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| Neck And Shoulder Pain |
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Question:
I'm 55 and have had right shoulder trouble as long as I can remember..I
gave up playing piano as a kid because of it. I've learned to
compensate. Anyway, 4 months ago my left inner shoulder and left neck
started hurting. I went to a chiropractor (first time ever) and am
having therapeutic massage.
Nothing is really helping. Last week I
merely reached up and something 'cracked' now I'm really sore. I do
have severe osteoarthritis in both thumbs and one elbow and get
cortisone injections. Does arthritis 'spread'? Am I just old? I'm
very active, I ignore the pain as much as possible and don't let it
stop me. Anyone got any feedback?
Answer:
firstly pain of any kind is no fun, can you
answer me a few questions
1.do your feet turn out
2.do you have a v or c shape in the small of the back or is is straight
3.have you lost your arches on the bottom of your feet
4.is your head forward and down
5.do you find it hard to breath
I've had injections in both sides of my neck two or three times and
it really helped for a good while. I couldn't take Vioxx while it was
available because it caused my blood pressure to go way up, and feet and
legs to swell. Many things I can't take because of an ulcer and chronic
gastritis. Right now I am only on pain medicine.
Ultram ER 200 mg, and Voltaren 75 mg twice daily, and a muscle relaxant I
take at bedtime (Zanaflex 4mg) plus two Tylenol Arthritis tablets. I've had
one hip replaced and a thumb joint replaced. Tell your RD about any pain
anywhere and see if he can offer some relief; he most probably can.
I too suffered from shoulder pain for years until an occupational
therapist taught me a manuever that resolves the situation. It is
basically stretching my shoulder joints.
What I do is grip on to anything that is sturdy and high up enough that
when I do grip it, it will stretch the muscles in my shoulder. Usually
a good sturdy door frame or door will do. What I do is stand with the
affected side perpendicular to the door frame or door. I reach up and
grab the highest point possible and hold on until I can feel it
stretching. I hold on for several seconds until the pain is gone.
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