Long weekend!

[oyceter]

I feel I didn't get much done this weekend except sleep. Then again, I have been woefully sleep-deprived the past week (all my own fault), so this is probably a good thing. On the other hand, it means I missed the farmers' market again! I had to go to Whole Foods for tomatoes, and I bet they don't taste as good.

I also got to see laurashapiro on Sunday at JTown and saw The Bourne Ultimatum with a friend the night before. I can tell that I am really just not as into action movies any more, given that my largest reaction was that someone should have pulled the cord of the fax machine at a key point in the film. There was a small chance that the fax machine was the type that scanned first and then transmitted everything!

/geek

Mostly, though, the weekend has been me massaging my shoulders. I think extended computer use at work and at home (partly avoidable at home, completely unavoidable at work) plus falling asleep in the bathtub with the rats have given me horrible muscle cramps in my shoulder. On Monday, it was so painful that I had a hard time turning my head because something would twinge in my right shoulder. I ended up shelling out for a massage because of the ouch, and while it's better now in that it's not twinging painfully anymore, the crampy feeling is still there.

So am scheduled for another massage tonight, and I hope it helps, since the crampiness is now marching up my neck and down one arm.

May not be around online quite as much these days in an effort to keep upper back and neck pain at a low.

Any suggestions that do not involve shelling out lots of money for a massage highly welcome!

Comments

well,

[fresne.livejournal.com]

The chairopractor I go to has a plan that's two 30 min massages a month, one adjustement for $60ish. Given the hours that I put in at the computer, I consider it money well spent.

You might want to look around at the chairopractors nearer to you. They may have similar deals. Also, some malls these days do chair massage. That generally runs about 20-30 for a 15-30 min massage.

Re: well,

[oyceter]

Oooo that sounds pretty good. I should check what my health insurance does wrt chiropractors.

[the_rck]

I've occasionally had luck in helping that sort of thing by icing it and then stretching while the muscles are still cold. Heat packs can work well, too. I like the kind of heat pack that's cloth filled with rice. Fifty seconds in the microwave gets it hot enough to be useful. Small amounts of alcohol, if you can normally drink safely, if you aren't taking pain meds that contra-indicate it, can also help muscle spasms. The amount needed depends on how alcohol affects you. You want enough to relax a little without going beyond that-- Getting sloshed may help the pain, short term, but it often leads me to contortions that produce more pain.

Of course, all of that assumes a muscle problem.

[oyceter]

Thanks! Alcohol gets me sloshed pretty fast, so it'd probably just take half a glass of wine ;).

[the_rck]

Using alcohol as a muscle relaxant is a challenge because dosing is so idiosyncratic and situation dependent. Also, while it's a tool that works, it's not something that most people think of as quite right-- Kind of like how one could do surgery with a really good set of chef's knives but mostly wouldn't because that's not what chef's knives are for.

[fmanalyst.livejournal.com]

No real suggestions, just similar pain as I've been having a lot of trouble with my left shoulder. I think my new desk at work has ergonomic issues.

[oyceter]

Urgh, yes. I'm pretty sure my desk set ups are fairly good -- probably not the best, but I make the work ergonomic evaluator person come and check me out, and I switch hands when I mouse (left at work, right at home). But it's just the sheer number of hours.

[fmanalyst.livejournal.com]

My new desk is too tall for me, and it doesn't have a keyboard drawer yet. I don't think we have an ergonomic evaluator. Wish we did.

I don't know if you have a regular orthopedist, but I got mine to squeeze me in Wednsday afternoon and got a cortisone shot, which has been helping. It still hurts, but it stopped the spasms.

[oyceter]

ZOMG. I love my keyboard tray so much that I shelled out a hundred bucks so I could install one on my desk at home. I also splurged on a fancy computer chair, but I figure if I'm going to be sitting in the thing as much as I do, it'll be worth it.

[estara.livejournal.com]

I'd recommend an infrared heat lamp aimed at the particular sections that hurt, for as long as feels comfortable, but the US only seems to have highpriced versions...

http://www.jdsorientalhealthsupply.com/TDPLamp.html
http://www.jdsorientalhealthsupply.com/catalog/item/1903162/1454600.htm
Amazon.com doesn't seem to have it cheaper, either.

[oyceter]

Doh, that is a bit pricey, but thanks!

[kalmn.livejournal.com]

i would go for a stiff drink, two ibuprofen, a hot (not warm, hot) shower concentrating the water on the shoulder in question, and then off to bed with you.

do not substitute other painkillers for ibuprofen, do not take more than two, and skip all of the above besides the shower if you have liver or kidney issues. blah blah blah ianad.

but that's what i do when i don't feel like shelling out for a massage.

oh! also, heating pad.

[fmanalyst.livejournal.com]

The trouble with the heat idea is that it's over 90 degrees out where I am, so it's hard to talk myself into it. I don't know if Oyceter's going to try it, but I think I will.

(Funny how people didn't like the image I used today when I described the pain.)

[oyceter]

I think I will also indulge in a hot bath soon. Mmmmmm.

[vom-marlowe.livejournal.com]

Ice packs, 20 minutes on, 20 off. Reduces swelling. I like the ACE brand clothlike covering best and I have a freezer full! They take several hours to get cold so I find it works best to have at least three or four packs. In a pinch, a bag of frozen peas works.

Hot, hot water, but only in order to stretch gently, only once a day, etc. It can increase swelling, fyi.

Tiger balm! Tigerbalm in a jar. Tigerbalm inna tin. Tigerbalm inna tube. Tigerbalm inna bottle. Tigerbalm for the win! They are all good.

Ibuprofen *or* naproxen. Both are NSAIDs. Take as directed on bottle. I like to also take Tylenol, taken at the halfway mark of my NSAID dose, so the Tylenol ramps up while the NSAIDs ramp down. Tylenol has a different action than nsaids. NSAIDs will reduce swelling.

Epsom salts. Pour wonking huge amount in tub, soak for twenty to thirty minutes. The Walgreens lavendar scented ones are especially nice, but it doesn't matter, really.

Lidocaine gel. I would NOT use this at the same time as the tigerbalm, or at the same time as the ice, because lidocaine is basically a numbing gel. But it's good before bedtime, IMO.

Hope you feel better soon!!

[smillaraaq.livejournal.com]

And if you want to sort of combine approaches, I have recently fallen deeply in love with Batherapy Sport (http://www.queenhelene.com//batherapy-sport.php) salts, which includes epsom salts, camphor, eucalyptus, and various mint oils. If you don't mind soaking in something that smells a lot like Tiger Balm, I've found this stuff is even more soothing than plain epsom salts; it was a total godsend when I blew my knee out at the pow-wow last month, and it was the only thing I could find that did anything for the pain and tenderness of a bad case of runner's toe earlier this year.

Other than that, hmmm, you could always try slapping on some Satohap or Salonpas plasters to provide a little bit of relief throughout the day? I used to swear by Salonpas Muscle Mousse, but they seem to have discontinued the stuff and I swear the gel and spray versions just never seemed to work as well. Sadface!

[oyceter]

Oooo, thanks! The massages have worked wonders, but I think I will have to be much more careful from now on.

[laurashapiro.livejournal.com]

Sorry about your ouch, honey.

My favorite thing is to soak the area. Hot baths rule. Of course it's harder to do that when it's your neck and shoulder, but a nice soaked washcloth can work. Or a heating pad, but IMO moist heat is better.

[oyceter]

Thanks! I think I will spend some time in the bathtub this weekend, only this time, sans rats and with an actual bath ;).

[ponygirl2000.livejournal.com]

I have endless neck and shoulder problems so I sympathize. Pain going down the arm is not a good sign. Ask your massage therapist to recommend some stretches, I have a bunch I do in the morning and then some I do at the desk. Get up from the computer every hour and stretch, also adjusting the height of your monitor can help so that you're not looking down at it but straight on, armrests should be high enough so that they support your arms while you type. Heat and Advil are my best friends as are benefit plans that include massage and physio!

Hey do you know what's happened to coffeeandink?

[oyceter]

Ugh, yeah... I think I will see my general practitioner soon and see if it's muscle stress or RSI or what.

I think coffeeandink is taking some time off LJ right now for personal and professional reasons.