I'm so frustrated!! I've had neck (trap)and upper back pain for almost a year now. It would come and go. Now it is "going" almost constantly. I went the medical route first....muscle relaxers, anti-inflammatory drugs and rest....for about 2 weeks. It helped temporarily. (I HATE taking muscle relaxers....they make me feel tired and lazy!)The minute I stopped taking them and tried to swim, it came back.
I went to a chiropractor. He did X-rays and said my neck was straight. It is supposed to have a slight backward curve...sort of a natural "shock absorber" for your spine. He also said my neck (cervical spine) is shifted big time to the left.....explains why it hurts on the right! :doh: He said my trap muscles have been doing all the "shock absorbing" and had many knots in them on both sides. He also said my pec muscles were too tight and pulling my traps I've been going THREE times a week to get adjusted by the chiropractor. I've been stretching, icing and not swimming. The only thing that has helped is massage...and that's not in my budget! It doesn't seem to be getting better.:shakeshead: :cry: I finally went "swimming" Thursday to try to stretch it out. The doctor said it was ok as long as I didn't push it! I thought I would just kick a lot. I did try to swim some EASY strokes. It tightend up real fast! I ended up kicking on my back and doing a lot of vertical kicking in deep water. Any advice?
Parents
Former Member
I had neck and back pain o the point that I was unable to sleep and my Dr. prescribed physical therapy. I was able to get relief from it, it was covered by insurance and the therapist gave me exercises to do at home for maintenance. Being aware of my posture was a big thing I needto work on as well as sleeping on my side with only one pillow for my head only. He suggested I roll a small towel to support my neck at the base of the pillow too.
Fortunately I mentioned my trouble to my swim coach and she told me I was bringing my thumbs up too far (almost to my armpit) which is how another coach taught me. I eased up on that, still do the exercises and haven't had the need to go back. My Dr. is an MD and also an osteopath. Good luck - I hope you get relief soon.
I had neck and back pain o the point that I was unable to sleep and my Dr. prescribed physical therapy. I was able to get relief from it, it was covered by insurance and the therapist gave me exercises to do at home for maintenance. Being aware of my posture was a big thing I needto work on as well as sleeping on my side with only one pillow for my head only. He suggested I roll a small towel to support my neck at the base of the pillow too.
Fortunately I mentioned my trouble to my swim coach and she told me I was bringing my thumbs up too far (almost to my armpit) which is how another coach taught me. I eased up on that, still do the exercises and haven't had the need to go back. My Dr. is an MD and also an osteopath. Good luck - I hope you get relief soon.
