Never ending cramp

Over the course of the week, I started having pretty bad pains at the base of my skull.  It almost felt as though my skull was trying to merge with the top of my neck.  I kept putting cold packs on it.  I got tired of taking Aleve, even though it did help deter headaches that seemed to ensue.  Shoulders still feel like there is a never ending cramp, but I have noticed that the toughness when I touch those areas is a little less.

I saw Doc Friday afternoon.  His first question was, "How did you feel last weekend?"  The next one was, "Did you hate me? ... "Good."  Odd man.  Lol.

He asked me if I had any new pains.  I told him about the problem at the base of my skull.  He expected it, which it good I guess in that it wasn't some abnormal thing.  He told me that the muscles in my back tightened (that we pissed off with the ESWT) and those muscles are connected to the base of my skull.  Makes a lot of sense to me really.  Maybe not to other people, but I do get it.  So he massaged it and stretched out the area along with my shoulders.  He asked how my "Wall Angels" we're coming along.  I said they were fine, but getting a little easy.  He told me to add soup cans or something to each hand and do them that way.  I told him I had ankle weights, but he was worried that it would be too much at this point.  We don't want to read re-damage my shoulders.

He decided to try some acupuncture (from what I understand, it's chiropractic acupuncture).  Since I was rather squeamish about the needles, he decided to only put four in and see how I took it.  At first, it was a tad.....unnerving.  The last needle stung pretty bad, so he had to try another spot.  Because I was rather sensitive, he didn't go for the electric stimulation like he wanted.  Afterwards, I was more comfortable with it.  He mentioned that he would rather put more in on various areas; he said to think about it and decide next week.  I think I am ok with the idea.  Especially since I don't see the needles, I am all right with it.  My boyfriend is a big skeptic, but I'm in so much pain, that I'm rather desperate.

Doc did tell me to get a foam roller.  He was surprised when I told that I didn't have one already.  I told him that I knew about them, but didn't know what to do with them.  He showed me some uses for my back (since I have never ending pain there), shoulder blades, shoulders, and neck.  He also added some stretching to use with the roller.  He said it could help speed up the healing process.  I hear runners and cyclists love foam rollers, but I didn't quite get it.  I figure my boyfriend could some use out of it after playing tennis and football.

I see Doc again next week as usual now.  For now, I like how he is trying to solve the issue; unlike the PCP and sports medicine doctors I've seen that just prescribe steroids and physical therapy to manage the pain.  So far, my experience with chiropractors has been positive.  I think it helps to find the right doc too.  Thanks to my buddy for recommending him!