Muscular Tension Headaches

[MorganGrayson]

Dravyk...my husband has a huge, "Black and Decker" looking back massager. I hate to hold the thing because the vibrations kill my hands, but it works so well on his back. (He's a computer jockey, too.)

With regard to the "nerve clusters": if you have someone there, have them find the exact spot of the nerve cluster. You'll know when it's found because the pain will make you shriek. OK, have that person basically grind it with a thumb. (I call it "beating the hell out of it" when my husband does it.) Just grit your teeth and take it for as long as you can stand it. You may find that the pain stops immediately, though. Either way, it will help the nerve cluster. My back doctor did that to my back. Of course, he followed it up with a shot of Lidocaine into the nerve cluster, but the massage itself helped.

[MorganGrayson]

helix...I have had only one "deep tissue massage" in my life. It was one of the most fantastic things I'd ever experienced. I felt fantastic, and felt like I was high for a about two weeks. My energy level was incredible. I discussed it with my doctor, who said "yes, it's real. Massages are fantastic for you."

I did, however, look as if someone had taken a baseball bat to my back.

Sadly, that was all pre-fibro. If I had it done now, I'd most likely black out. Of course, this is said without having scraped up the courage to give it a shot.

[MorganGrayson]

I swear, I'm never going to get out of this thread.


Ryan...I have the "whole arm falling asleep" thing, too, but my neurologist wanted an MRI of my *neck,* not my hands. He did a nerve conduction study on the hands and put me in industrial, SWAT team looking black wrist braces that I sleep in. Those helped. (I learned the hard way not to do the "wake up and rub your eyes" thing. Ouch.) Apparently, I was holding my hands in a funny position when I slept that was causing problems.

I feel as if I have reached a rare level of incompetance by sleeping "wrong."

[RyanLanane]

Originally Posted by MorganGrayson

I swear, I'm never going to get out of this thread.


Ryan...I have the "whole arm falling asleep" thing, too, but my neurologist wanted an MRI of my *neck,* not my hands. He did a nerve conduction study on the hands and put me in industrial, SWAT team looking black wrist braces that I sleep in. Those helped. (I learned the hard way not to do the "wake up and rub your eyes" thing. Ouch.) Apparently, I was holding my hands in a funny position when I slept that was causing problems.

I feel as if I have reached a rare level of incompetance by sleeping "wrong."

LOL !!!!!


I actually had a 'nerve conduction study' back when I was making all those posts about Carpyl Tunnel. I was being treated for it with Vicodin and a muscle relaxer but I eventually ended up going off of Vicodin with Grimms posts pointing me in the right direction... Pain Killers are not good for someone with my personality.

The nerve conduction study came back I didn't have Carpyl Tunnel my doc wanted to send me to a neurologist - That's when I just gave up entirely.. Got sick of being told over and over they couldn't find what was wrong with me... All my gripes I feel like a hypochondriac sometimes So I jsut quit bitching and I deal with the pain - much better choice, huh? lol

Dravyk, I have thought many times it may be in my posture... Sitting at my desk as much as I do.. I would honestly be suprised if my spine wasn't already curved, hence the hunchback comment...

I've pretty much given up on all my little aches and pains but something as simple as changing my posture I might try.. God knows I need a new chair anyways and those things ALWAYS feel wrong until you break them in.. so no better time then when I get my next chair.

I should take a picture of this one... lol - The padding is literally flat so I am sitting on a piece of leather then steel.... I passed out on it one night and each one of my ass cheeks were in sheer pain for 2 weeks lmfao...

I'm such a tool haha

[MorganGrayson]

Ryan...I told a *former* primary care physician that my forearm hurt for a solid year and got smiled and nodded at. I explained that I hadn't injured it and there was no reason why it hurt like that. Luckily - or a word like that - my lower back just went and died on me and I went to a much better specialist. The forearm hurt because of the fibro. I went through hell before the neuropathy was diagnosed, though, so I understand how you feel.

The first time I fired a doctor the feeling was orgasmic. You have to be so damned proactive when you're any kind of a patient that it's almost as if you have to go to medical school before you can be ill.

There are so many things that can cause intense pain. Some big, some small...like the wrong chair, or the keyboard at the wrong height, or twisting your head to see the monitor.

One of my favorite comments about chronic pain is: "The good news is: it won't kill you. The bad news is: it won't kill you."

Aren't nerve conduction studies *fun*?

[RyanLanane]

Originally Posted by MorganGrayson

One of my favorite comments about chronic pain is: "The good news is: it won't kill you. The bad news is: it won't kill you."

Originally Posted by MorganGrayson

Aren't nerve conduction studies *fun*?

Nothing like having voltage at different regulations running through every portion of the right side of your body

[Red]

Originally Posted by RyanLanane

Nothing like having voltage at different regulations running through every portion of the right side of your body

Oh EMG's are the worst. After my car accident I had one done from mid back all the way to my feet. I never want to go through that again.

[Dravyk]

Ryan, this might help. Sounds like something I had a few years ago. I had this lovely pain shooting from my right fingertips to my right shoulder blade and up and down my arm. I had steroids and lots of stuff. This lasted four and half rotten months. (Every so often it flares up for, thankfully, very brief periods though.)

Bascially, my computer packed up. And I ended up using a laptop on a makeshift table, actually some stackable, moveable plastic storage cartons. So, I can't put my legs under, so I'm hunching more. The keyboard on the laptop of course isn't at the edge but four or six inches "further in", so more hunching. The table was not at my optimum height ... Point is, after six weeks of doing everything wrong -- totally wrong -- but different -- it went away!!

So even if you think you're doing something "ergonomic" ... you might not be ... and if you do something that seems totally screwed up, the fact your arms, upper body are in a different position to the one you normally are in ... it fixes it!!
That's why when the new computer came I made sure to have the cordless keyboard and mouse and change positions throughout the day. It helps!

[helix]

Originally Posted by MorganGrayson

helix...I have had only one "deep tissue massage" in my life. It was one of the most fantastic things I'd ever experienced. I felt fantastic, and felt like I was high for a about two weeks. My energy level was incredible. I discussed it with my doctor, who said "yes, it's real. Massages are fantastic for you."

I did, however, look as if someone had taken a baseball bat to my back.

Sadly, that was all pre-fibro. If I had it done now, I'd most likely black out. Of course, this is said without having scraped up the courage to give it a shot.

I swear I had an out of body experience when I had that massage. Ten minutes into it and I was gone...I had never experienced anything like that in my life. When I was finished, I was very tired. Funny because I had laid motionless for 1hr except for the getting pushed and kneaded like a bread dough . The energy level increase was fantastic.

I'm so sorry to hear about the fibro, have you tried MSM and did it work for you?

[MorganGrayson]

Originally Posted by helix

I swear I had an out of body experience when I had that massage. Ten minutes into it and I was gone...I had never experienced anything like that in my life. When I was finished, I was very tired. Funny because I had laid motionless for 1hr except for the getting pushed and kneaded like a bread dough . The energy level increase was fantastic.

I'm so sorry to hear about the fibro, have you tried MSM and did it work for you?

What is "MSM"?

[helix]

Originally Posted by MorganGrayson

What is "MSM"?

MSM stands for methylsulfonylmethane. However, this name is a bit confusing to some people, since there is no methane in the compound. The more proper chemical name for MSM is dimethyl sulfone.

I had to lookup fibro when I saw it in your earlier post, and I ran across this webpage of another fibro sufferer.
http://www.fortunecity.com/village/r...1267/fibro.htm

I read her page and she said she had found relief using MSM.

Found another link about the product
http://www.nwhealthsolutions.com/

[MorganGrayson]

Originally Posted by helix

MSM stands for methylsulfonylmethane. However, this name is a bit confusing to some people, since there is no methane in the compound. The more proper chemical name for MSM is dimethyl sulfone.

I had to lookup fibro when I saw it in your earlier post, and I ran across this webpage of another fibro sufferer.
http://www.fortunecity.com/village/r...1267/fibro.htm

I read her page and she said she had found relief using MSM.

Found another link about the product
http://www.nwhealthsolutions.com/

Thank you, helix. *huge hug*
When I read her "A letter to a friend, I think" I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. I log a lot of time in the kitchen muttering "I got up for something...what was it?" My ever-present notebook prevents me from making a pain pill mistake. I write down the time and dosage every time I take them. (It was 11:00 AM today.) Forgetting that you got up to make coffee and instead fed the cat is one thing. Forgetting when you took Vicodin and taking it again is quite another indeed.

Trivia alert: Glucosamine Chondroitin, which works very well for several things, was first developed by veterenarians to treat arthritis in dogs. Then they discovered it helped people as well. (Sold as an over-the-counter supplement; take with food; Walmart has the best prices.)

[Dravyk]

Originally Posted by MorganGrayson

Dravyk...my husband has a huge, "Black and Decker" looking back massager. I hate to hold the thing because the vibrations kill my hands, but it works so well on his back. (He's a computer jockey, too.)

With regard to the "nerve clusters": if you have someone there, have them find the exact spot of the nerve cluster. You'll know when it's found because the pain will make you shriek. OK, have that person basically grind it with a thumb. (I call it "beating the hell out of it" when my husband does it.) Just grit your teeth and take it for as long as you can stand it. You may find that the pain stops immediately, though. Either way, it will help the nerve cluster. My back doctor did that to my back. Of course, he followed it up with a shot of Lidocaine into the nerve cluster, but the massage itself helped.

So much info to respond to! And as you said Morgan, could stay in this thread a long time. Anyhow didn't forget about getting back to you.

Love the Black and Decker sounding massage thing. As for nerves, yep, have had a few massages (long ago) and they were great. I keep saying I should get one weekly.

Selena, damn, twice a week! I'm envious!

[selena]

Originally Posted by Dravyk

Selena, damn, twice a week! I'm envious!

I fucked up and had to edit that to biweekly.

I'm lucky though. He's like a brother to me, so he comes, brings his table, works my neck and shoulders for an hour, and I pay him $25.