A Pain in the Neck

I've always suffered from chronic back pain since I was an adolescent.  I complained at first, but the doctors said there wasn't much they could do, so I learned to live with it.  I have gotten real good at ignoring it.  On a normal day my pain is at about a 6 (on a scale of 1 - 10).  I get flare-ups, and they suck.  Then the pain is usually at about an 8 or 9.  Sometimes it gets really bad, like after I go cycling, running, and then give the dog a bath; that pain is a 10.  I'm out of commission for a good while.  I've stopped taking pain killers years ago mainly because I started developing a tolerance for them (not good...).  Hot salt baths, heating pads, stretching, and avoidance is usually my treatments.  Those that know me realize that when I say, "Man...  My back hurts," that it is pretty severe.

Over the last few years, I've gotten semi-regular headaches that many times cause nausea and light sensitivity.  I always figured it stemmed from my eyes and/or glasses.  I've also started having severe pains (8 or 9) in my left shoulder and all of my neck.  When that area begins to hurt, a throbbing/aching pain begins between my shoulder blades (7 or 8).  Last summer I was in tears quite frequently.  My boyfriend said that pain in the shoulders and neck were a regular thing for cyclists and to just get used to it.  I would back off on the amount of activity and eventually the pain would die down to about a 5 or 6.

I started running regularly earlier this month and those severe pains returned.  I refuse to live with this any longer.  I figured something was wrong.  So I took a friend's advice and called 1st Choice Healthcare to set up an appointment to see a sports chiropractor.  My friend recommended a doctor there.  I had my first appointment last Monday.

Turns out the cause of my agony stems from my profession and passion of playing the double bass.  :(  This makes me very sad.  Doc says that the scalene muscles in my neck (primarily my left side, but my right is all screwed up too) have intertwined themselves with all of the muscles in my shoulder.  Supposedly it's created a big rubber band ball.  Nice visual huh?  I had never heard of scalene muscles.

He said that problems in this area also trigger pain points beside the shoulder blade.  Imagine that.  I had that problem.  I found an interesting article about that very thing.  So Doc says my case is pretty bad.  I'm supposed to go twice a week for treatment until it starts to settle, then I go once a week.  I did manage to go twice this week, but I'll have to go once a week for the next couple because of work obligations.

I went again on Friday.  I was stupid sore for Monday - Wednesday.  On Friday, he "grated" my shoulders and neck, then used ESWT which pulverized my muscles.  One particular nerve on my right side was really pissed; it kept sending lightening bolts of pain behind my shoulder blade.  :(  Then he stretched and tried to push muscles back in place.  He says he felt a difference.  All I know is that my shoulders and neck have been ultra-weak and sore since.  Last night I had problems holding my head up on my own.

These scalene muscles have also pulled at least one vertebrae out of place -- C2 I think.  I can feel it protruding just behind my left jaw.  He said he doesn't want to adjust it for a little while -- at least until he feels that the screwed up muscles don't pull it right back out again.  He believes that is the source of my headaches.

Needless to say, I haven't run in a week and it has been really hard not to.  I bet I could at least try...  He said I could do all the swimming and strength training I wanted!  Bad part is my work schedule won't allow me to swim until Feb 12.  :(  So frustrating.  I hate strength training...

*sigh*  So...  I'm rather frustrated and I feel broken.

Lesson here is:  Don't ignore severe pain.  Don't accept severe pain as "normal."  If you live in the Atlanta area, I highly recommend giving 1st Choice Healthcare a call.