I had a problem about a year ago sort of similar to this -- I was sitting in my chair at work, and I started to stretch and then something went SPROING in the back of my neck and suddenly I had searing pain in one shoulder and couldn't turn my head.
I sort of got through it by applying heat regularly (a sock full of rice, microwaved, makes a good ad hoc heating pad) and waiting it out. It took a few days, though, I'm afraid.
I figured it was going to be one of those time-healing things. Most unfortunate. Thanks, though! I've been fighting it with my heating pad (best $30 investment ever, really) and I can sort of walk again, if I'm really careful about how I balance my weight, so that's a start.
As long as I can move a reasonable amount tomorrow, it can incapacitate me all day Thursday if it wants to.
As a frequent back pain sufferer, I feel your pain. All too literally. A few things that have helped me:
Liberal application of heat Ibuprofen or, preferably, naproxen sodium (I forget the brandname--generic works just as well). Be careful with the dosages on these, though, it's easier to do damage with them than with, say, Tylenol, though Tylenol won't be as effective. Lying on my back with my knees to one side, then the other. There's a yoga stretch like this, I think, and I find it helps my back a lot. A massaging showerhead aimed right at the source of the pain.
There are also pressure points all along the spine--try massaging gently on either side of it with your thumbs--this often helps me.
I find the Child's Pose in yoga to be very relaxing, and it helps with my back pain, but if you have any knee problems, I wouldn't rec it, as it is a bit hard on them.
The corpse pose (doesn't that sound lovely?) often helps, too, especially combined with deep breathing exercises. (But um, watch out. This one will knock you out.) Put very simply, it involves lying on your back, feet about shoulder width apart, hands at your side, eyes closed. Breathe deep from the belly, and picture the exhales going out through your toes.
...Yes. The weird sinking-into-the-earth sensation is, I'm told, totally normal.
When I had my back issues just awhile ago, Kam recommended Tiger's Balm, which is AMAZING. If you are feeling pain there, just rub some of it on and it tingles and takes it away. Worked wonders for me, and it even worked on me knee, and hell, I haven't NOT had knee pain in like 2 years so that's pretty damn awesome. Maybe it will help a bit!! At least to get through work and the like, that can be so draining... :) *hugs*
I've had a lot of experience with back issues. I've had compressed discs, muscle issues, and nerve issues. The good news is that there are things you can do to help, the bad news is that most of them take time. One key piece is figuring out what's making it happen. Possible culprits include, but are not limited to, stress, bad desk chair position, bad bed, lack of sleep, or exercise based pull. From what I've read of you lately, I'd suggest that stress combined with bad work position and/or bad bed are probably your culprits. Changing these things will help. Adding certain stretches to life will help. Hot baths will help. The biggest helpful thing that you can start right away and costs you no money, would be to wake up tomorrow and do 10 minutes of careful stretching right in your bed before even sitting up. (Having your back muscles loose before you start putting the day's demands on them helps TONS) Then, when you do go to sit up, don't sit directly up, but rather roll onto your side, then your front, and basically do a careful
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I consulted with sabrielrose, who's on her way to a medical degree (and fortunately does not seem to mind me importuning her with odd questions every now and again) and she thinks I did something to it whilst sleeping last night which was then aggravated by the terrible chair at work.
I'm heat-padding it and we'll hope that does something. If it doesn't get fixed in the next few days, I have a physical therapy appointment on Monday for a different issue, so perhaps they can poke at that as well.
It's strange, because I usually carry stress either right under my shoulderblades, or where neck meets shoulder. If that were the case I could make sad eyes at one of the roommies until I hit upon a successful bribe for back rub. (Also I'm far more used to that kind of pain than this.) This is more like something in the back of my hip - in that area between waist and the top of one's rear end, and it hurts when I sit up straight or when I walk.
Heating pad is making it somewhat better, though :) And I will definitely try stretches tomorrow.
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I sort of got through it by applying heat regularly (a sock full of rice, microwaved, makes a good ad hoc heating pad) and waiting it out. It took a few days, though, I'm afraid.
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As long as I can move a reasonable amount tomorrow, it can incapacitate me all day Thursday if it wants to.
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Liberal application of heat
Ibuprofen or, preferably, naproxen sodium (I forget the brandname--generic works just as well). Be careful with the dosages on these, though, it's easier to do damage with them than with, say, Tylenol, though Tylenol won't be as effective.
Lying on my back with my knees to one side, then the other. There's a yoga stretch like this, I think, and I find it helps my back a lot.
A massaging showerhead aimed right at the source of the pain.
There are also pressure points all along the spine--try massaging gently on either side of it with your thumbs--this often helps me.
I find the Child's Pose in yoga to be very relaxing, and it helps with my back pain, but if you have any knee problems, I wouldn't rec it, as it is a bit hard on them.
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My knees are frequently displeased with me, so I will probably have to pass on the yoga pose, unfortunately.
Silly muscles and their silliness. I am beginning to understand how it was that people at work miss like 3-4 days consecutively due to back issues.
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...Yes. The weird sinking-into-the-earth sensation is, I'm told, totally normal.
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Thank you again!
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I'm heat-padding it and we'll hope that does something. If it doesn't get fixed in the next few days, I have a physical therapy appointment on Monday for a different issue, so perhaps they can poke at that as well.
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Heating pad is making it somewhat better, though :) And I will definitely try stretches tomorrow.
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