Injuries and RehabTell us where it hurts! Do a quick search before asking about your shoulder injury to make sure your question hasn't already been answered (about 50 times), and read the sticky post first.
Bet you get that sad faced icon in this forum more than most. People don't come here without having bad news to tell about themselves. So, without further ado...
Could stress be causing my injuries to flare up? I am plagued with injuries. Lets start at the top and work my way down.
My neck is a wreck. It is constantly stiff, and feels like it needs to be popped. I know that it doesn't since I am most likely hypermobile. I have many "compressed vertebrae", just like most people, and a herniated disc at T2, which there is really nothing I can do about it. It also hurts, especially when I ride, preventing me from taking a deep breath... not a good thing for an endurance athlete!
Well, that was just the beginning. Both of my shoulders go back and forth. One day one is fine and the other hurts, then it is the complete reverse the next day. Have several surgeries, so I am not suprised at this. ROM sucks!
Right forearm (brachioradialus) has been pretty severe for the last couple of months, but suprisingly it has started improving lately. Then yesterday I was holding one of my kids and it felt like it re-popped up again. All day today it has been throbbing and spasming uncontrollable.
My left wrist has been hurting when I play guitar, when I have to fully supinate my arm for fast fret work. The area labelled with a {w} is where I am feeling pain, especially when I play.
Now, moving down to the left hip. It is so tight that I can't rotate my quads out (like in a shuttle postition). Sometimes it feels like my hip is out of socket.
My right hamstring is pulled so badly I can't even raise my leg out 45 degrees without excruciating pain. Goes all the way down, and tucks under my knee where I seem to now. It hurts a lot on the lateral side of my knee, like it is connected to my IT band. I cannot draw my heal to my butt without serius pain, and I cannot run up the stairs without pain either.
Sorry Bill, I told you it was long! I just feel like curling up on my couch in a fetal position. I feel like GIVING UP!
I look forward to reading your post when I wake up.
JP, I have nothing physiological to help with, but I can psychologically. I've been in that fetal position, and I've given up. Chronic pain is not fun, but I've learned that I can tune it out. Of course it's taken over five years to learn how, but it's possible. Every morning, as my body is telling me to stay in bed, I make the conscious effort not to listen (as apparently you do, as well, since I have not seen you let this slow you down.)
You're doing great. Fix the things you can, try not to reinjure the things you can't fix, and quit stressing. Stress does make chronic pain feel worse, trust me on that. I work very hard to eliminate as much potential negative stress from my life as possible (as per Dr's orders.)
Neck: Stiffness can be attributable to stress, and the source of the stiffness may not be bony in origin (despite your previous injury). If you haven't already, stretch your neck muscles. I'm not sure about the pain during riding that prevents you from taking a deep breath.
Shoulders: I'm not sure what to say without knowing more about what you're talking about and what your history is.
Brachioradialis pain: This is a common affliction for many climbers. Unfortunately, the most common recommendation is rest. But again, it's difficult to say exactly what you've got without being there. Additionally, the pain in your wrist during hand adduction (I tried to supinate my arm pretending to play a guitar and I couldn't visualize it) may also be related to climbing activities.
When's the last time you saw a health professional?
Lord, J-P, I'm almost twice your age and spent most of my years getting more and more out of shape, until three years ago, and I can't enumerate very many signficant pains. My right wrist can't bear much weight. For about six weeks now I've had intermittently painful bursitis of my right knee (and had a brief, hideously painful flareup of gout, for the first time, a couple of weeks ago).
And yes, have you seen a good doctor? and are you taking anything to relieve the pain and the underlying inflammation? Daily low-dose aspirin or other nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs like naproxen? Or antiinflammatory herbs like turmeric and ginger capsules?
But none of these things is guaranteed to be free of risk. Maybe Brian can step in here with a word?
__________________
"It is impossible to defeat an ignorant man in an argument." William Gibbs McAdoo. US Vice-President under Woodrow Wilson.
JP: Could stress be causing my injuries to flare up? I am plagued with injuries.
Bill: Yes, it is not uncommon for the body to demonstrate increased nervous tension associated with stress. It's just like before competition. Increased breathing rate, heart rate, and muscle tension changes. Areas of "tightness" seem more tight, tender, and sore. The cumulative injury cycle may also be an issue. It is self perpetuating. Increased tension will decrease blood flood which causes soft-tissue changes which causes pain which causes increased tension and so on...
JP: My neck is a wreck. It is constantly stiff, and feels like it needs to be popped. I know that it doesn't since I am most likely hypermobile. I have many "compressed vertebrae", just like most people, and a herniated disc at T2, which there is really nothing I can do about it. It also hurts, especially when I ride, preventing me from taking a deep breath... not a good thing for an endurance athlete!
Bill: I certainly can't diagnose you but I would quit stretching it (so to speak). Start by doing low intensity isometric neck strengthening with your head in neutral. Apply gentle pressure to your head with 2 fingers in all major points of the compass (forehead is north). Hold for 6 seconds for 6 reps, 6 times a day. This will start to increase proprioceptive input to the smaller stabilizing muscles of the neck as well as strengthening and increasing stability. Remember joints don't go where they don't feel safe. If you're weak or can't tell where the joint is, it will protect with spasm and tightness. As you are able to increase the intensity of the contraction, start to deviate from neutral in the sagittal, frontal, and transverse planes but keep the contraction static rather than active. Let me know if you need more help here. Much easier to show you than explain.
JP: Well, that was just the beginning. Both of my shoulders go back and forth. One day one is fine and the other hurts, then it is the complete reverse the next day. Have several surgeries, so I am not suprised at this. ROM sucks!
Bill: I need more info. What were the purposes of your (4?) surgeries. Until then NO Pressing! Nothing overhead (including pulldowns or chins), no bench presses, etc. Try seated cable rows with neutral grip, prone lower trap raises (see Alessi article on T-mag), sidelying external rotation. That's it for shoulder involvement right now.
JP: Right forearm (brachioradialus) has been pretty severe for the last couple of months, but suprisingly it has started improving lately. Then yesterday I was holding one of my kids and it felt like it re-popped up again. All day today it has been throbbing and spasming uncontrollable.
Bill: A couple things could be going on here. Possibly a radial nerve entrapment or plain old strain at the elbow. Get some soft-tissue work done and see if that helps. Have them check the overlap of the brachioradialis and brachialis for restriction and the supinator which may be "hanging on" to the radial nerve. Bryanc is probably correct as well that it relates to your climibing.
JP: My left wrist has been hurting when I play guitar, when I have to fully supinate my arm for fast fret work.
The area labelled with a {w} is where I am feeling pain, especially when I play.
Bill: I can't tell exactly to where you're referring to by the photo. Radial or Ulnar side to the wrist. This is not uncommon for guitar players (string instruments in general) and woodwind players. Could be accumulated wear and tear, tissue shortening, or arthitic changes. Does it feel soft-tissue related or like a bony block?
JP: Now, moving down to the left hip. It is so tight that I can't rotate my quads out (like in a shuttle postition). Sometimes it feels like my hip is out of socket.
Bill: Not sure what you mean by shuttle position. Do you mean internal rotation of the hip? Check for tight psoas and limited internal rotation (someone around there should be able to help you...Thomas test will ID psoas and passive internal rotation will tell you if you have a capsular issue in the hip or muscular.). Let me know the results and I can give you more recommendations.
JP: My right hamstring is pulled so badly I can't even raise my leg out 45 degrees without excruciating pain. Goes all the way down, and tucks under my knee where I seem to now. It hurts a lot on the lateral side of my knee, like it is connected to my IT band. I cannot draw my heal to my butt without serius pain, and I cannot run up the stairs without pain either.
Bill: How did it happen in the first place (very important)? Could be a biceps short head tear if knee flexion is worse than forward bending like an RDL. Again, soft-tissue work may be in order. No hammie curls for you! If psoas is tight on the same side (Thomas test), your pelvis may be anteriorly rotated which puts greater tension on that hammie. Any tenderness deep in the glute on the same side?
Accept the challenge to remain active and strong! It's just time for a rehab cycle, my friend.
JP,
I hate that you had a bad experience with a chiropractor, and it's true that a hypermobile segment should NEVER be adjusted, but it sounds like you need your spine adjusted.
As far as being hypermobile, unless you've had a trauma to your neck (such as whiplash causing damage to ligaments) your hypermobility stems from your body compensating for hypomobile segments (caused by daily microtrauma) from above or below. If YOU are "popping" your neck yourself, you are simply moving areas that are already moving too much, making things worse so PLLLLEEEEAAAASSSSEEE don't do that.
If this is the right diagnosis, and you don't get adjusted by a COMPETENT chiropractor, your shoulder problems will never go away, your herniated disc will get worse, and early DJD is around the corner.
I've had plenty of patients with similar signs and symptoms who have become symptom free once the subluxations were removed.
Actually, today I feel pretty good. It has been a few weeks since that post. Now, my stress level hasn't dropped at all, but I have been working out again, lightly, and biking a couple times a week. I just got back from a nice little 19 mile road ride as a matter of fact, and it left me feeling great! My right knee is barely there. I only feel it if I try to run up steps or jump. The hamstring has really cleared up a lot! I have not be stretching on it. I have been doing the HARTMAN warmup routine which seems to properly prepare myself for lifing better. The neck is not causing pain, even when I take a deep breath, but it is still rather stiff. Hip not bothering me either, but I am not doing any snatches or cleans for the time being.
You know, I'm not one to usually beat down on chiropractic, but I really have issues with the whole "subluxation" thing, and the claim that "removal" of subluxations has anything to do with anything. I mean, unless something is _really_ out of place, there's a whole debate as to whether "subluxations" (i.e. miniscule "dislocations' of the veretbra) actually exist.
I think to make the statement, "If this is the right diagnosis, and you don't get adjusted by a COMPETENT chiropractor, your shoulder problems will never go away, your herniated disc will get worse, and early DJD is around the corner." is a really paranoia-generating statement.
Chiropractic can be a very useful tool in musculoskeletal pain, but I strongly believe that it is really only a part of a larger rehabilitation process.
I agree. Those who say "chiropractic can cure everything" are quacks.
I am a chiropractor. My goal before entering chiropractic school was to focus on sports and rehab. However after treating patients in clinic, I can 100% say I've been helped and I've helped people with numerous other conditions.
The big idea of chiropractic is that there are three basic causes of disease: trauma (macro or micro), toxins (poor nutrition, environmental), and thoughts (stress, depressions). By addressing these three things you are able to correct the CAUSE of disease and allow the body to begin to heal itself.
I've had several patients with headaches including migraines, who with chiropractic treatment have not had regular headaches.
Personally, I use to have sever sinus congestions and sinus headaches (on a daily basis) Once I began getting regular adjustments (about once a month), I haven't had a sinus headache in over 2 years. . . is this a result of change in climate? . . . is this a result in change in diet? Is it a result of the adjustment? I can't say.
What I can say is that the big idea of chiropractic helped my body heal.
The big idea of chiropractic is that there are three basic causes of disease: trauma (macro or micro), toxins (poor nutrition, environmental), and thoughts (stress, depressions).
This statement is a bit vague and simplistic. Are genetic factors not important?
Quote:
By addressing these three things you are able to correct the CAUSE of disease and allow the body to begin to heal itself.
The area labelled with a {w} is where I am feeling pain, especially when I play.
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