29Nov/05Off
Ouch
Somehow, last night, while reaching for a pair of scissors, I managed to pull something in my back or shoulderblade or neck area. Still unsure exactly where, although my right arm is killing me and I can’t take a deep breath without shooting pains in my back. I fail to understand what I’ve done, karma-wise, to deserve this, but I’m sure it must have been quite something. In the meantime, you can find me in the corner, clutching my bottle of Aleve, muttering “my precious.”
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November 29th, 2005 - 09:14
Oh my dear, we are sharing the same karma. Early this morning at about 4:30 my jaw got stuck open again. I spent four hours in the emergency room getting morphine and muscle relaxants so they could relocate my jaw. I got home about half an hour ago and now I’m going to bed. I was in the most excruciating pain, and I’m so glad it’s over. Of course, my neck and jaw are killing me, but I can close my mouth so I feel good. Now I’m going to bed and staying there for a while. I had xrays, electrodes and now I’ve got bruises on both hands from the IV.
Beware the yawn. Beware it!
November 29th, 2005 - 09:22
Oh my god, Maggie! Not again! Freakgirl, I hope you’re feeling better too, but damn, can’t-shut-mouth-emergency-room karma trumps shooting-shoulder-pain karma.
Girls, I hope you will both be okay.
November 29th, 2005 - 09:25
I didn’t mean to steal your thunder, honest.
November 29th, 2005 - 09:31
Get thee to a chiropractor, freakgirl. Nothing will help your neck and shoulder like a strong man with skilled hands pressing in all the right spots. Or maybe that’s just me.
November 29th, 2005 - 09:35
I don’t trust chiropractors. Don’t ask me why; I just don’t.
Jeezy creezy, Maggie, are you okay? I’m being selfish now and hoping that you’ll still be coming to visit. I’m sorry you went through that last night, poor thing. Hey, weren’t you supposed to be driving someone to the dentist today?
November 29th, 2005 - 09:50
I second Michael’s opinion, but a doctor should be able to do it too. A few years ago I turned my head just like I do a thousand times a day and something popped and I had shooting pain and could barely move my neck. After suffering for a day or so I went to urgent care where I found out that a rib had dislocated and was pressing into my trapezius muscle and the doctor did what I call a chiropractor move and took my head and shoulder and popped everything back. It was really painful for a second and then I felt better. But – he was a doctor not a chiropractor. A “DO.” not an “MD.” tho – if that means anything.
November 29th, 2005 - 09:54
The pain isn’t bad enough to warrant a doctor visit. Just bad enough to piss me off, that’s all. The Aleve I took this morning has actually taken all the pain away, so that’s cool. It’s silly how easily I can hurt my back. I’m probably the only person on earth who threw out her back from knitting.
November 29th, 2005 - 10:11
I have a feeling it’s a combination of being so stressed out and uptight all weekend because of crashing hard drives and pending parties and house hunting … then sitting in one position all bunched up knitting. I think I need to force you to do some stretching exercises every so often when you sit there knitting in front of the TV for hours like that. Anybody know any good stretches for this?
And Maggie, I may never yawn again. Hope you’re feeling better. And like Freakgirl, I’m selfishly hoping it doesn’t mean you aren’t coming to Jersey!
November 29th, 2005 - 10:35
Are you still doing yoga? I found that helped put an end to the occasional back pain. It also pretty much eliminated any headaches I used to get.
November 29th, 2005 - 10:44
No, I haven’t done yoga in a while. I should sign up for a class. I can’t be trusted to do it on my own. I always enjoy yoga more once it’s over. :)
November 29th, 2005 - 11:05
Ya, I’ve got a few dvds, but I never end up using them. I have to go to a scheduled class, or I end up doing nothing.
November 29th, 2005 - 11:29
There’s a nice yoga and yogalates (yoga-pilates mix) at the gym I go to on Centennial avenue. I can get you a free guest pass for you to try out, if you’d like. It’s really good, IMO.
And it sounds to me like you may have pulled a rib out of place. The symptoms you describe match what happened to me when I was pregnant and arched my back to strethch it…and yanked a rib out. If it doesn’t settle back into place on its own in a day or two, (you’ll know because you won’t have any more sharp pangs), you should see a doctor or chiropractor to gently push it back. The relief is instantaneous once it’s
back where it belongs.
November 29th, 2005 - 11:57
My ribs are far too padded in fat to be popping out. ;)
Geez, between you popping ribs, me hurting my back, and Maggie popping her jaw, I’m beginning to think I might need to keep an ambulance on retainer.
November 29th, 2005 - 12:16
Man, we’re getting old when we’re just talking about our aches and pains. Does anyone want to hear how my bowel movements are doing?
I do hope you guys feel better!
November 29th, 2005 - 12:20
See, GC seconds my emotion. Even if you don’t trust chiropractors, you trust the gays and the Jews, don’t you? If it’s not better in a few days, see someone. PS I’m not evangelizing or anything…to each his own….but I see my chiropractor monthly because I leave there refreshed, relieved, renewed and smelling of his aftershave. Hmmmm.
I missed Maggie’s trick jaw bit the first time I read this post. Damn. Has that happened to you before, M? I had it once. I woke up, yawned, and my jaw locked open. Aggggh! One of the worst feelings ever. I’m sure my eyes looked like a caged wild animal’s. Thankfully, mine wasn’t nearly as bad as yours and I was able to reduce it after working on the muscles for about 15 minutes. Still, it’s awful!
November 29th, 2005 - 12:28
I pulled something similar a year or so ago that was the result of too much yoga culminating in straining my neck & upper back in a pilates class. All I know is that it hurt to breathe, sleep and walk. I took the bus everywhere so to minimize walking and I ate Advil like candy. After a week, it finally felt better.
In light of what everyone is saying, it’s difficult to determine whether it’s muscular or something else. If it IS muscular, there’s not much you can do, I’m afraid.
November 29th, 2005 - 12:59
I’ve hurt my back/neck/shoulders so much in the past few years, I’ve become a pro. I’ve only needed medical attention once…the rest of the time it goes away on its own.
November 29th, 2005 - 13:02
I’ve got a hemorrhoid that’s tearing my ass apart.
November 29th, 2005 - 13:15
Thanks for sharing, Chuck. Maybe you should try your neti pot.
November 29th, 2005 - 13:20
Or my chiropractor.
November 29th, 2005 - 13:31
Deb – HARDY FREAKIN HAR.
And Michael, I don’t think Dr. Buttstuffer can help me, but thanks.
November 29th, 2005 - 13:35
I’m not a big fan of force adjustments, but I’ve had good luck with chiros that use the Activator Method. My $0.02.
November 29th, 2005 - 13:53
Wow. Chuck gets kinda cranky when his ass is torn apart.
Dr. Buttstuffer. Rude! Nice.
November 29th, 2005 - 14:33
I almost called my mommy this morning to complain, but then I remembered she can be totally unsympathetic sometimes so I’ll share with you guys instead. I developed a cough and last night my throat hurt so bad I had to go to the 24 hr. grocery in the middle of the night to get medicine because all I could do was sit in bed and cry. So I got throat spray and some super strong Halls. Turns out the throat spray makes me gag which makes me cough which makes my throat feel like rusty nails are being dragged accross it. Good times. The drops helped enough that at least I could sleep and not cry. Now it’s early afternoon and I’m practically half-way through the box.
Freakgirl, I haven’t had the “Pop and Burn” in quite a while but I sure know what you’re talking about. Hope it magically goes away!
November 29th, 2005 - 14:55
Not cranky Michael, just joking.
November 29th, 2005 - 15:51
Hope you feel better soon!
November 29th, 2005 - 16:07
freakgirl: “I’m probably the only person on earth who threw out her back from knitting.”
Would it make you feel better if I told you I once sprained my ankle while playing chess?
November 29th, 2005 - 16:13
Yes. TOTALLY! Nerd! How?
Jane, feel better, take care of yourself. :(
November 29th, 2005 - 16:35
Of COURSE we are still coming. I just realized where all this crappy karma is coming from. I’ve been making fun of Gary on Survivor because as he lost weight his jaw looked less and less like a natural part of his head and I kept commenting it was going to fall off. So Carson Daly made mine fall off instead.
I just described what happened here: http://www.click-clack.net/2005/11/dislocated
I don’t trust chiropractors either. Not up for debate nor am I trying to argue, I just don’t.
Debbie, I hope you loosen up, that whatever you pulled just relaxes and goes back to wherever you pulled it from.
November 29th, 2005 - 16:36
Maggie, you are the funniest lady in the world. Carson Daly. So fucking awesome. I can’t wait to see you.
November 29th, 2005 - 16:42
Brigita, I just clicked on your link. WHAT THE HELL IS THAT THING?
November 29th, 2005 - 16:42
3 more sleeps!
November 29th, 2005 - 16:46
Maybe I’ll just take a bottle of wine to bed and stay there til Friday.
My cleaning lady is coming tomorrow. Thank freaking god.
November 29th, 2005 - 17:51
Hey, it’s no big deal. It’s kinda funny to me that two otherwise open-minded women, without apparent reason, write off an entire profession. To me, having grown up with it, it’s like not trusting plumbers or postal workers or mechanics or the clergy. Oh. Wait.
November 29th, 2005 - 18:02
I used to work for a chiropractor, doing short warm up massages before she did the adjustments. (I’m a qualified massage therapist, but I don’t do it anymore.) Chiropractors are good for lots of things, but if it’s a muscle strain then you are better off with some sort of mild anti-inflammatory, some heat, and some sort of ‘sports rub’ mentholated cream. Once it’s less painful, get a massage.
Oh, and buy a neti pot. Just, don’t borrow Chuck’s…
November 29th, 2005 - 19:29
I have TMJ like no body’s business, and my mouth makes a horrifying clicking sound whenever I open it wide. I’ve always had a fear that it would get stuck open just like what happened to Maggie. Eeek! I hope that doesn’t happen to you again!
Also, I don’t trust chiropractors either. I know this is going to sound like a “friend of a friend’s cousin once went to a chiropractor and…” story, but it is indeed true that my ex-boyfriend’s roommate went temporarily blind after having an “adjustment” at a chiropractor.
I know, one incident should not an entire profession be judged by, but let’s just say I had my apprehensions before that, and after hearing her story, that sealed it.
November 29th, 2005 - 20:03
I rue the day I was the Neti Nazi. I’ll never live it down.
PS – It’s awesome.
November 29th, 2005 - 20:08
“Write off an entire profession.”
When you put it that way, it sounds really stupid. But there it is. :)
Rain, I hope it never happens to anyone ever. It’s awful. Good luck with your TMD. There’s so little we can do about it without resorting to surgery, which is something I would like to avoid at all costs.
November 29th, 2005 - 22:22
I’ve been going to a physiotherapist named Grant for lo these past twenty years. From stress “alignment mishaps” (which sounds like what you have freakgirl) which are agonising, car accident “soft tissue injuries” to “herniated discs”, he’s been my man.
Very up close and smell the aftershave but man, does it do the trick. I always feel a little floaty afterwards.
Heh, heh, neti pot Chuck. I was thinkin’ that too. ;)
loulou
November 30th, 2005 - 10:52
The “activator” is this [spring-loaded?] tool that the chiro uses to thump your vertebrae and joints back into alignment.
As for those of you with TMJ and/or bruxism (aka teeth grinding, I just like saying “bruxism”), I also recommend the NTI appliance, which is like a night guard but is made of hard plastic and fits over your front teeth.
Guess where I store my stress? Here’s a hint: it’s not my stomach.
November 30th, 2005 - 15:28
NTI appliance…sounds like Neti appliance. Sounds like Chuck is involved.
November 30th, 2005 - 16:14
Har!
November 30th, 2005 - 17:50
I finally succumbed. I’ve been thinking about it and finally ordered it. No, not the Diva Cup. The neti pot! Amazon has ‘em. A new book and a neti pot all in one convenient super saver shipped package.
November 30th, 2005 - 18:16
I can’t wait to hear your report.
December 1st, 2005 - 08:50
I just fell off my chair! That was too funny. Soory for you pain though