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?
Beth, I'm so sorry about your pain. I know it can be frustrating not being able to swim. I hope the chiro and other docs have sone answers. My sister has a great massage therapist in Atlanta. My sister does long tris and trains so much she has to massag out the knots a lot. We also have an awesome shoulder doc there, too. He's a bit hard to get into but so worth it (he did my knee surgery in 1999). If you want some names and phone nubmers, let me know.
Alison
YES! Please let me know!!!
I think a lot of times people, especially when they are young neglect the stretching part of working out. Then over time, our muscles just get all bunched up, and it becomes almost impossible to stretch out. I know people at my age who can no longer hold their arms over their head, they no longer have the shoulder flexibility from lack of use and stretching. I have always stretched, but it is just this year I started adding yoga in twice a week, and it has really improved my flexibility, and leaned my muscles out.
I'm ready to leave yesterday! Not a bad idea!
Thanks for your support and encouragement Cathy. My husband's company is doing their annual insurance renewal right now. You better believe I'm researching for the one that pays for massage/alternative treatments. I've already had one shoulder surgery....I will do everything in my power to not go through that again. The rehab stinks!
Dorthoyde, I'm trying yoga at the gym. I've only gone once but can already see how it would help! Good advice!
Fort, I'm going to ask the ortho that did my shoulder surgery about options you have mentioned. I really respect him and feel he would know what route is best for me. Thanks for sharing your knowledge and research with me!
Even if something is technically not covered, you can appeal the initial denial of coverage if your doc will write a letter of necessity. My Hubby appealed the denial of prolo for his hamstring and won. I'm going to do the same. Although my understanding of PRP is that it can be covered. You need a really excellent experience doc for these procedures though! Good luck with the insurance. If I had more time, I'd definitely do yoga.
Beth I am so sorry that you are really not feeling well. I know how frustrating it is not to be able to do the things we love to do.
It sounds like you have several things going on and that it is going to take some time to heal. I hope you can find a cheaper place for a massage. I get one weekly and know that they are my saving grace. I pay $50 for 45 minutes but my benefits from work pay for them.
I dont have tons to offer other than my support.
Get well soon
Katie
I'm ready to leave yesterday! Not a bad idea!
Thanks for your support and encouragement Cathy. My husband's company is doing their annual insurance renewal right now. You better believe I'm researching for the one that pays for massage/alternative treatments. I've already had one shoulder surgery....I will do everything in my power to not go through that again. The rehab stinks!
Dorthoyde, I'm trying yoga at the gym. I've only gone once but can already see how it would help! Good advice!
Fort, I'm going to ask the ortho that did my shoulder surgery about options you have mentioned. I really respect him and feel he would know what route is best for me. Thanks for sharing your knowledge and research with me!
Beth, look into reflexology. Foot massage. You can research the web or buy a book you may be able to help yourself with self treatment there...it does work.
I've had neck and back problems that seem to go away when I start doing pull ups or pull down machine. I believe as we get older the vertebrae compress and stretching them by hanging (pull-ups/pull downs) help decompress (just an idea). Is it possible that one of your muscle groups gets more work than the opposing group (chest / upper-back, stomach/lower-back, shoulders/lats)? A couple weeks working the weaker opposing group may help. Good luck with that pain in the neck. Both back pains and neck pains can get depressing so don't give up and I know you'll find a cure.
Two things I've found to help (although my neck pain is very secondary to other issues I have to I found these for the other issues first): swimming wiht a center mount snorkel it lets my neck muscles relax and sometimes I even find stroke changes that stretch my upper back a little, Feldenkrais http://www.feldenkrais.com/ Classes are quite inexpensive and then you can use books and DVD's at home, it seems hokey when you start but hte results can be quite amazing not all classes are listed on this website so do some checking locally, the movements are so gentle at the least they fall in the do no harm catagory.
Thanks for all the advice and encouragement. I went to my MD and he referred me for phyical therapy and a MRI. Hopefully this is just a muscle imbalance and not a disc or spine problem. I'll keep you posted!
I went to PT today for an evaluation and treatment. The physical therapist said I am a "mess"! :( I have many muscle imbalances and scoliosis. He showed me a different stretch for my neck and really took the time to figure out where my pain was coming from. I really like him and hope and pray he can help me!! He said no exercise for a week.....only stretching. I hope I can swim some time soon!!:fish2:
