Aching back!

[Bobbi]

Hi, everyone. I have done PS back and bi's for the last two weeks. I felt like I had had a terrific workout yesterday but instead of that lovely muscle soreness that means development, my muscles feel tense and knotted. Does anyone know what's up with that?

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[Bernard]

Hi Bobbi,

Are you under any extra-curricular stress ie. life ? Sometimes just being tense and agitated in our everyday lives can cause knots and discomfort. Do you have a willing partner to slap some kind of massage oil on to your back (such as Sweet Almond oil or Grapeseed oil) and massage those tense points for you for 15 minutes ? It can make such a difference

Hope this has been of some use.

Anna

 

[eema]

Hi Bobbi,

I agree with Anna, a massage might be just what the doctor ordered. I noticed on the "about ourselves" message that you're living in Tucson. I went to U of A and lived in Tucson off and on for 8 years. I love it there. Now we're in San Francisco but I remember from my days at U of A that there's that place of 4th Ave. that is the massage school. I can't remember the name of it now but it's a school for those who are practicing to be massage therapists and you used to be able to get massages there for cheap - like $25 for an hour.

From my own personal experience, when my back feels like yours does now, it's time for me to visit my chiropractor. I had severe back pain for about 3 months to the point where I almost couldn't do Cathe anymore (horror of horrors!). Finally I found a good chiropractor and it has literally changed my life. I go around 2 times a month and it keeps my back in shape.

Good luck, Linda

 

[Bernard]

Hi Linda,
Good point, actually. If anyone wants 'cheaper' beauty treatments done, then check out your local beauty college.

Anna

 

[naughtoj]

Bobbi..

My back gets as you describe when I have worked my back muscles VERY hard. Like too hard. They get that way after CK. Almost feels like the flu!!
Janice

 

[Bobbi]

It's really miserable and I am trying hard just to be relaxed but I have three kids and a husband so you know how that goes!

I also have a full body spa massage from Gadabout , a day spa, in my drawer. My sister gave it to me as a gift for watching her demanding kids often! I just need to go and get it.

I think it is tension but it's the knots that are wierd and I haven't experienced it quite this badly in a long time!

Thanks for your responses. I am going to schedule that massage and beg my husband for a back rub to boot!

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[Maribeth]

[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON Oct-18-02 AT 00:46AM (Est)[/font][p]Hey, Bobbi,
As unpleasant as it sounds, try icing the area. Ice slows down the pain signals, decreases inflammation and provides a temporary numbness that is wonderful.

As a PT myself, I would suggest you find a sports or orthopaedic physical therapist or a DO--the DOs have all the training and priviledges of an MD, and manipulative training of a chiro. BTW, PTs can also do spinal mobilizations, too.

Sometimes working the back can lead to a vertebra getting slightly out of alignment, causing nerve firing to go haywire, which leads to the spasms, or knots as you mentioned. While a massage therapist can work the soft tissue, a PT can do both soft tissue manipulation and spinal mobilization and will be able to assess both the muscular and skeletal components.

But, ice, a good rubdown by your DH and some stretching just may do the trick. Good luck and e-mail me if you have any questions about physical therapy treatment.
Maribeth

 

[Bobbi]

Thanks, Maribeth. I will ice it. I worked on kneading last night and it feels better but it's odd, my whole upper back is knotted and kind of bumpy. I used to get one spot but this is ridiculous. I am trying to keep my shoulders back and stay tall and loose but you know how sometimes trying to relax can make you more tense. And I am not compulsive, not compulsive, not compulsive! ;-)

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[Maribeth]

Bobbi,
I can relate to the being compulsive! Couple of other things to try--get a tennis ball or a softer kid's ball if the tennis ball is too hard to start with--lie on your back and place the ball under your back right where the knots are. It'll hurt like all h#ll at first, but breathe slowly and deeply, and stay in the position for several minutes. Once one area relaxes, move the ball to another.

Ice like crazy after this treatment. Once this calms down, let me know and I'll post or e-mail you some postural exercises and streching to help.
Maribeth

 

[Bobbi]

Thanks, Maribeth!

Ice is nice, once you get through the initial shock of it! I have a frozen water bottle I use for icing my foot and it worked well on my back, thank you, Maribeth. (I just did PT for plantar fasciitis.) I apprciate your expertise! I have another trick that is working well. I have a 15 pound body bar which is padded and rolls up and down the back quite nicely. I am searching for my tennis ball. In a house with a 5 year old who has an active social life, it's just plain disappeared!

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