Hello! I just wanted to know if anyone else "suffered" from really bad muscle tension. I feel that my upper back, neck and shoulder muscles are constantly sore. I have started an exercise program and I feel this will help. I get massages and it really helps, but it can get expensive. I use tiger balm or Icy Hot a lot. It never gets bad enough where I have to take pain killers, but it's pretty irrating! Would like to know if anyone also experiences this and what has helped them. I'm sure as I progress through the program I will become more relaxed I guess and this will go away. (That's my positive thought replacement)! Thanks!
HealingGirl

Hi Dena,
Thanks for your reply. I will definately check out the website on the magnets. I find that this is a big reason I am not progressing to where I want to be. I wake up and my body hurts.
Sometimes what I'll do that I've noticed help is even if I wake up and my back, neck, shoulders hurt, I say "okay, I'm not going to let this ruin my day". I'm not going to focus or dwell on it, I'm not going to give it any power. And it seems to help sometimes. I wanted to know if you have ever tried yoga? I know that if I stretch I feel soooo good. Maybe that would help too if it was done with the right instruction and faithfully.
Thanks again for the info on magnets. I have always wondered about them and my husbands grandpa has actually used them and said they worked but I thought he was just dillusional! HA HA. Where are you in the program?
HealingGirl

Hi again!
Thanks for the yoga link, I will check it out.
I think it's a good idea to do the program again. This is kinda my first time through it. Last time I "did" it, I skipped from lesson 3 to lesson 10, then to different ones here and there. Didn't commit fully to the action assignments. So, it wasn't like I gave it my all.
Thanks also for the tea info. I don't take any vitamin supplements. Actually the only think I take is an iron supplement. I find this really helps me. When I was small, I was anemic when I'd have my checkups, so they told me to take an iron supplement, but I never really did. Then after I had my daughter, again they told me to, and I would here and there. So now I have started to take it and I don't feel as tired or get "dizzy".
Well, I wish you all the best of luck as you go through the program again. Do you feel the difference since before you started the program?
HealingGirl

Hi HealingGirl,

I used to get neck and shoulder tension w/a tension headache all the time. I used to try to use the sports creams as well...I do not think they actually ever worked for me...but I believe it comforted me as I thought I was doing some good by applying them

The way I finally broke this cycle was to incorporate light upper body weight lifting...I am talking 3 pound hand weights here...not 50 pound at the gym or anything...LOL. I do Denice Austin aerobics...she is on Lifetime T.V. Mon-Fri. from 7 am to 8 am EST. Her workout is perfect for me...short and sweet, yet very effective. You start w/a warm up, go into aerobics, work on a body part...like legs, upper body, stomach. Than you do a relaxing cool down. It gives me more energy during the day and better quality of sleep at night. It also took away all of my neck and shoulder tension and headaches...from time to time I still get an occasional bout of pain in the muscles from a stressful event...but I immidiately go and do my aerobics and my neck will actually crack as I release the tension doing as such

Hope you feel better

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~Angel

HI, I am starting week #6. I LOVE this program! I just wanted to say that I too have always had trouble with tension headaches. I have been to the doctors more times than I can count!! I've been to physical therapy on two different occasions, usually I get about 8 visits on each time. I have been going to massage therapy on and off for a few years. (which does get expensive) Pretty much what i've gotton out of it is stretches that I have to do every day! Sometimes twice a day. I'm sure I will have to do these stretches forever, or until I can learn to relax about things. I do have to say that the stretches have helped me get my life back! I suffered so bad for about 25 years! My poor kids thought their mother was a walking headache! I swallowed so many aspirin, usually with no relief. Now, with these stretches I hardly ever have to take aspirin (except during those "special" times of the month. Anyway, I hope all of you have a HAPPY VALENTINES

Thanks for all the replies! I really believe that the exercise and stretches will help. I have some limitations on exercise, however, not as bad as I used too, so once I can start fully going I'm sure the tension will subside. I know that when I crack my neck or pop it too it releases a lot of the tension. Thanks for the Denise Austin info Angel! I will buy a video from Wal Mart. I don't have my satellite hooked up yet. I have actually done some of her exercises years ago and they relaly got me sore just from a few minutes, which is great! MRSDGLII, I'm glad to hear that you have overcome the tension episode! How long have you been doing the stretches? Is it some kind of a yoga routine? If so what are the poses? I will buy a beginners yoga video, because I truly feel I will benefit from it in so many ways. Thanks agian! HealingGirl

Hi Dena,
I agree with you on the fact that getting a massage as a sorts of therapy is ideal. Fortunately, I have a wonderful massage therapist who is also a personal friend, so I can work with her financially. I also believe that it is important to tell your therapist where you "hurt" and about having anxiety disorder, that way she can trigger those certain massage & reflexology points. I don't feel that massage is the answer to my anxiety & depression. But I know that it helps me feel so much better on a physical and mental level too, so it's kinda like encouragement. I'm going to order some Yoga tapes that I found on line. There is another site you might like called www.yogazone.com They have great beginners packages. I really appreciate all the feedback! I ordered a catalogue from the link you sent me. Looks like they have a lot of fun stuff! I personally think that everyone can benefit from massage therapy. Even if it's once in a while. It has so many benefits and no side effects! Only good ones! Have a nice day everyone!

Hi again
The stretches that I mentioned are some I had gotton from my physical therapist. They have helped me soooo much! I have been doing them now for about 3 years. They consist of sitting in a chair and turning your head, to each side and forward, etc.. I do have copies. Have a great day

Hi MrsDGLII
I would love if you can send them to me! my e-mail is toni@laplaza.org. If you are interested in sending me the info, I will send you my address or fax number. Thanks! I notice that when I sit in a chair and put my head forward I can just feel the tightness in my upper back and chest, also sround my breast area. At first it kinda hurts but then as the muscles loosen, I feel I get more rotation & motion and it feels much better. Sometimes I will get a sort of spasm pain, where it feels like I'm being poked with a knife or something. It can be uncomfortable, and it scares me. Did you ever get these "poking" sensations? I believe these exercises will be an asset.
Thanks so much!

quote:

Originally posted by MrsDGLII:
Hi again
The stretches that I mentioned are some I had gotton from my physical therapist. They have helped me soooo much! I have been doing them now for about 3 years. They consist of sitting in a chair and turning your head, to each side and forward, etc.. I do have copies. Have a great day

Hi healinggirl, something that I do often is use moist heat on my neck to loosen the muscles. Using heat before you exercise also helps to relax muscles to ensure proper stretching. Try it you can buy a wrap for your neck tyhat you put in the microwave to heat. The product is called "Bed Buddy" you can find them in Kmart, etc. I love mine. Hope it helps. Take care , Nancy

i find that first it is a struggle to get out of bed in the mornings. next i always feel tension in my upper back and top part of lt chest. along with this, i constantly scratch my head so bad for more than 2 years, that i think i have made it so tender to touch. usually the more i rub that one spot the more sore it becomes. taking a tylenol once in a while does help. does anyone have any suggestions on how to surrender these unwanted aches and pains?

Hey guys, I have this same problem. I have found a yoga tape I really like, its called am yoga by living arts. Its not hard at all, very relaxed, calming. I also wanted to say, a friend of mine made me a neck thing out of material and regular rice, microwave for 2 or 3 min depending on your micro and there you go. I'll be watching for more input on this. Flounder

Has anyone tried Body Scan Meditation and Threshold Relaxaton? I think the tense and untense exercises are very effective in relaxing the muscles. I can't think of anything better than a hot bath to melt away that pain and worry also!
-Ben

A friend loaned me her 30-year old Yoga book, and it has been incredible. I can't believe how much energy it releases and how much better I feel, especially since I'm still afraid to do any strenuous exercise. After a 30-minute Yoga session, I feel so relaxed and warm and sleepy (I do it before bed)...just like when I listen to the tape! Nothing gives me a better night's sleep. And the book is so easy and I can do the practices alone, without paying for a class.

The book is by Richard Hittleman.

hey I read your message, and I noticed that you said you were still scared to do strenuous exercise...I am too--but I wondered what you meant by that? I get scared because I feel dizzy like I am going to faint. Am I the only one who feels this way????