Shoulder problem...

[Timmay]

Yeah I know ....this is a site about shaving ya head and all but I have this medical condition.  I just really dont know what to do with it.  ...HEY!!!!! why is everyone running....get back here....I gotta talk at ya for a minute. 
Here's the deal.  My left shoulder...up around my lower neck..the muscles in there half way thru the day seem to tighten up.  Sometimes I have to raise my left arm up in the air to relax it .  I really dont want to spend a bunch of money at the doctors office nor the chiropractor...cause really I think it is just the muscles.  I seen and have been told by a few people about those electro stimulate devices.  Some call them TENS and im not for sure what they are called correctly.  But anyways you put these patches on and there are wires that sends an electrical current ( low ) thru your muscle and it relaxes it.  People who have used them swear by them and really I havent heard any bad reviews on them.  Does anyone in here have any experience with them and do you know where i can get a good one but not at an expensive price?  I called the local pharmacy and they have them but the cheapest they have is like $460 bucks.  I have looked on the net and ahve found several but I do not know enough about them to know what is good and what isnt.  SO there ya go...thats my condition.....you can all relax now.  See ya ...just hit me back wiht any info

[Asher]

timmj---your condition is a bit vague, but i can offer some middling advice, with a few asterisks.  first, do you get this problem after work; do you sit at a desk all day in front of a computer?  do you work monday--friday and not experience this on weekends; your days off?  if it seems to you a work problem, invest in a better chair/wrist-comfort keyboard stop/etc. 
  the simplest response (without factoring in the 'work' scenario) would be either a pinched nerve (only if it's been happening more recently than historically), tense muscles (again, would be a recent 2-week or so thing), or a spinal alignment issue (who knows how long--is your posture odd?  is one leg longer than the other?).  the things that would help these all are: hot baths, heat therapy, massages, etc.  if it's a bone thing, heat won't necessarily help; ice might be a better alternative--fifteen minutes on, fifteen off, repeat.
  before you invest in these electro-devices, talk to your doctor.  if it's a serious problem or an everyday pain, that's the best thing to do.  if you think it's your alignment, chiropracters are probably cheaper than you think, generally between $50-$100 per session (though you will probably have to keep going back overall to maintain your 'skeletal chi').  in closing, i don't know of anybody who has achieved lasting success through the electro-stimulatory devices you're talking about.  if it's a recent muscle problem, take some anti-inflammatories for a few days (ibuprofen, tylenol) to keep swelling down.
  good luck--asher

[Tyler]

Damn, Asher said everything I wanted to say.  Though, you may also want to invest in a good upper body massage.  I get the same pain you're talking about once and a while.  Though, I do go to the chiro once a month (insurance covers it  ) I find that a massage will often to the trick better than the Chiro if it's muscular and not skeletal.

[SLYinKC]

Another suggestion is something I invested in a couple of years ago that has eliminated my need to go to the chiropractor.  It is an inversion table.  I don't know if anyone else has used one of these, but I have found it invaluable for my lower back and it helps with anything in the spine and shoulder areas.  I have introduced several friends to the benefits of using an inversion table and most all have had similar results.  I found my at a SAM's club for under $150, although you can spend a whole lot more if you want.

[PORKY]

HEY SLYINKC, how about trying to explain what an inversion table is and how it works , for us UNINFORMED ?    and exactly WHAT the benifets are from the usage ?  what types of problems/injuries may benifet from its usage ?

[champ007]

I will jump on the inversion table explaination. My father has one. Its like a stretcher that has locks for your feet, kinda like the ab crunch chair but doesn't bend. Once locked in you "slowly" learn back and it "inverts" you, thus the inservion name, with your feet at the ceiling and head at the floor. The reason you slowly invert is to allow time for the blood in your body to "not rush" to your head, which could cause some people to pass out. From there you relax and your body will stretch out.

A note about Chriopracters, your best best to find a decient one would be to stay away from the ones who advertise on TV, ya know, the car wreck advertisements. They usually are about money versus your health. Here I have found one from pulling the phone book out that you pay for the first visit about $50.00 and sign up for a year insurance at $40.00, then all visits after are only $25.00 out of pocket. If you don't have insurance this is ideal. Plus I have to add the doctor who is female is Hottttt! 

[SLYinKC]

HEY SLYINKC, how about trying to explain what an inversion table is and how it works , for us UNINFORMED ?    and exactly WHAT the benifets are from the usage ?  what types of problems/injuries may benifet from its usage ?

Porky, can't add a whole lot to what champ said.  Just google "inversion table" and you'll see a pic.  Like champ said, it's a table that you lock your feet into and lean back and the table inverts and you hang upside down, being held by your ankles.  It stretches your spine and counteracts the effects gravity has in pushing you down and compressing your spine.  It is very relaxing.  I use it every day and after the first couple of times you don't get dizzy or light headed from being inverted.  Just like anything else, your body has to adapt.  It is great for easing the discomfort of back pain and spine related issues.  I have friends and family that (like myself) have found alot of relief from inverting just a few minutes every day or so.  I haven't been back to the chiropactor since I got mine about 3 years ago.

Here's a link to a pic.....

http://www.sitincomfort.com/inprod.html?src=google

[Marz]

TimmJ, I am a huge advocate of exercise (as I have stated on here often) I find it to be almost a cure all for most ailments. You may want to try some stretching and a light weight upper body workout, the more you work those shoulder muscles (without straining them) will most likely help keep the shoulder aligned as it is mainly a muscle joint.

If it is painful for you to do any type of exercise then I would suggest trying a massage, a good masseuse will be able to focus on the shoulder muscles and at least give some temporary relief (no, not THAT type of relief). 

I have a friend with an inversion table, they are great. I would love to have one but they are fairly large and I just dont have the room.

[froze]

I have one of those electro thingy's and bought it off of E-bay!
I think I paid about $20 for it new! Mine I think is an Igia brand!
I have had these in the past because of football injuries to my neck and shoulders!
These work to help the muscles relax but also a good deep massage works!
If mine gets really bad I will use a cold pack!!

[Robmeister]

TimmJ, I am a huge advocate of exercise (as I have stated on here often) I find it to be almost a cure all for most ailments.

BINGO !!!    Nail ---> Head -----> MARZ !!!

Exercise is KEY, Mr. Timm.  IMO, if yer exercising regularly--including at least SOME form of resistance training (i.e. weights) and this is happening, then I would look into the other stuff.

Personally when I and/or my wife--who used to be a personal trainer....when we start getting goofy soreness, stiffness or whatever, it's usually a signal for us to get back to the gym.....PERIOD.

I injured my shoulder playing football a couple years back....racked it up pretty good.  I was doing everything EXCEPT working out.   Magnets, meds, massage, ice packs, heat packs, Ben Gay,.....and yes, inversion tables.

It wasn't until I got off my lazy ass and started lifting weights again that--as Marz put it--the ailment was cured.  It was pretty tender at first, so I took it easy.  But now it's back to full strength and no sign of previous injury.

[Timmay]

Thanks for all the imput you guys.  I have been looking into some routines...so keep me posted of any other cures!

[Robmeister]

...I have been looking into some routines.

***yawwwn**** 

...so keep me posted of any other cures!

NO

Start working out !  If the problem continues...THEN do other stuff 

[Timmay]

OK DRILL SERGENT!  I WILL GET RIGHT ON IT...YES SIR!

[Robmeister]

What's interesting is that--when I had my shoulder problem--it wasn't shoulder exercises per say that fixed it up.  (i.e. military presses, lateral raises, etc...).  It was bench presses and push ups.

[Marz]

Push-ups are one of the best exercises you can do and they can be done almost anywhere for free.