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Post by ♥ Kathryn ♥ on Jul 30, 2008 11:42:41 GMT -5
Aww, thanks Carol.
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tookmo
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Post by tookmo on Jul 31, 2008 0:14:41 GMT -5
Hey, that's too bad that this is really keeping you from doing the things you love.
Best time to do below is after a hot shower or hot bath.
1) Have you ever seen a machine (not really a machine). You put your feet in, you are in a standing position against a backing, and then you slowly raise your arms back (over your head) to move it slowly upside down. It's called a traction or sit up equipment. Your head ends upside down and the blood can rush and pulse, but you don't have to go all the way upside down...you only go as far as you feel the need to go...just past the good pain and then it vanishes.
2) You can get the same effect with someone with you on your bed. (yah, not like that....that's why us women like the headaches). You lie on your bed crossways on your back, and start with your arms over your head and slowly go over your bed. Always have a spotter because you could either get stuck or SERIOUSLY hurt your neck.
3) Sometimes you can get a pinch in your neck and/or shoulders which can cause a shock down your arms or feeling of numbness tingling). When it happens, I raise my hands over my head and bend my right arm in an L to the left and push on the elbow slightly and then backwords with my right elbow infront of me and the hand over the shoulder.
When I have a really bad migraine and the muscles contract and then involve my neck and shoulders, I do this and I usually hear a little pop (knuckle pop) and then instantly my pain disappears ~ don't know why, but there's probably an impingment of some sort. I then do the left side to balance it out.
4) You can also face a door way and put your arms up in an L position like in a chest machine at the gym. Place your hands on the side door frame lining your elbows up with your chest so they aren't too high or too low and gently push forward to stretch out your chest area...or do it Margaret's Way...we must we must increase our chest...we must we must increase our chest.
5) There is also something called a roll back at the Chiropractors where you sit on the edge of the table and cross your left hand to your right shoulder and right to left. The chiropractor makes you blow all the air out of your chest and then they gently roll you back and the spine aligns. It gives the same relief with a lot more noise.
6) Look in the mirror and check your shoulders. Are they hunched up due to pain and stress or are they level. Last thing, if this relates to you...Take a deep breath and blow it out. Your shoulders should go up as you breathe in and then rest at their natural resting place when you blow out. Then have someone gently pull your shoulders back and hold for 30 seconds. Then have the same person gently push down your shoulders for 30 seconds. You will feel a pull with the good pain feeling. But make sure the person is GENTLE and not "lets get this over with" or you could be hurt.
I don't like it when other people suffer. I've lived with chronic pain for 12 years and I've tried a lot of things to find a relatively comfortable disposition. When something works or doesn't work, I want people to know what alternatives are out there for them.
These are all stretches that are incorporated in an office chairs with the exception of one & two. I guess this is a common complaint with office workers who sit most of their day at a desk or workstation.
I hope you are feeling better soon or that someone has the magic touch and heals the knot or pinch in your neck/shoulder/headache. I also use stuffed animals or stuffed animal pillows usually available around Easter instead of standard pillows and just stuff them where I need support when I sleep ~ yah, looks silly, but keeps the morning pain away.
Sorry, I write so much in one sitting, but if I don't write it I will lose because of the TBI. I sometimes mix up my words or run into verbal diarrhea (sorry for that image). I'm pretty sure it's empty now.
I hope you are back to yourself real soon. Joan <><
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Post by mrsvalden on Aug 2, 2008 23:01:44 GMT -5
Thanks again, Joan. Please don't apologize for writing so much. I really appreciate the time that you are taking trying to help me. It's really sweet and much appreciated. I'll go over what you wrote more later.
I did go to karate class on Thursday night. My head still hurt as much as it had been, but I thought I needed to try karate and see how it went. Because I don't know when this is going to end, and I don't want to totally put karate on hold if I can do something. My test needs to be taken, or I'll miss out this time. Which isn't the end of the world, if I'm not able. But I want to try.
I did ok. Sensei Cutie took it pretty easy on me, he was concerned. Plus it was really hot (the thermometer in the dojo read 86 degrees, and with the humidity, I'm sure it was over 90.) So he had me and 2 other green belts go over our katas slowly. He wanted to watch me and see what I needed to work on for my test. I was ok...it actually took my mind off the pain for a bit. I just couldn't bend over much, because my head would really hurt and throb. And I didn't move too quickly. But I did ok. And I didn't have an ill effects from it. So I'm glad I went. I'll try again on Monday.
I was doing some looking on the internet, and I'm thinking what I might be having is "cervicogenic headaches." They are headaches caused by the cervical spine. Here's what an article said:
"The neck can be a hidden and severely debilitating source of headaches. Such headaches are grouped under the term "cervicogenic headache," indicating that the primary contributing structural source of the headache is the cervical spine. There are well mapped out patterns of headache relating to a multiplicity of muscular trigger points in the neck and shoulder-blade (or peri-scapular) region, as well as to disc and joint levels in the upper cervical spine. Even headaches located predominantly in the forehead, or behind, in and around the eyes are very often "referred"pain zones for pathology located in the back of the neck and at the base of the skull."
My pain is usually at the base of my skull, and right behind the eye through the back of my head. And then also the related shoulder pain. And actually, I believe this is what my dr. was trying to treat the other day with the osteopathic manipulation. They mention that's one of the ways to try to treat it. But they say it takes quite a few sessions for an effect. So I will call the dr. on Monday and set up another appt. I'd like to try that way before some of the other treatment options they mention.
They mention injections of some sort, "Injections can take the form of muscle (or myofascial) trigger point blocks, nerve blocks or epidural spinal injections. The most effective injections for cervicogenic headaches usually end up being x-ray guided facet joint blocks, especially of the upper facet levels."
But I wouldn't want to do that until everything else was tried.
And I'm not exactly sure this is what I have. I'm not a dr. But it sounds so right. I'm going to take some info to my dr. and talk with her about it.
Thanks again for everyone's concern and caring. And thanks again Joan for all the advice and info.
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Post by LPS NANA on Aug 4, 2008 0:14:13 GMT -5
Carol I'm so glad you got to go to your class. I know you really enjoy it plus it has cutie pie benefits. On the other hand I hope you find out soon so they can get you on some pain management. I feel so bad for you and headaches sure suck. HUGS to you sweetie and I will be thinking about you.
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tookmo
Calico Cat
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Posts: 148
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Post by tookmo on Aug 4, 2008 1:39:02 GMT -5
That's a great update.
I just got my appointment for the 12th to get the lidocaine injections in my neck and head.
I will then be able to tell you about injections. My pain is also at the base of my skull and behind my eyes, but I also wrote off a jeep with my head.
I'm glad you went to Karate. It's good for the body to persevere thru trials and tribulations under the close eye of a cutie sensai.
Get Well Soon!
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Post by LPS NANA on Aug 4, 2008 6:56:52 GMT -5
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Post by mrsvalden on Aug 4, 2008 11:30:32 GMT -5
That's a great update. I just got my appointment for the 12th to get the lidocaine injections in my neck and head. I will then be able to tell you about injections. My pain is also at the base of my skull and behind my eyes, but I also wrote off a jeep with my head. I'm glad you went to Karate. It's good for the body to persevere thru trials and tribulations under the close eye of a cutie sensai. Get Well Soon! So this will be the first time you've had the injections? I'll be curious to hear about them.
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Post by mrsvalden on Aug 4, 2008 11:34:47 GMT -5
Carol I'm so glad you got to go to your class. I know you really enjoy it plus it has cutie pie benefits. On the other hand I hope you find out soon so they can get you on some pain management. I feel so bad for you and headaches sure suck. HUGS to you sweetie and I will be thinking about you. "cutie pie benefits"... Word up, dawg!! ;D ;D Thanks so much for your well wishes, Kim. I really appreciate them. And, you too, Joan! Yesterday was the first day that I did not have an outright headache all day. It was exactly 3 weeks from the time they started. I had an uncomfortable feeling in my neck/head region now and then, but it was NOT the headache. That was awesome!!!! I even endured an evening with my mother-in-law, and NO headache!!! I thought I was cured. Well....this morning things have changed. I didn't have one when I woke up. And I was fine for about the first hour that I was here at work. But after that, my head started hurting. Gosh darnit!! (and that's not what I really want to say.) It's still not bad, but it's there. I don't know if it's sitting at my computer or what. But I wasn't at my computer the whole time, just part of it. I did put a book under my computer monitor to make it higher, because they say you should be able to look level at your monitor, and I was looking slightly down. We'll see if that makes any difference. It's still not as bad as it has been, and that's great. I just want it to be totally gone of course. Thanks again!!
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tookmo
Calico Cat
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Post by tookmo on Aug 4, 2008 13:05:41 GMT -5
Yes, it will be my first time with the lidocaine injections into my head/neck.
I've already had the cortisteroid injections in my spine (epidural). Woooowhooooo!
I'll keep you posted.
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Post by LPS NANA on Aug 5, 2008 12:04:44 GMT -5
Carol I'm sorry you didn't feel well again When you mentioned your computer it struck a memory with me. I used to do data entry for years and I did have alot of headaches. I realized that after awhile that my headaches and stiffness in my neck and shoulders may be due to my keeping my hands on the mouse or the keyboard for long periods of time. Then I received a promotion to the computer room and am not using the keyboard near as much so I haven't had the stiffness or the headaches. Do you use your keyboard or mouse alot? It's just an idea hun. I feel so bad for you. I hate headaches let alone having to fight them almost daily. My thoughts are with you and I hope you find some relief really soon.
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tookmo
Calico Cat
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Posts: 148
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Post by tookmo on Aug 5, 2008 19:45:55 GMT -5
That also brought something to mind.
I sometimes put on a neck brace to give my neck a rest. I know it's the positioning of my neck when the brace is on and the headache goes away.
It might be worth having one around to try it out.
Take Care.
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Post by mrsvalden on Aug 5, 2008 21:02:43 GMT -5
Thanks, Kim and Joan! I'm happy to report that I was headache-free today!! It felt wonderful!!! I know they'll come back at some point in time, but I'm glad they're gone this time. I agree, Kim, that it probably has something to do with the way I'm sitting and holding my arms, etc. When I'm at my computer, I usually have my hand at the mouse or keyboard. And I don't have arms on my chair. They say you should have arms on your chair, but I feel like they get in the way at work. They would get me one with arms if I asked...I might. Then I could rest my arms up there...like I'm doing here at home.
I'd say about half my day is working at the computer, but it's not all at one time. I'm at the computer, then up doing something else, then at the computer again, then something else. But a lot of times I'm looking down. If I'm writing something at my desk, then I'm looking down. If I'm copying something, then I'm looking down. Maybe I'm looking down too much. I think I need to make sure that I keep my neck loosened up and maybe do some stretches with it now and then. Thanks for sharing your experience, Kim!
And, Joan, the neck brace sounds like a good idea. It would be nice to have the weight off my neck now and then and to know that my head is straight. I know most of the time my shoulders aren't straight, or I'm cocking my head to one side without realizing it. I know I definitely do it in the car. I can't drive more than an hour without getting a headache, starting in my shoulder/neck area.
Thanks again, you guys. Just wanted to let you know I was pain-free today!! Yippee!!
I also went to karate last night. It was so flippin' hot!!! It was over 100 out yesterday with the heat index...in the mid-90s actual temperature. Then in the dojo it was 90 degrees last night. Ugh! The fans were just circulating hot air. But at least it dried my sweat a little. There was so much sweating going on, it was gross. I sweated in places that I didn't know you could sweat. Blech!!
And this is really gross...a couple of the guys are BAD sweaters...drippers, I call them. My brother-in-law included. So if you are moving anywhere they've been, there's a good chance you will be walking in their sweat drips. It's so gross. Mr. S. actually slipped in one of the guy's sweat last night. Poor thing!!
ANd they pushed us pretty hard actually. But I hung in there. I did get lightheaded after about an hour and 15 minutes. And the weird thing is that I just had a break. And when I started back up, I got a little dizzy. But I sat in front of the fan for a minuite, and I was able to finish. I hate summer!
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Post by mrs"e" on Aug 5, 2008 21:24:00 GMT -5
I'm so glad you're feeling good!!!
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Post by mrsvalden on Aug 5, 2008 21:50:46 GMT -5
I'm so glad you're feeling good!!! Me too!! Thanks, sistah!!!
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Post by mrsclean987 on Aug 6, 2008 5:31:01 GMT -5
I'm so glad you're feeling good!!! Me too!! Thanks, sistah!!!
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