Hi everyone
Im at the end of my tether (just about)! Ive got terrible stiffness and pain in my upper back, shoulders and neck. The muscles around the area feel like rocks and are not responding to massage or regular reiki treatments at all. After massage or reiki there is no reduction in the stiffness of the mucles, or no improved mobility whatsoever although it sometimes helps with the pain. As well as this, my neck and head are in a forward position and there is no way that I can straighten or move them back.
I have been practising yoga regularly for nearly three years now but with no relief or improvement through that either. As well as this I have been depressed lately (maybe because of this). I have been to the Doctors about both issues seperately. All she did was feel my shoulder muscles and suggest I go for a massage. I told her I had and that it didn't help. Then she referred me to the physiotherapist, but from what I gather I can't see this being able to improve my position either.
What has got me mostly is that the Doctor seems to think that there is nothing wrong with me and thet I just need a massage and to relax. I have told her that I do yoga and meditation daily to relax but it doesnt seem to be getting through. What I really want is to find out what it is that is wrong with me so that I can start to sort it out. I am thinking of going to a chiropractic to see if I can get any improvement with that. How can the Doctor act like there is nothing wrong with me when she hasn't even looked at my back and shoulders? Surely you cannot diagnose anyone just by feeling their shoulder muscles through clothing? I really have had enough of this. Anyone who bothered to look at and feel the muscles in my upper back, neck shoulders would be able to tell there was a problem, phd or not. I really despair of Doctors and have no faith in them whatsoever after my experiences of this and other things in the past.
Thanks for listening, does anyone have any ideas?
Donna
RE: Rant!
I would definitely go back to the GP and demand either a scan of some sort or some physiotherapy - you may be suffering from something more serious than muscle tension associated with stress. Even that can cause more acute problems as the pressure builds up.
You should have a scan of some sort or be sent for physiotherapy where you should get an assessment.
Another possibility would be to get yourself to a cranio-sacral therapist.
Some more ideas that have come from my experience of dealing with people with neck and shoulder issues.
-it may be to do with eyesight
- it may be to with misaligned teeth - a visit to an orthodontistcured a client I had been struggling with for months
- staying with the jaw theme - if your jaws are tense your neck and shoulders will suffer. Try placingthe tip of your tongue in your palate and feel your chewing muscles switch off
-take the weight off your shoulders by placing small cushions under your armpits - this will switch off your trapeziusmuscles
- focus your reiki on the front and side of your neck rather than on the back and shoulders. Work lightly down from the mastoid processes (the bones beneath the ears), thinking about the muscles which attach to the transverse spines of the cervical vertebrae (side of the neck bones). Alsofollow the lines of the sternocleidomastoid and scalenes as they are responsible for pulling your head forward. You may find that as you help these muscles release (you can wiki them if you don't know where they are) your head will release back to where it should be - above the rib-cage - and your upperback etc muscles will be relieved of their load.
- try opening up the front of your chest, lengthening your collar bones so that your shoulders feel like they are falling down your back - don't push them back
- walk "heart first" rather than "head first"
- envisage your head floating upwards - imagine your head is a helium balloon
- it may be to do with hair! - a client who had a really thick and very long head of hair found her upper body health changed when she had her tresses cut!
Hope something is appropriate for you, and if not, that you get it sorted soon.
Sharon
RE: Rant!
Personally and having suffered with my back in the past i would ask for a second opinion. You could always make a complaint to the practice manager that you feel you were unfairly treated. I got so fed up myself with being fobbed off i took advice off a friend and went to a specific gym in London because i was at the stage where i could hardly walk and would have ended up in a wheelchair if i'd carried on listening to the doctors i spoke to.
I got a programme set up for me and not only did i shape up and got healthier my back was getting stronger and stronger. If i could swim better i'd have taken up swimming because i love being in water and find it very relaxing. It also helped with my depression because i ended up putting on so much weight being unable to walk or do any form.
I use Badger Balm Muscle Rub when i've been to the gym and it works a treat. I also use glucosamine gel or glucosamine patches whichever i can find first and i always keep them around the house just in case i need them.
Hope you start to feel better soon!
Clare x
RE: Rant!
Hi Donna,
I think my reply can't be published, so I pmed you!