I guess my body is real fucked up

"gin-san - shitpost specialist" (gin-san-)
07/28/2020 at 21:40 • Filed to: OW MY BODY

I saw a registered massage therapist to see what they’d recommend for the back pain I have and the tl;dr is that I have a tremendous amount of tension in my back, shoulders, and neck. At one point, she said “it was like popping bubble wrap”, which I definitely felt and heard in my body.

I was told to see a doc about the back pain I was feeling so she didn’t focus around there too much since it could be a possible problem with the discs as opposed to a muscular issue.

These are the joys of aging. Gotta take exercising and stretching more seriously, something I neglect due to my mental state a lot of the time . Thank fuck I have some medical coverage for this since a) Canadian public healthcare doesn’t cover this kind of thing, amongst many other things that are not covered, and; b) this shit is a bit over $100 a pop. Given what I was told, I’ll probably need more therapy than the coverage I have will cover annually.

I always learn things the hard way, and more regular exercise probably would have been a strong preventative measure. Still, better to start late than never, I guess. Despite the soreness in my shoulders, I feel a level of (natural) relaxation that I haven’t felt in a while.

Stay healthy, oppos.

DISCUSSION (16)

Maxima Speed > gin-san - shitpost specialist
07/28/2020 at 22:03

Not sure how things work in canada but they tend to always throw surgery at you claiming disk damage. Anyways before that i VERY highly recommend seeing an Osteopathic doctor who does all the manipulation/massage stuff. They are the business. I have first hand experience with the difference it can make and how it can repair long term damage. I and most of my family use an osteopathic doctor and its incredibly effective for us.

gin-san - shitpost specialist > Maxima Speed
07/28/2020 at 22:16

Noted.

It’s not in her best interest to recommend surgery since it’d ultimately be less work/money for her.

Seeing a doc doesn’t cost me anything so it doesn’t hurt to look up an osteopathic specialist. Thanks for your input!

66P1800inpieces > Maxima Speed
07/28/2020 at 22:27

This 100%. That is why I specifically found a D.O. to be my primary.

kleeBRZ > gin-san - shitpost specialist
07/28/2020 at 22:45

i suffered the same thing. saw some chiropractors who looked at my shoulder complex and upper back, neck etc. they agreed a lot of my neck and shoulder pain was from compensating for tightness in my chest and the intersection of where my chest and shoulder meet.

ice and ibuprofen with some chiropractic adjustments helped while diligently stretching out my pecs with a foam roller or massage gun did wonders for my upper back and neck pain.

stretching out the knots in my neck in the shower was also a daily routine for me.

lately i’ve been able to do more calisthenics which seem to either loosen my shoulder or inflame it, depending on the day.

I turn 40 this year.

hurray.

Dr_Watson > gin-san - shitpost specialist
07/28/2020 at 22:51

Yeah, as someone who’s had back surgery... Don’t rush into it unless an MRI says it’s the best option. There’s no going back on surgery. It’s a one way street.

And I’m saying this as someone who had a 100% successful operation.

When I was 23 my L5S1 (bottom guy in the pile) was bulging into my sciatic nerve so bad I could barely walk and couldn’t bend over. The MRI looked horrific and all other treatments had done nothing. So i had the discectomy.

Scariest thing I’ve ever done. Woke up feeling great, walked out of the hospital. But even with a successful operation there was 8 weeks of healing on disability, and many opioids. So it will upend your life for a bit even if it works out.

Best wishes.

Cash Rewards > gin-san - shitpost specialist
07/28/2020 at 22:54

Yoga. It’s amazing. Find a practice or an instructor that works for you, and give it a go for a few months (you need a month or two to learn first). Some instructors are all touchy feeling and spiritualness, which didn't work for me. Some were triathletes and marathoners for whom yoga kept them going and out of physical therapy; those worked extremely well for me.

KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time > gin-san - shitpost specialist
07/28/2020 at 23:05

I was skeptikal at firsr but g oing to a Chiropractor and sticking to their treatment plan for 6 months changed my life for the better with my lower back pain. Now i go once a quarter for regular adjustments. Doing a lot of daily streches as well. Back pain can debilitate you quickly.

gin-san - shitpost specialist > Dr_Watson
07/28/2020 at 23:06

Oh yeah, that was always gonna be last resort. Compared to the experience I’ve been told by a couple of friends, my pain doesn’t feel like it’s quite at that level.

gin-san - shitpost specialist > Cash Rewards
07/28/2020 at 23:15

I did ask her about yoga but she recommended getting a pro to look at the back first and get the go-ahead before doing any positions that may strain it further.

This is definitely something I should learn just because it can be done anywhere and I don’t have to worry about equipment (besides a mat, I guess?)

I’m not interested in the spiritual side of it but who knows, maybe I’ll find a different kind of therapy in that. One problem at a time!

gin-san - shitpost specialist > kleeBRZ
07/28/2020 at 23:16

Sounds like I’ve started on the right path, then. Thanks for your input! It does make me feel more optimistic about the situation.

gin-san - shitpost specialist > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
07/28/2020 at 23:23

That’s good to hear. Definitely started on the beginning of a plan today and I have some stretches I need to do regularly before I see her again.

Stef Schrader > gin-san - shitpost specialist
07/29/2020 at 14:31

Ooh yeah. Maybe see a regular doc about the disc doubts? My massage therapist (welcome to the borked back club, BTW! we don’t have cookies because it sucks) required a note OK-ing treatment from my regular doctor after one of my car crashes.

It’s not covered down here, either (not as if THAT’S a surprise), but my goodness, a good massage session is very worth it in terms of relief.

Stef Schrader > gin-san - shitpost specialist
07/29/2020 at 14:32

Going to a yoga class definitely helps you get the motions/breathing down in a safe way, but yeah, otherwise you can do it pretty much anywhere and the stretches definitely help.

gin-san - shitpost specialist > Stef Schrader
07/29/2020 at 15:46

Yeah that’s on the to do list, which is why she did work my lower back as much as I’d hoped.

My shoulders are sore today (like she said would happen) but the back pain today isn't as severe. Whether that's because a whole new part of me hurts or it's just a placebo effect or something, either way I'm gonna get a doc to look at it.

Stef Schrader > gin-san - shitpost specialist
07/30/2020 at 14:07

Nice. Good luck! Back woes suck so much.

MAX > gin-san - shitpost specialist
08/02/2020 at 23:18

Alternating ice and heating pad helps a lot with my back pain. 10 minutes of shock with an electrical T.E.N.S. unit also helps me relieve tension and relaxes muscles. highly recommend. Since you mentioned bubble wrap, you can find great deals at https://sofancomics.com/collections/packaging-shipping-supplies Best of Luck.