Hey friend! Any recommendations for scapula muscle pains/any back pain when stretching, ice/heat, arnica/menthol, and muscle relaxers don't work? :0
Hey! I’m in a similar situation as you, most of my chronic back pain is in my upper back. Mine is mostly due to constant muscle tension and joint infections, so what I do for relief may not work for you! Additionally, for me, these are all forms of pain management. My back pain is a constant thing, it just varies in severity!
Water. Being submerged in water and taking the stress off of my muscles and joints provides me relief, especially when it’s warm water. If I’m in the bath I add Epsom salts.
Hydration. Chronic pain is one of those things that tends to get way worse if you don’t take care of every single one of your basic needs.
Foam Roller/Roller Ball. I’ll lie down on the floor and gently work through the problem areas. I like the roller ball (I just use a tennis ball) because I can apply a controlled amount of pressure on especially bad spots.
Stretching/Gentle Movement. I know you said that stretching didn’t provide relief, but I do think it’s important to gently move and release excess tension you’re holding there due to the pain. Just be gentle and don’t overdo it!
Breathing. Same idea as above, releasing excess tension. I’ll work on my breathing and focus it on the painful area, which can help you relax it without even thinking about it.
Massage Oils/Balms. I’ve found two that work for me personally, and have tried a LOT over the years. I’ll link them just in case you want to take a look! [X] [X]
Anti-Inflammatory Foods. I don’t know if this actually helps back pain or just helps my whole body chill - but being more intentional with my diet has helped to a certain extent.
Posture. I, like most humans, do not have perfect posture. I definitely notice my back pain gets worse when I forget to focus on my posture!
Screentime. In a way this is connected with posture. Many of us (myself included) spend a lot of time staring down at my phone. I’m trying to be more conscious of that.
Infrared Sauna. I used to go to an IR sauna 4x a week and it provided short-term relief with joint and muscle pain (between a couple hours-the end of the day).
Mattress and Pillows. I know a lot of people who switched to better mattresses and pillows and found relief. I am currently in this process myself, so I understand how expensive this can be and that it may not be a realistic option!
Chiropractors/Massage Therapists/etc. I’m currently so swamped with health things that I haven’t had time to add seeing someone about my back to my life - but I do think it’s good to see someone who specializes in that sort of thing. If nothing else, I’m sure they’ll give you some different/better advice than I have!