Here’s a quote from Lori.  This is just part of the email she sent about her shoulder pain relief success:

“When I read your article that explained how the muscles of the shoulder can become imbalanced – I knew I was on to something – you described many of my issues and the subsequent pain perfectly. I immediately put some of your tips into practice – the shoulder rolls, the arm circles and using the bed as a resistance training tool..and even though the movements were painful at first, I kept at it because it was a good pain, if that makes any sense.”

• Lori took action.
• It was uncomfortable but she continued.
• Lori feels better.

The shoulder rolls are lifting your shoulders and rolling them back, up and back, up and back.

The arm circles video is at http://budurl.com/CircleArms

The resistance training using your bed as a tool can be found in articles at http://SimpleStrengthening.com

And the ‘good pain’?  That is how it feels when your body says, “Whew!  That is exactly what I was waiting for!”

If you or a therapist presses into an area and it just hurts or feels ‘wrong’ that is not the place to press.  But when you or someone presses into an area that says to you, “Wow, that hurts!  Don’t stop!”  that is the place to treat.

So educate yourself.  Take advantage of the free information that is provided to you here and at my other natural pain relief websites.  You can find them at http://ThePainReliefCoach.com

And take action!  That is how you can get rid of your shoulder pain naturally.

But Mike in Miami is feeling better now and he wrote this very nice email message to me.  I want to share it with you because there is a very important message here.  I’ll tell you about it at the end:

Kathryn:

I’ve been meaning to write and tell you a HUGE “THANKS”.  Thanks for helping me
finally realize where my pain was originating and what to do to relieve it.

I’m confident I found your website through various google searches.  You see, I have
had back issues for decades.  I’m 53, tall and can still hear my mother “hold your
shoulders back”.  I didn’t.  I slouched. I had horrible posture, both sitting and
standing, and I sit at a computer 8 hours a day with my right arm up on the desk
“driving” that mouse.

I have had constant pain and muscle tightness under my right shoulder for DECADES.
I have also had alot of neck pain and stiffness that was also causing headaches.
Years and thousands of dollars of massage; lots of OTC pain relievers; prescription
muscle relaxers; yoga; heat pads; ice packs; the tennis ball in a sock trick -
NOTHING helped for more than a few days.

WELL, WELL, WELL….I found your website, plugged in my email address, read some,
read some more and did 3 of your exercises that I found for FREE:  backward shoulder
shrugs; pinching my shoulder blades; and the one where you lay on the bed and do the
windmill action with your arms.   I also am now “driving” that mouse with my left
hand/arm to give my right ones a rest…. I can honestly say that in a matter of
DAYS (not weeks or months) I found relief.  It was truly magical, amazing and I was
in total disbelief that I had found something so simple.  I surely thought that my
body was simply giving out and I would be forced to deal with this pain for the rest
of my life.

I write you obviously to say THANKS and tell you my story…but also to say that I
am sorry that I never actually purchased anything from you – and for that, I am
feeling guilty.

Please tell me how I can help you in your work.  Can you recommend something (your
own program) that I can purchase?  I live in Miami, FL and would like to help.

Thanks, Pain Coach.

Mike

That was very kind of Mike to offer to buy something from me but I am simply happy that he is feeling better.

Here’s the important message:  Mike found relief in a matter of DAYS.  He says it was truly magical and amazing because it was so simple. (Give your body what it needs and it can heal.  That IS simple.)

But here’s why it worked:  Mike took action.

He found the information that he needed and he took action.  THAT is the key and that is what you must also do to make your upper back or shoulder pain go away.

Mike found all of the information he needed for free.  It’s all here or at http://SimpleBackPainRelief.com

And if you need more help and want to check out my program to help you get rid of the knots in your back and upper back pain, please go to http://KnotsInYourBack.com

People (including professional massage therapists) often massage the rhomboid area trying to release the knot or pain there.  If it doesn’t release (relax) the knot or pain, that means the cause is somewhere else.

Let’s pretend your back pain is a dragon.  Sometimes “surrounding the dragon” will relieve the pain.  The “dragon” is the painful area.  If you pinch, roll, press or massage the latissimus or “lat” muscles on the outer sides of the back, that may help because they may be pulling on the “dragon.”  The dragon cannot relax and go to sleep while those muscles continue to pull on him.

And, there can be other causes for knots and pain between the shoulder blade and spine.

There is a muscle in the neck that causes pain in the rhomboid area. When nothing else works, that is the place to go to. If you go to http://CarpalTunnelPainReliefNow.com and look in the Video Category you will find a video that shows a massage professional treating that neck muscle. Also if you look in the Causes Category while you are there, you will find articles about the “muscle in your neck.”

If you go to http://SimpleStrengthening.com you will find articles about how to simply get strong back side muscles which will help prevent future occurrences by correcting your posture. Also, stretches to open and relax the muscles in the front of your chest and arms will help, too.

And, if you go to http://KnotsInYourBack.com you can claim a free report about how to get rid of the miserable knots in your back.

Rolling your shoulders is one way to get your shoulder muscles back into balance. It help them get “un-stuck.” What do I mean by “rolling”? Just watch the little video below.

I demonstrate how easily you can start making circles with your arms–2 different moves–that will help the muscles all around your shoulder. This gets the circulation going. It gets your muscles cooperating again. It will help relax your back and “massage” your arms.

Pay attention to the feelings in your shoulders, upper body and arms as you do these movements. Don’t worry if you hear a little “clunking.” That just means there is some imbalance. You may notice that it becomes less over time as your muscles get used to working together again.

If it’s very difficult to do these movements, then only do them to the best of your ability and comfort level until your shoulder muscles and joints become used to moving again. And remember: It’s your body and you always have to make the decision about what’s best for you.

Here’s the video.

The following request for help is very specific about the location of the pain: the bottom half of the shoulder blade and the outer side of the shoulder blade near the armpit.  Using a movement with the arm in front of the body makes it worse.

Here is the email:

“I really need your help for my shoulder problems from which I am suffering from past many years.

I am getting pain on my right shoulder, on the lower half of the scapula muscle(Teres minor and major area) of my shoulder. The pain exists at approximate all the time but increases if I repeatedly do an activity (A simple activity like holding a book will aggravate the pain). I can always feel their is a difference between my right shoulder and left shoulder because of the pain.

I have shown to many doctors and had done many tests but they could not come out with any conclusive results. Their advice was just to strengthen my shoulder muscles and to do some physical activity.

Whats the best way to strengthen my shoulder. Will joining gym will be a good option or doing Aerobics .

Please suggest if something better can be done.

Thanks,”

Here is my response:

Based on the information you gave me, here is my best thought.  You did not say you are right handed, but I bet you may be.  This area often becomes aggravated on the side of the dominant hand.

Thank you for your kind words about my website.  I appreciate the opportunity to be helpful to people.

Here’s what I suspect:  (a)  The muscles in the area you have pain can get “tight” because they are being overstretched (your arm is not next to your body, rather it is stretching forward to reach) OR (b) they can get tight because you hold your elbow slightly BEHIND you.

The solution for (a) involves:

• strengthening your back and there are simple directions at http://SimpleStrengthening.com
• stretching the muscles in your chest and the front of your arm
• bringing your arm into neutral when you work rather than reaching forward, and
• massaging the painful area and the area that surrounds it.

Massage and changing the position of your arm will also help (b).

So, what kind of massage will help?

In this case, the muscles that are involved are usually where the pain is so that is the area to treat.  You can use ice massage or ice packs, you can go to a professional massage therapist, or you can ask a friend or family member to “pinch” that area.

As the tissues have become tight, contracted, or bound together, pinching is an easy way to release them and get the circulation flowing again.  Yes, it will hurt a bit.  In fact, if it isn’t uncomfortable your helper isn’t pinching enough.

The idea is not just to pinch the skin but to grab as much of the muscle and tissue as possible and pinch or compress it for several seconds up to 30 seconds.  If they can do this to the whole area, that would be ideal.  Do several pinches.  Later, after perhaps 10 minutes or so, you will notice that the original pain has diminished or is completely gone.

You may also press into the area of the teres (armpit near shoulder blade) and yes, it will also be tender.  Tender or uncomfortable means it is tight and needs to be released.  You may be able to do this yourself or you may be able to accomplish it by laying on a tennis ball and using that as a tool to press against your lateral scapula (outside of your shoulder blade).  Again, ice massage is an option.

There is a lot of information about how to find a massage therapist who can specifically help you at http://CarpalTunnelPainRelief.com Just scroll through the Categories to Massage.  Look around at the other Categories, too, if you wish.

If you look at the Self Help Category, you will find more info that will be helpful even though you don’t have carpal tunnel syndrome.  Why?  Because all parts of our body are attached to every other part!

Here is one article that I think will help:

http://www.carpaltunnelpainreliefnow.com/2009/05/action-steps-to-reduce-relieve-carpal-tunnel-pain.html

This article covers a lot of what you need to get rid of the pain in your shoulder.

Please write again if you need more detail or want to add any additional comments or symptoms about your shoulder pain.

Best wishes to you for speedy pain relief,

Kathryn Merrow
The Pain Relief Coach

Chiropractor Greg Fors has written “A Complete Physical & Spiritual Guide To Healing Your Chronic Pain WHY WE HURT Your Total Self-Care Guide for Backaches, Headaches, Shoulder Pain, Arthritis and Fibromyalgia.”

Yes, that is a very long title, but perhaps that’s okay because it’s a very thick book.  Dr. Fors explains that pain can be healed.  He tells us the causes of pain, which he believes are 3:  physical, biochemical and spiritual.

Dr. Fors goes into the causes of pain, too.  Some of the causes may never have occurred to you.  He’ll tell you where the toxic chemicals that affect your health come from, and much, much more.

Why We Hurt is a logical, well-written, pretty easy to read pain relief book.

Do you carry a heavy purse or bag?

I have done many, many therapeutic massages on people who carry a heavy bag around. Sometimes it is work or school related, sometimes it’s just a huge, heavy “purse.” (More like a suitcase, actually.)

I have had happy women leave my clinic, smiling that their “shoulder pain is all gone now.” And, then I have to say, “Hey! Why are you hiking that shoulder up?” Well, the reason is because they’ve tossed the strap of their purse over their shoulder and hiked that shoulder up to keep the strap in place. Not good.

Do you have weak or poor posture?

If you have a forward head posture (your head is out in front of your body rather than over your shoulders) that puts a lot of strain on your poor back and shoulders. Forward head posture causes shoulder pain (and neck and back pain, and carpal tunnel pain, too.)

Are your chest muscles short?

Short or tight chest muscles pull your shoulders forward, rather than letting them be out to the sides of your body where they belong. Chest muscles can get short from posture habits that we have developed. They can also shorten when we use our chest (or pectoral) muscles way more than our back muscles. This causes pain in your shoulders, too. It doesn’t allow you to use your shoulders in the neutral fashion they were designed to work in.

What can you do to correct shoulder pain from these causes?

In the case of a hiked shoulder:

Carry a lighter bag (you really do not need everything in the immediate world for every possible event in your purse, honest. There are stores all over the place!) Or, if you need a large bag for work, consider a rolling suitcase or bag on wheels. (When I suggested that to a male client, he said, simply, “I can’t. I’m a guy.” But he could.) Or, instead of a shoulder bag, use a “fanny pack” or a “tummy pack.” Maybe not so easy to find, maybe not too stylish, but I love ‘em. Hands-free carrying so I can swing my arms and shoulders or use my hands to do things other than carry a purse. Or, carry your purse in the crook of your elbow, like a football.

In the case of forward head posture:

Begin a simple program to strengthen your whole backside. Think small. You don’t have to strengthen your whole body all at once. You can find lots of helpful articles at Simple Strengthening . Search the older posts, too.

In the case of short chest muscles:

Begin a simple stretching program to open and lengthen those muscles. Gravity and your bed are good tools to work with. Let your arms carefully hang off the side of the bed while you lie on your back. You will feel the muscles in front of your shoulders and arms stretching, as well as your chest muscles. Also, strengthening your back will help lengthen your chest muscles, too.

All of these things will help you get rid of your shoulder pain, and that’s a good thing.

You may also find more information at Simple Back Pain Relief. (<– click here.)