I gotta talk about it because I'm so fucking happy and proud of myself I'm just!!!!!
The guy I'm dating has had pain in his shoulder that radiated to his fingers and neck for HALF A YEAR and has worsened during the past two months, including paraesthesia, the feeling of muscle weakness and so on.
He received a prescription for a really fucking strong painkiller, which didn't even relieve it, a referral to the orthopedist and a shoulder ultrasound.
And guess what.
I did some tests for the Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, worked with fascia for a bit, found a few trigger points on his scalenus muscles, taped his clavicle and upper part of the trapezius, taught him how to do one of the neuromobilisation techniques and. He just doesn't feel the pain or numbness or the muscle weakness anymore. It took like 1.5h tops. And he's been in nearly constant pain or discomfort for like half a year.
This post and illustrations are an amazing follow up to my previous post about the pericardium and connection to neck pain.
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The heart (1) has obvious importance for sustaining life but it has a lesser known connection to the more āorthopedicā problems commonly seen amongst patients. Specifically, the fascial outer layering called the pericardium is directly connected to multiple tissues in the thorax and spine.
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On the anterior is the connection to the sternum (2) via the superior and inferior sternopericardiac ligaments (3,4). Superiorly, the link is the cervico-pericardiac ligament (5), which is connected to the deep cervical fascia (green) and houses the trunk of the brachio-cephalic vein (6). Inferiorly, the pericardium directly connects to the diaphragm (7). Lastly, and perhaps most interesting, is the posterior-superior connection to the cervical spine. The Vertebro-pericardiac ligament (8) directly connects the heart to the anterior aspects of C6 and C7.
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Tension on bones is not just muscular, but can be from visceral connections such as this. Tension in this tissue can contribute the anterior translation and sheer forces in the vertebrae and discs. This raises the question why we see so much degeneration, disc herniation and pain at the lower cervical spine. Perhaps a direct connection of cervical problems to poor breathing patterns? Maybe we can positively influence the heart via the neck as therapists? The anatomical LINKS provide us the possibilities!
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How I manipulate the pericardium with a fascial recoil technique via the sternum you can see in my previous post. You can influence the pericardium via the superior and inferior sternopericardiac ligaments (3,4).
Isn't it silly that to relieve pain, we have to endure painful things? I just kicked my own ass doing yoga, core work, trigger/acupressure, etc. Haven't even gotten to my evening routine of scalding hot bath, spicy oils, and scraping the trauma out of my body. I need an android.
Ok, I thought of something angsty. TRIGGER WARNING : miscarriage, stillborn
Now, hear me out. What if after this one night stand with Lucifer, MC gets pregnant. Diavolo learns about this(this bitch totally has spies in the human world, don't @ me) and gets super jealous and etc. Meanwhile, the second exchange program has started and all the gang is back together with the exception of MC, of course. Her absence got questioned but Diavolo's excuse seems legit(he doesn't tell them the truth obviously). New students appear and one of the angels, a female one, turns out to be Lucifer's first love ( I want to point out that in this AU MC and Lucifer were a thing.) and their affair recandles. Months has passed and MC is about to give birth. The Lucifer's lover announces that she is pregnant. Diavolo, by this point, had MC supervised through out her pregnancy and just now decides to tell Lucifer about her condition. Lucifer, being the prideful demon he is, agree with Diavolo's plan of getting rid of the half human child, because 1.It will be half-human, therefore unfit to be called Lucifer's firstborn, and 2. His reputation will be ruined. He, the most powerful demon after the Prince of Devildom, has his heir be born out of a lowly human, while his second-born, whose mother is a powerful angel, will be always second to the inferior child. Lucifer can't have that. And, so, he gives his permission to Diavolo to get rid of it. In her early nine month, Diavolo's spies make sure to poison MC, so that the child will be born stillborn. MC is devastated and mourning, while Lucifer is happily spenting quality with his pregnant angel lover.
I DO have an idea about a continuation to this where MC gets revenge. So, if there is anyone who cares to read it, let me know.
Is there any discussion on trigger points already?
Having dealt with PTSD myself and having been extremely prone to triggers, which sometimes came out of the blue, Iām sure Romione and Hinny must have dealt with them. Iām convinced that the world must have felt like a minefield in the beginning.
Like Hermione not being able to stand the sound of glass breaking because of the chandelier and having a panic attack every time she hears it, getting terrified when Ron leaves the room after a row, etc.
Or Ron not being able to enter and smell mouldy cellars, circling his friends and family like a sheep dog, a trigger being the absence of one of his friends or family members without him knowing exactly where they are going, because heās terrified they may get themselves in danger, e.g. losing it when Charlie announces he will return to Romania, etc.
So Iāve been having this ongoing, chronic muscle pain in my neck, upper back, and trapezius muscle. There are definitely trigger points and nothing I do seems to work - Iāve tried doing physical therapy (helped a little bit, but now itās back); Iāve tried a chiropractor (doesnāt help at all); Iāve tried a course of steroids and muscle relaxants (also didnāt help).
Iām really at the end of my rope here. I think the next step is trigger point injections, but it occurred to me that i might want to try acupuncture.
So. If anyone has any experience with acupuncture - specifically acupuncture for treating trigger points - please let me know if it helped you or not! I have to admit, I donāt like needles (iām not terrified of them, though), so I wanna make sure that this at least has a chance of working before setting up an appt.
Stolen from IFunny. Stay strong my friends and strangers. Youāre loved. And if I donāt know you, I love you already. Come get to know me if you need someone.
@lupinstvdiesā asked me for tips about how I manage migraines. Itās extensive. Migraine management is a lot of work but itās so routine now that I donāt even notice it. By doing all of this things (almost) daily, Iām able to transition to a med free life (though Iāll still take migraine abortives if necessary), and focus on my health.
My knowledge for managing migraines is a result of extensive research, talking to people, reading forums, and personal experience. Some things might work for you, some not.Ā
Start small - with one or two habits - and see what works for you. Then build over time. Health isnāt built in a day. A lot of things take time and consistency - perfection does not happen right away.
ALL of these things will be useful for studyblrs / desk workers as well, because these are self care tips that arenāt exclusive to people with migraines.Ā
Finally, if you have any questions (Is this type of electrolyte supplement okay? Do these glasses work with my face? How do I meditate?) - PLEASE ask me. Knowledge is so important, but even more important when shared! Most of this information will not be summarized for you by a doctor.Ā
In this post youāll find information on:
My history with migraines
Theraspecs & blue light glasses
Moisturizing eye drops
WeatherX pressure-adapting ear plugs
Electrolytes & Magnesium
Water & Sleep
Essential Oils
Physical Therapy, Treating Trigger Points at Home, and Yoga
My History with MigrainesĀ
Iāve had mild headaches all my life, but didnāt start having migraines until a few years ago, and then I only had them once or twice a year. Then in April 2019, I started developing severe, frequent migraines. For the past year and a half Iāve had chronic migraines and tension headaches. Mine were weird because they came out of nowhere and hit powerfully and hard. Within months I had to stop working. In February 2020 I could hardly get out of bed because I just had pain all the time. I tried different types of drugs (Topamax/Topirimate, beta blockers) and they didnāt work. Finally in March of this year I got on Amitriptyline, which calmed my migraines down. Now Iām weaning off it because I have a lot of tools that can help me. Iām sick of medicine side effects. This isnāt for everyone, but I do believe that the tools below can help many people.
TheraspecsĀ
ā My #1 tool is Theraspecs. These are heavily tinted glasses that block different types of light to help with migraines. I went from being able to look at a screen 30 min a DAY to HOURS. It helps with TV, flourescent lighting, everything. You can get them prescription, send in your own frames, get night driving ones, and even sunglasses. These CHANGED MY LIFE.Ā Ā
Theraspecs and Axonoptics are made especially for people with light sensitivity. These are stronger than normal blue light glasses, which you can get on Amazon, though some people say they work as well.
They are very red but after 5 minutes wearing them, you donāt notice it. People around you get used to it very quickly so it doesnāt lookĀ ādorkyā (something I was personally very worried of).
Some insurances cover these.
These are especially important when looking at screens.
MoisturizingĀ Eye Drops
ā Iāve found my eyes get so dry looking at screens / being inside with AC/Fans/Heating / and also from migraines. I found some moisturizing eye drops on amazon and use them daily. They help a lot so my eyes are less strained.Ā
WeatherX
ā WeatherX offers earplugs that help you adjust to different pressure changes which can cause migraines. This is especially useful if you have problems with storms or sudden hot and cold weather. I donāt use mine too often but when I do, it is a life saver.Ā
Electrolytes (especially Magnesium Citrate).
ā Electrolytes are three essential nutrients your body needs - sodium, potassium, and magnesium. You can get these in commercial sports drinks (like Powerade and Gatorade, which I donāt recommend because of sugar and additives), different foods, or as supplements.Ā
I started taking some electrolyteĀ tablets in my water every day and noticed a huge difference in my migraines. You can also get a potassium / sodium blend, known as Lo Salt or Lite Salt.Ā
ā Magnesium Citrate. After taking the tablets and also reading up about another health issue I had, I learned about the importance of Magnesium Citrate. Magnesium used to be brought to food from soil, but because of modern farming practices, thereās a deficiency in our soil of up to 80-90%. A lack of magnesium in our body causes us to be stressed more easily, and react more strongly (e.g., through anxiety, irritation) to little life things, such as loud noises.Ā Then stress causes us to lose magnesium through urine - creating a viscous cycle.Ā Ā
A lack of magnesium can CAUSE or CONTRIBUTE to a lot of issues: sleepiness, anxiety, migraines, headaches, feeling weak, feeling distracted.Ā
Hormonal Birth Control VERY FREQUENTLY depletes the body of magnesium. You can fix this easily by taking a minimum of 500mg of magnesium a day.Ā
Make sure to take Magnesium Citrate - other types arenāt absorbed as well by the body.
Magnesium Citrate can cause diarrhea. Try to avoid taking with other diuretics (coffee, milk) or try an hour or two before/after eating.Ā Ā
This may seem hard but itāll prompt you to drink more water, which is really good for you too.
Be patient. It may take a week or so to start seeing real differences.
Water. Drink it. Itās good for you.Ā
ā I find under 3L a day and I feel really off - but I had to work up to that amount.Ā
ā Drink it first thing in the morning and sip throughout the day. Also if youāre managing your electrolytes youāll have to go to the bathroom less.Ā Ā
Sleep. You need it.Ā
ā Whether your condition is caused by tension in the body or a neurological condition, your body needs sleep. Meditating can help you get to sleep. Try to keep a regular sleep schedule every night. It makes a big difference.Ā
Essential Oils
ā Ā Peppermint and Lavender can help calm you down. I dab peppermint directly on my temples (some people say donāt do this though, but it works wonders to help relax me). It instantly relaxes me and gets rid of a lot of the tension in my temples/forehead/jaw/neck/shoulders.Ā
ā Yesterday I made a lavender lotion by putting some essential oil directly in the lotion in a small bottle and mixing it.Ā
āĀ I also have a lavender spray (spray bottle + water + lavender) that I use on my face throughout the day. Cheap and effective.
āĀ Essential oils can be pricey but a little goes SUCH a long way that itās so worth it for me. You can often get them on Amazon or in a pharmacy.
Physical Therapy / Trigger Points / Yoga
** All of this is also super important for if youāre sitting at a desk every day.
ā This made a HUGE difference in my ability to handle migraines. I didnāt really believe it - I was like,Ā āIām having auras, Iām having issues seeing, thereās pain in my brain and pressure behind my right eye, this is NEUROLOGICAL. NO WAY is it muscular!ā
ā Boy was I wrong. Physical therapy helped me a bunch - but if you donāt have the ability to do physical therapy, here are some things you can do at home and cheaply.
ā This fantastic (and dorky) video explains what trigger points are and how to help them. I suggest doing this every day. I use a very simple fascia massage ball similar to this. A tennis ball also works. Also look at this video for exercises for the upper shoulder / front of the shoulder.
Tips for this: When youāre working with the ball with your back to the wall, you can hold the ball with the opposite hand. This means, if youāre working on the right side of your neck but the ball keeps slipping, hold it with your left hand. Keep the side that youāre working on relaxed! Same for the ball on the door frame - keep your arm limp and relaxed.Ā
ā Yoga really helps. I do this quick 10 minute video by Yoga with Adriene almost every day and it makes a colossal difference.Ā
ā Strengthening your core and focusing on proper sitting posture helps a lot. A good / easy core strengthener can be found in the Plank Workout at Home App by Leap Fitness Group. AndroidĀ and iPhone.Ā
I really like that it works ALL ab muscles, not just some of them. found that at day 9 of the beginner it became too hard for me, so I am doing day 1 today, day 10 tomorrow, day 2, then day 11. Hopefully that will work. Feel free to modify the program to make it work for you!
