Pain relief tips please!

From my studies I have developed a bad area in my neck and shoulder from my bending over the books, and now I have a recurring spot at the top of my back near my neck where the muscle is knotted up and spasmodic, causing about a week of little sleep and no school work getting done. :-(

When I went to my GP in March for this she gave me a high dose of Iboprufen which helped immediately, but this time it, or any other pain reliver, doesn't help at all. Any tips from this group on home remedies I can try myself?

After this gets better I plan to go to a physiotherapist to learn some exercises to strengthen my upper back and shoulder/neck area, as well as get tips for better posture while working.

I am at the end of my rope with this incessant pain as it feels like a knife twisting in my back almost constantly. No position gives it any relief.

Any advice very appreciated.

:hi:

DemEx

My rec'd is to go for an acupuncture session. I was shocked, several years ago, when I had one 15 minute treatment for what I thought had become a permanent back/neck/shoulder problem- presto, it was gone and when the needles were removed I was completely pain free AND my range of motion was totally restored.

I also find small (dime sized) bio magnets to be very helpful in relieving pain. You can find these in your local health food store.

Best of luck! I do hope you are feeling better soon.

a muscular problem at this point. (Maybe your spine is out of alignment as well.) I have a real problem with my muscles tightening up as well. Once a week, I get deep tissue massage therapy. It really, really hurts while it's being done, but it has helped me so much. There's a man who does it at my chiropractor's office.

I will be sending you healing energy!

:hug:

My husband has two conditions which cause chronic pain and acupuncture has helped him. I've tried to get him to have treatments regularly but he waits until he's incapacitated. Oh well. I think you are absolutely on target in working on your posture. Good luck with this.

I went to an acupuncturist for a bad lower back problem, after eyars of getting cortisone shots in the spine.

She fixed it in about 3 weeks.

weeks.

You are suffering from pinched nerves because your vertabrae are starting to rub against each other. I have had the same problem for years. Now they have medication that can regenerate the cushions between the vertebrae, so combined with the physical therapy that pulls the vertebrae apart you should be able to make yourself more comfortable after a few months. The ibuprofen is necessary to reduce the inflamation. I have also found pain patches especially the ones with hot chilis in them to really help as well, especially while gardening.

Also, the physical therapists might be able to fashion a brace for you to wear while you are hunched over so that you don't fall into that position while studying. I would go to a bone doctor if you can manage too. (I can't remember their names off hand, oseto..somethings). Your GP doesn't have all the tools he needs to address this. Also, the GP's tend to brush this off as inevitable while aging which doesn't help you and I know the pain can be excruciating.

I hope I was some help. Good luck.

I can use the advice and tips from all of your posts here.

Thanks!

Since giving birth "naturally" where I experienced the final contractions before actual bearing down as very high on the pain scale, I haven't had to deal with this.....and in giving birth it was all soon over and you had a precious baby in your arms for a reward! :D

Also, the thought of this being "permanent" pain can start working on my anxiety and depression levels....Yes, that is my disaster thinking pattern I have had as a friend all my life. :-)

Much appreciated, your replies!

:hi: :hug: :grouphug:

DemEx

I can PM you a script, and you can record it. It really will help!

Because I think I am an authority on this type of pain. All the posts on this thread say something important to solving this pain but I have just one to add:

Stretches.

What happens is when you do something repetitively over a period of time is that your muscles tighten up (as pointed out above). There are neck stretches you can do that will bring about relief in a relatively short period of time. I think I even have copies of the exercises and I will mail you a set if you PM me your address.

Wish I could scan it in but my scanner just went on the blink. Here is one of the stretches, although my authority says to do it while lying on the floor and bringing the head up, then counting to 10. Repeat three times. There is more to it than this, though, so that's why I'd like you to have the stretches.

http://www.stretch.com/stret-10.htm

The stretching actually lengthens the muscle fibers and then the back and neck can return to their normal position. Until they've lengthened, though, you might have to work with a chiro.

A lot of this depends on how long this has gone on. If it's only a recent phenomena, you might not have to spend much time with the chiro. But in my case it took years to straighten out the problem. Now I know the secret (stretching) and I haven't had go back to the chiro.

Good luck with this. I sure know how awful it can be.




Cher

I have a chronic stiff, tight, painful spine, from tip to tail, and have suffered spasms before. Here are some of the things that have helped:

1. Stretches.

2. Cold, then heat. Hot tubs before any stretch or massage!

3. Deep tissue massage

4. Cranial sacral therapy.

5. Reiki

6. chiropractic

7. Accupuncture: I put this last because of an interesting occurrence. Having an absolute needle phobia, I avoided accupuncture at all costs. In my early 20s, I woke up with symptoms similar to what you describe. A shooting pain in my left shoulder/neck that was so severe I could not only not move my head, arms, or shoulders, but certainly didn't want to chew, sneeze, or yawn. It lasted a few weeks, with a small amount of movement gradually returning until I was functioning normally again. The pain never completely left, though. There was a spot on my left shoulder blade that was a little sore, and would give little twinges, for the next 2 decades. This was in the days when we had no health insurance and I was scrambling to make sure I could feed the kids every day, so I never sought any treatment. So, forward a couple of decades: I'd been getting Reiki for a serious head/spine injury, and the practitioner always stopped by that left shoulder; more than one practitioner commented that the spot seemed to "grab" the energy. I finally decided to do something, and went to an accupuncturist. I did a few months of treatment, and the twinges went away. My shoulder and neck moved freely for the first time in decades. But...as soon as I quit treatment, I noticed something very odd. The "twinge" switched shoulders. Almost as if something was driven out of that spot, but not out of my body. It took residence in the corresponding spot on the other side, and is still there. I'm pondering all of the above treatments this summer to address it again. I've also noticed this during massage; a tension will migrate away from the pont of pressure, into another spot.

I might "sequence" work something like this:

1. Reiki first; it requires no touch, and no movement on your part.

2. Accupuncture next; little touch or movement

3. Ice, hot tub, massage

4. Series of stretches

5. Chiro or cranial sacral, or both

Feel better!

all these can help significantly

In the acute stage, I have had particularly good luck with acupuncture for this same syndrome. Not everyone responds the same way, but it is absolutely worth a try. You need to follow the course of treatment and have some patience, but I have seen dramatic results.

I was in a car accident and my neck was killing me, they gave me a neck brace but it did not
fit and so my boss told me to get a tea towel and 2 large safety pins. Roll up the tea towel
like a napkin and put it under your head to take the weight off your neck, pinning it so
that it fits around your neck like a halo. She also said to take Tylenol PM because she says that there is no healing without rest.

it might help. I now sleep with a rolled-up towel under the edge of my pillow. It helps to keep my neck in alignment when I sleep on my side. Sometimes if my neck and shoulders are tense, I will lie down flat on my back for a good long while with the towel roll under my neck. Use a large bath towel, fold and roll it as tightly as you can to make a very firm 4" roll, then secure it with large rubber bands. I use the kind that come on broccoli bunches.

Also, you might try standing under the shower with water running on it as hot as you can stand it. Then apply ice and keep it in place until the spot is pretty numb.

Hope you get relief soon. :hug:

It's easy to find - I think even Walgreens carries this now. Apply every 3-4 hours.

My husband found wonderful relief for chronic back pain using the Alexander Technique.

Speedy healing!

it won't heal if you don't change your habits so you need to address that too and get your study space more ergonomic BUT

you can get manganese at any good supplement store, usually in 60 mg tabs for about $8. take 10-15 immediately. you should repeat with 4-8 more in 12 hours. once you reach "bowel intolerance" (think of geese reliving themselves (*ICK*) back off to 2-3 a day for a week then 1 every other day or so for maintence.

it should help with the pain within a day and will help your spine heal IF you stop the injurious actions.

I'm so sorry you are in pain and the stretching opposite of the action that is causing pain will help a lot too.

feel better soon! and the manganese is a cheap fix and even if it doesn't help, since it is a trace mineral it won't hurt you either.

Good luck and TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF!! :hug:

It takes me by surprise still......:grouphug:

Thanks everybody for all of your wisdom and experiences.

I am using the ice packs and the neck support while lying down which offer some relief, and Monday I get back to my Homeopath for his approach. He gave me Rhus Tox and Byronia on Friday, so still trying out these remedies as well. I did notice I have much less stiffness in my knees this morning.....:think:....so Rhus Tox might be doing its work there as well...:evilgrin:

The advice on posture and stretching is vital I think for getting through my final study year in 2007 as well as the remaining 2 months of this term! And I have looked up Chiroprators and an Acupuncturist here in my area to add to my arsenal if necessary. I have also heard of a Bowen technique for massage, and Reiki is a possibility too.

I also bought a tube of Homeopathic gel with arnica (and other stuff) which I have been rubbing in since yesterday.....and I was taking extra magnesium,(for the crampings) so now will look into the mangnese as well.....LOL.... acute pain makes a person use all of the guns one can get! :D

I had only one bout of this in March, so after this week and a half it hasn't been too long- term - hope to get it nipped in the bud! Too bad I didn't use preemptive care to avoid this, because, man, it hurts like hell and really wears a person down after a while....

Once again, I think you all for sharing your ideas and experiences!

:grouphug: :loveya:

DemEx

I have had such bad pain in the very same area I could not move.
X-rays revealed a bulging disc in my neck, probably from all the book
and computer work I do. Also from all the sitting I do, the lower
back was a problem, which then misaligns the whole neck area.

The only thing that worked long term is physical therapy which
helped a great deal. They worked on the whole spine getting it in shape!
And strengthed the muscles.

Short term pain relief: pain patches (here in the states it is
just like Novocain in a patch, and then oral meds like Flexeril.)
Ice or heat on the neck and shoulder. Acupuncture also helps.
And massage of the area helps as well.

When you read, elevate your books to eye height (stack books on
pillows) so you are not bending your neck.

Think about it, your head is like a bowling ball on the top of
your poor neck. The neck take quite a beating.

Good luck, I feel your pain :(

1. Arnica gel has already been mentioned and also comes in a systemic homeopathic form.

2. This is one of my "19 tricks or Weapons of Massive Reintegration for Global Amelioration." . . .

"12. I stole this one from now rumored to be reincarnated, though used to be,
old "sleeping prophet" Edgar Cayce. Take baths. If you have no
bathtub available, then bathe around. Aaaand don't tell me that you
have no extra time for baths, as baths take about 15 minutes, showers
take 5-10. No one is really that busy or all too important to do so.
Cayce recommended adding 1 part baking soda to 2 parts Epsom Salts
for baths. That stuff is really cheap. and readily available. I add
my fave oil (lavender). You can add yours. Ritual full immersion is
an age old, time & tried tradition for more than just physical
purification. Especially is so for more sensitive sorts. It is great
to do during lunations. That would mean, once every two weeks or so.
It is alleged to release all sorts of accumulated psychic effluvia
from bodies and auric fields . I just know that when I take one, I
invariably feel reborn, and am reminded that I too have a life,
instead of contemplating the troubles of others all the time as is my
inherent proclivity."

3. Apres le bath. Yee old ancient Chinese technique. Not that they've really had tennis balls for all that long. Take two tennis balls and shove them into a spare sock. Everyone pretty much has one of those thanks to the dryer pranksters and Visogoths. Tie a knot over the tennis balls so they are really scrunched closely together. Lie on a flat surface, either the bed or the floor (no pillow) and cradle that bone that protrudes at the nape of your neck between the two tennis balls. Do this for no longer than 20 minutes lest you become a conehead. You'll feel as though you grew two inches in doing so. It's so simple, it really works. My friend who is a big muck a muck in the Acupuncture world has saved folks thousands of dollars and a boatload of pain with this simple and totally affordable technique.

4.Procure some Yunnan Paiyao from your friendly neighborhood Chinese Market. WARNING: do not do this if you are on Beta Blockers. They are contra indicated with Beta Blockers. If you are not taking any of those. This is a far better anti inflammatory which reduces inflammation and increases circulation. Take 3, 4 x a day. They cost under 10 bucks. Ask for the pills instead of the powder because the powder tastes like dirt.

There is a small pill at the top of the package that is called "a bullet." The is a concentrated dose that is to be taken immediately after an injury. My kid gets a total kick out of that.

Feel better love.

when I am sitting at the desktop computer. Something about the way I hold myself causes that muscle to knot up. Massage is the only thing that has helped me...I have to get DH to dig his fingers in hard in the area on the muscle;after awhile it releases.
The suggestions upthread are the best--deep tissue, acupuncture, heat. I also have a hot tub....aaahhhhh!
Hope you feel better!

doing stat typing all day. It turns out, now that I learned about it, that the desk height, the chair height and the position of the typewriter and the copy I was typing from were all in the wrong place. I couldn't bitch about it back then. They would have considered me a troublemaker, but today there is plenty of proof that this can happen.

Try to adjust your work situation into positions, lighting and space that doesn't knot you up.