So, of late, I’ve had a bad problem with the muscles just below my left shoulder seizing up and refusing to un-seize (the back muscles, not the pectorals). I tried a muscle relaxant, and it seemed to do the trick, but they also knocked me out for a long time, and I’d rather avoid that. Alcohol is out of the question as well; I can’t drink. Is there anything else I could be looking into to get the darn things to stop making my entire left side a big slab-o-pain?
I hesitate to present this and I don’t recommend you do this if you have high blood pressure but you can try it as an OTC medicine.
I take Sudafed for sinus problems and it relaxes the muscles in my neck. I believe it’s because there are sinus cavities in the back of the head and I’m getting a tension headache in addition to this. Once the neck muscles tighten up it spreads. I don’t pretend to know the physiology behind this.
Beyond that, however, I’ve noticed an improvement in my joints from this as I’m starting to get arthritis in my neck and hands. I can crack my neck when taking Sudafed and my finger joints are more limber.
I also have high blood pressure so this is a catch-22 for me.
There is a device which has little electrodes or something which you attach to the offending muscle and it puts a little electric current into it. You’d have to go to the doctor to see about getting one though.
Another thing you could try would be some stretches. One that springs to mind is the Thread the Needle stretch. Start out on all fours (on a yoga mat or similar). Take one arm and thread it past your chest (underneath your body) and lay the hand on the floor. You sorta bend over and turn your shoulder inward at the same time. That stretches out my shoulder blades.
Here is a demo video.
Heating pads also sometimes help me.
Good luck.
Oh, another good one is Eagle Pose.
You can use any of these type products. Do not complain to me about the stink. I’ve had muscles lock up twice and this type of ointment worked well both times.
Have you tried getting a massage? Shiatsu? Acupuncture?
I forgot about those. You don’t need a doctor to buy one. You can get a traditional “TENS” unit in the 3-500 range or a cheapy for $40.
Guaifenesin (hope I have the spelling right) is a natural muscle relaxant from the guaic tree (what ever THAT is).It is the active, and sometimes only, ingredient in many over-the_counter expectorants/ mucus relief type products, but at higher doses is known to be a “skeletal muscle relaxant”. Google it. I recommend buying one of the products that have ONLY guaifenesin, so u don’t get other junk that u don’t need.Of course you’ll have to take more than the rec dose for the cough product, but a quick google will tell u how much.Its in ALL the chain drug store, usually in a cheaper store brand. Natural, easy to get,don’t need a prescrip… What more could u ask for?
I second the recommendation for a massage or other physical therapy. Yoga is very affordable and one introductory session can be freakin’ amazing. Your whole body will be very relaxed. If it is a re-occurring problem a good physio therapist or personal trainer can get to the root cause and give you a regimen of stretches and exercises to fix it. A sports medicine clinic should have both.
Something that you can try right away is using a rubber dog ball or other small firm ball. Put the ball on the floor and roll the affected area on it. It will hurt like hell, but usually will release a tight muscle.
If you haven’t already you could try some stretches some stretches. Just go easy as you can irritate the muscle and make it temporarily worse. Do you mean the Trapezius? If thats not it try this muscle map from the same site. Then google up some stretches for that muscle.
Wow, I had no idea they were over-the-counter. Thanks!
Oh yea, Rejuvenique!
I’ve got a mini masseuse which was on the low end of the scale and have mixed feelings about it. It has a number of different pulse patterns which replicate my Doctor’s equipment in the office but it doesn’t slowly raise the voltage. You adjust it to what you want and it stays at that setting. I would prefer a unit that has an option to automatically raise the voltage but for the money I spent I can’t complain.
You could half the dose on the muscle relaxant or simply conteract the sleep effect with coffee or cola.
You should get used to the sleepiness and notice less eventually. This is why people get addicted to muscle relaxants
With this kind of problem, you’ll probably have to experiment with several things to find what works for you.
There have already been some great suggestions. I have one that inexpensive - magnesium supplements, and possibly calcium. Your body needs the right balance between the two for muscles to properly contract and relax.
The drawback to magnesium is that it can cause diarrhea. Calcium can help offset that. I only take magnesium, taking calcium seems to make my problems worse. Many people take both, and there are lots of different magnesium/calcium combo supplements out there.
You could also look into getting a theracane. It’s a self massaging tool. It makes it possible to apply pressure in hard to reach places.
Also, cooked turkey has chemicals that make you sleepy. It might be a relaxation effect, but I don’t know enough about it. Warm milk is also relaxing, as is chamomile tea.
A few things…
Sinus congestion, strangely, is caused by a very slight swelling of one stupid blood vessel in your sinus area. When you’re sick, blood is rushing to the infected area to fight it off, and in doing so it probably causes the vessel to expand. That vessel is in juuust the right space that by expanding half a millimeter, it blocks your entire freaking airway.
Sudafed (pseudoephedrine) is basically a vasoconstrictor that tightens the blood vessels to re-open that airway. Thing is, it constricts every blood vessel, which would be kinda bad for someone with already high blood pressure.
As a side effect, it could act as a muscle relaxant. Then again, it could do the opposite.
The problem is, it’s also a hell of a stimulant. When I take them during a cold, I will be physically incapable of sleeping for at least 6 hours. If I’m super tired and try to sleep, I end up in sort of semi-conscious waking dreams that are pure torture.
So if you wanted to take something to relax, that would not be it.
Ditto ditto on a massage. A good masseuse can try to work out seized muscles (which are usually caused by blocked or crossed nerve signals, like a twitch that wont stop). Even if it doesn’t work, hey, it’s a massage.
I’d ask your doctor, if you haven’t already. I find that they know a lot about the body and medicines.
I’ve heard that weed can fix those problems, but if you thought muscle relaxants knocked you out…
Interesting aspect of this is that as a stimulant it can have the affect of relaxing people who tend to be hyperactive.
It would be cool if the brain weren’t so paradoxical.
Muscle pain = rice sock!
Take a clean tube sock and fill it with rice. Tie a knot–heat in microwave. Test on inside of wrist so you don’t burn yourself.*
Wrap it around the part that needs relaxing. For your location–make a couple so you can lay on both, or they can lay on you. After it cools, if you want more, heat and repeat.
Safer than a heating pad in case you fall asleep. Jasmine rice smells good.
Buckwheat can also be used, but it costs more than rice.
- for folks with a circulation problem who are not supposed to use a heating pad, discard this entire recommendation.