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Any suggestions for how to relieve a neck and shoulder tension/pain that has become unbearable? I'm most likely looking for an easy answer that doesn't exist. I can feel my neck muscles are beyong tense which is causing intense shoulder pain muscles on top of the shoulders) and of course the deep, stabbing pain in my right shoulder blade along with a constant tooth ache type pain. Now that I put it in words, I sound like a mess!
It has happened before but usually is gone in a few days. I'm on two weeks now and I simply can't put up with it. I left work early but am stuck because if I go to my doctor I will just get pills. Maybe that's what I need? The last time I took tylenol/vikadin I got really sick. Tylenol does nothing. The chiropractor is normally my first choice but I haven't gone in so long I'm sure they'd want xrays and more visits than I'm willing to do at this time. i know I'm being a horrible patient now. Haha.
I'm thinking it must be a pinched nerve but there isn't anything I can relate to the cause that makes sense. I never has these issues until post thyroidectomy. I'm told it's not related but there is some correlation. I keep waiting for it to break but it doesn't let up. Hubby gives great massages but it keeps hurting. BioFreeze feels ok but doesn't do much.
I have a pretty high pain threshhold but is me not doing anything making it worse? The pain is beginning to make me nauseous.
Starting to feel like a whiner now but any suggestions would be appreciated.
Deb
"Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead, where there is no path, and leave a trail.
-Ralph Waldo Emerson
2007 CC
2013 thyroid cancer- total thyroidectomy
2013 Hashimoto's - numbers always "normal"
2017 Lyme's Disease
It's different but it's easy to use and works. You might try using an earthing mat, or earthing EKG patch placed onto the sore shoulder to see if it helps. Earthing has certainly worked well for me at relieving aches and pains.
If you've had luck with a chiro before, why not do that? I know it takes multiple visits, but why not try? I've had good success there with a back/neck issue that recurs a few times a year.
Hi Deb,
Sorry about your pain issues. I go to a very good, old-fashioned chiropractor when my back or neck or any other body part acts up. He has helped with all of those things as well as TMJ and esophageal spasm. A really good chiropractor is a God send.
Hope you feel better.
Sheila W
To get something you never had, you have to do something you never did.
A person who never made a mistake never tried something new. Einstein
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Thanks for all the suggestions! Tex, I believe you are right on track but I'm back to that dilemma with my endo again. I took a tylenol/vikadin pill with dinner. Didn't cut the pain at all but has made me tired. I've brought the shoulder pain to my endo's attention before. He told me it's not related (nor his problem). Sigh. It's never been this bad before.
I already have the fibromyalgia dx but dismissed it as something I would have to deal with on my own since the only option I was given years ago was to take another pill. I looked at the list again and it has my name all over it. I've found my memory is foggy which Is very disturbing. I don't have that feeling lke I'm going nuts like I did after my thyroidectomy but all my days seem to be one big blur.
Blueberry, do the patches have to be connected to something? I love the electro-stimulation pads the chiropractor uses. Although, I always wanted the power turned up higher than they were willing to do. Must be the pain threshhold thing. Didn't feel it's effects unless it was cranked up.
I've been getting nightly massages from my husband- God bless his patience!
Gabes- I've been using the magnesium spray daily. It has been helpful with my leg cramps. I don't care for the stickiness but is worth it. I've found using it as my deodorant is the easiest for me. Not too much of an issue since the weather is far from the sweaty kind. Read an interesting blurb that another sign of magnesium deficiency is the absence of moons on your fingernails. Not sure if it's true or not but I'm lacking them on my pinky fingers and they are barely noticeable on my ring fingers. I should probably increase the amount of squirts in a day.
If it doesn't improve by morning I will have to suck it up and go to the chiropractor.
Deb
"Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead, where there is no path, and leave a trail.
-Ralph Waldo Emerson
2007 CC
2013 thyroid cancer- total thyroidectomy
2013 Hashimoto's - numbers always "normal"
2017 Lyme's Disease
I would guess that your chiropractor is using something called TENS pain treatment. I'm not sure if earthing works the same as TENs or not. Most likely the two are similar though. Both are anti-inflammatory and both have a tingling warmth sensation to the treatment. What earthing does is utilize the electrical charge of the earth. The surface of the earth has a natural negative electrical charge. Instead of plugging into the electrical power outlet as TENS treatment does, the earthing cord goes into the single grounding hole found at the bottom of the outlet.
I've done TENS before for tennis elbow, and between the two treatments in my opinion believe earthing works best. That may not be exactly correct in direct comparison, but the nice part about earthing is that you can use it as long as you want. I've read some people earth all day long, using a grounding pad while at work, and sleeping on earthing bed sheets at night. (I'm similar to that myself, grounding myself anymore most of the day.)
To add, the best earthing experience Ive had is simply walking barefoot in the grass or along a beach. the weather isn't all that great to do that this time of year in America, but when it's warm I love being outside barefoot anymore.
Thanks for the explanation. I've heard of earthing before but never with the plug in pads. If it feels similar to what the chiropractor does it would be worth a try. I always felt much better after my visits. The cost and the time are what makes me drag my feet. I agree with walking barefoot. During the non- winter months I don't wear shoes while out and about in the yard. I love it! I have stepped on a few bees and the occassion dog poo from irresponsible neighbors but nothing beats the feel of grass or dirt for that matter between the toes.
Tex, my endo sent me a letter in the mail saying he likes where I'm at and see ya in three months. They don't even want to talk to me anymore- must not like the constant grumping about how I'm not satisfied with my treatment. I'm not sure how to go about fishing for a replacement. A mass mailing with a sob story? Haha. I'm thinking about going back to where I had my surgery done. It's the same provider but a different location about an hour away. I could live with that if it got me some results but I am hesitant because a visit to someone else would be reflected in records my current endo has which, from past experience in the GI world, could get me booted out from his practice which is five minutes away from home. I wish I could send out a note to other endos showing my numbers and requesting a bisit if they would be willing to do anything different. I did something similar trying to find a doctor that would allow NDT but failed miserably and got yelled at by one of the nurses. They won't comment without an appointment (which I can understand) and aren't keen on going against a colleague. I wonder if there are any patient advocates that could help. I tried calling the pharmacy already just to see if I could get the name of any doctor that wrote a RX for it, that didn't work either.
Deb
"Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead, where there is no path, and leave a trail.
-Ralph Waldo Emerson
2007 CC
2013 thyroid cancer- total thyroidectomy
2013 Hashimoto's - numbers always "normal"
2017 Lyme's Disease
If you could come to MN, I found a MD/DO who I just saw yesterday and he is letting me adjust my thyroid med (Armour) according to how I feel and not following the numbers. He sees a wide variety of patients including cancer. He is private pay, you can submit on your own to insurance, and you can keep your records private, he does not need to talk with your MD. He wants to do the first visit in his office, but will do some phone consults after that.
Just a thought, let me know if you want more info.
Unfortunately it seems that there are a lot of medical cliques around who go out of their way to punish patients who try to shop around. I was going to suggest asking a pharmacist, but obviously that didn't work, indicating that there probably aren't any nearby options.
I wonder if there are any thyroid support groups (either online or in the real world) who would have any suggestions. I'm afraid that in order to find help, you may have to travel a lot farther than you want, but if that's the case, then you would definitely want the change to be worthwhile. Traveling a couple of hundred miles only to hear the same old story would really suck, to say the least.
Incidentally, when trying to get information from a pharmacist, IMO one is much better off doing that in person, because over the phone many people are likely to be much more tight-lipped about what they say, since they really don't have any idea who they might be talking to (they might be afraid that you could be Lesley Stahl with 60 Minutes, for all they know.). Or they might suspect that you could be a spy from a local doctor's office checking up to see if they are dispensing negative information about them. Research shows that it is easier to tell when someone is being truthful when you are face to face with them, compared with talking with them over the phone, and so most people are likely to be much more trusting and therefore more candid in person (unless of course, you happen to look like an investigative news reporter. ).
EDIT: I have a hunch that lead from Donna may be your best option, since you know it comes from a source you can trust.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
I would make the trip since the source is trustworthy but the expense isn't something I could swing. None of it would be covered under my insurance because it's out of network and there is no way they would approve a visit when there are plenty of endos in my area that participate in the HMO. I go through quite a process with my son each year for an out of network doctor visit he has to make for his issues. That was also the case with the Entorolab testing but it worked in my favor. It was covered 100% because there is no stool testing available in the network. Then, I have to keep in mind I have my yearly ultrasound and whatever cancer screening they may do related to my thyroidectomy for who knows how long. That's a cost covered 100% under my current plan but I know I would be SOL finding a doctor to do that follow up if he/she isn't the one in control of my meds. I don't know what people do without a good insurance plan....I am very fortunate yet at the same time very confined. Even my labwork is fully covered. I was surprised at how spendy that this, too.
Good thoughts about going in person to the pharmacist and is worth a try. I didn't think of it that way but makes sense. Once they get a good look at me they will know I am sniffing out a news story but at my wits end. I won't have to try too hard to look desperate.
Deb
"Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead, where there is no path, and leave a trail.
-Ralph Waldo Emerson
2007 CC
2013 thyroid cancer- total thyroidectomy
2013 Hashimoto's - numbers always "normal"
2017 Lyme's Disease
The right exercises can do wonders. Those and chiro and massage add to the picture. For several months I went to a massage therapist weekly and it loosened up my shoulders a lot. Neck exercises helped the neck. Chiro helps the whole body.
I just started with a personal trainer who is helping me with the right stretching exercises. I went in feeling tight; I left the first session *much* looser. I'm a fan of multi-modalities.
I took a tylenol/vikadin pill with dinner. Didn't cut the pain at all but has made me tired. I've brought the shoulder pain to my endo's attention before. He told me it's not related (nor his problem). Sigh. It's never been this bad before.