Teresa Patient Review

Persistent Inner Shoulder Blade Pain — Significant Relief After the First Treatment

Patient Background

This patient had been experiencing discomfort around the inner border of the shoulder blade and upper back for more than six months.

At first, the symptoms were mainly a dull aching, tight and heavy sensation. Sitting for long periods, working for extended hours or becoming physically tired would make the discomfort noticeably worse.

Because the symptoms initially seemed relatively mild, the patient did not think it was a serious problem. She managed it herself with a massage device and sometimes asked her husband to massage or tap the painful area.

However, during the most recent week, the symptoms became much worse.

The pain began disturbing her sleep at night. Sitting for even a moderate period at work caused marked aching and tightness, and she frequently needed to stand up and move around for relief.

The discomfort also began spreading from the inner shoulder blade region into the shoulder and upper arm.

Teresa’s Clinical Assessment

When Teresa examined her, she did not think this was simply a local muscle strain or a shoulder problem.

Based on the pain pattern, radiation into the shoulder and upper arm, aggravation with prolonged sitting, and the clinical examination, Teresa considered whether irritation or entrapment of the dorsal scapular nerve might be contributing to the symptoms.

Because the dorsal scapular nerve is closely related to the scalene region in the neck, treatment was not focused only on the painful area around the shoulder blade.

Teresa also addressed tension through the neck and scalene muscles and other related tissues.

Patient Feedback

After the first treatment, the patient reported a significant reduction in pain.

She had previously regarded the problem as ordinary muscular tension and had tried massage for many months, so the change after treatment surprised her.

In her Google Review, she wrote:

“This time, Teresa treated me, and after just one session, my pain was reduced by around 70%!

By my third session, I experienced something truly amazing. For the first time since my injury, I realised just how light, relaxed, and flexible my shoulder could feel. What an incredible feeling!”

— Google Review

The patient reported approximately 70% pain reduction after the first session. By the third treatment, she described her shoulder as feeling lighter, more relaxed and more flexible.

Teresa’s Clinical Reflection

The most important part of this case was not simply the amount of pain relief after one treatment.

It was identifying that the painful area might not be the true source of the problem.

If the symptoms had continued to be treated only as local muscular tension around the shoulder blade, the underlying pain pattern may have been missed.

This case reinforces a simple clinical principle:

Where the patient feels pain is not always where the problem begins.

Careful assessment and localisation can change the whole treatment direction.