the Southwest Coast Path with her husband. This is a common mechanism known as a FOOSH injury. Although it initially seemed like a simple fall, Karen was left with ongoing symptoms that never fully settled. She experienced persistent shoulder and neck pain, along with pins and needles and occasional numbness down her arm. Despite giving it time and trying to manage the symptoms herself, improvement was minimal.
In November 2025, Karen visited the Hub to see Lucy, one of our osteopaths, for a detailed assessment. After discussing the history of the injury and carrying out a full examination, Lucy identified dysfunction around the left acromioclavicular joint (ACJ), likely related to the original trauma, alongside restriction through the upper ribs and neck.
Karen began a treatment plan combining hands-on osteopathic treatment with practical lifestyle advice. Early sessions focused on restoring movement through the shoulder, upper ribs and neck, while gradually reducing irritation in the surrounding tissues. As symptoms settled, Karen was encouraged to increase her daily activities to help restore function through the shoulder.
Progress was steady rather than immediate. Early milestones included reduced pins and needles, better sleep without shoulder pain, and improved confidence using the arm in everyday activities. Over time, Karen was able to move more freely, build strength, and tolerate more activity without flare-ups.
Now, Karen can do far more with her shoulder than she could for well over a year, with pain significantly reduced and nerve symptoms much improved. Karen has set her sights on another long walk, spanning 220 miles, along the Wales Coast path later this summer and is working hard to achieve this goal.
Karen’s journey highlights that even long-standing injuries can respond well to the right diagnosis, structured treatment, and consistent habits and lifestyle adjustments.
How we can help
We’re here to help you be your best. Our aim is to return you to comfortable and strong movement for a healthy, happy, pain-free life and we will support and guide you every step of the way.
Whether you’re experiencing problems with day-to-day activities or in achieving an important sporting goal, our Practitioners are kind, experienced and confident in helping you:
- Rehabilitate back, joint and muscle injuries and dysfunction
- Return you to, or improve your sport
- Prepare for or recover from surgery
- Recover from accidents
- Improve chronic pain
- Reduce discomfort from work-related issues
We focus as much on addressing the source of an issue as we do treating your painful symptoms, through a pathway of assessment and diagnosis, hands-on therapy, rehabilitation and education.
