Hiya mummas
I have always been an anxious person which I have been treated for but this constant state of anxiety i believe has caused my shoulders to be extremely tense throughout my life. As long as I can remember I have never had relaxed shoulders and it makes me feel so sick and constant headaches.
I had muscle relaxants and they only worked for one night and I nearly cried feeling what it was like to have full blood flow to my head and feel normal for a few hours. This only worked the first night for a few hours and then stopped working so all the tablets ended up doing was helping me have a good night sleep.
I don’t know what else to do. Maybe the dose needs to be put up higher for once offs I don’t know. The Drs are very hesitant in giving muscle relaxants and say they aren’t good so I don’t really bother asking again.
I have tried massages but it is a quick fix for 10 mins after the massage. Even massage therapist are shocked at how tight my shoulders are. Sometimes they have had to use hot stones to try and relieve it but it also did nothing.
My shoulders are hard as rocks to touch. My face and head hurts. I get migraines.
I’ve taken magnesium and it does nothing. I’ve got creams, sprays, I’ve tired it all. Does anyone know if there Is there any injections that may help.?
My Dr always tells me to do acupuncture and I tired it and it did nothing. I’ve had physio and they said I would need to attend twice a week long term to try and help relieve it. I can’t afford it twice a week and when I have been twice in a week for a month l, it was only temporary right after, similar to massage then they are back to the same state. I’ve been to chiro. I’ve tried exercises.
Any information would be fantastic. Anti depressants help the anxiety but not my shoulders.
Please hit me with your recommendations. Anything is worth a try. I can barely carry shopping bags , they are so tight it makes me feel sick to carry shopping bags . I know I mustn’t be alone. I am just fed up and sick of feeling like a knotted ball that can’t be undone.
10 Replies
I have a similar problem. Mine is more complex though, including computers. All the medical & alternative specialists have failed to help, so I did my own research & discovered I've got cervicogenic headaches, caused by bad posture and computers. I've got to retrain my muscles as some are too strong & some too weak.
What happens is we tense up, then our muscles get tight, and we tense up more to try and relieve the pain.
I refused the meds offered as they have horrible side effects.
I've learned to stop and relax my shoulders whenever I can, especially in trigger situations. I'm also doing stretching exercises. Easy found online. Be sure to stretch the chest muscles as well. Physio pointed this out.
My best help has been a neck traction pillow (hard foam, looks a bit like a ocean wave). Got mine off ebay for $20. You lie on carpet with your neck on it like a pillow for 8 minutes a day (I started twice a day). Honestly, my neck and shoulder muscles improved quickly. It's not a cure all as you need to fix the cause. Might be worth a try. Here's a link to what it looks like. Don't buy here though. Use ebay or Amazon (way cheaper, same product).
https://www.aussiemassagerstore.com.au/products/neck-and-shoulder-stretc...
Thank you so so much I will get one now.
I have pain due to my huge boobs. It’s constant work for me, to keep on top of it.
Hot water bottles, really hot showers/baths, exercises and stretches and massages, yoga.
It’s a lot of work to get on top of it once they are messed up really badly. But once I get some momentum and I can keep on top of it, it’s much better.
Getting a good night sleep really helps too, so I take melatonin if I’ve had a couple of bad nights.
Not one thing on its own works. I have to do it all.
I’m often working with heat bags, and usually doing a quick posture check every 10 minutes or so.
Changing my bra at midday really helps because that’s obviously an issue for me and limiting screen time helps.
I am quite big on top too, it prob doesn’t help. Thanks for the tips.
I've bought an electric heating pad and it's amazing for my tight shoulders. Get one with a timer though, because I usually fall asleep on it! It's about 70 x 50cm, so perfect to lay on pulled up onto my pillow to get to the neck muscles.
Also I've trialled medical cannabis oil - worked wonders for my anxiety, but I don't like to take it through the day as it makes me a bit wonky.
Thanks where would I go for medical cannabis oil? Night time would probably be a great help for me.
Also where did you get the electric heating pad? I need to try this. Thanks
I got the heat pad from Amazon, I think it was $40?
The cannabis through website Alternaleaf. It has to be prescribed by a GP so you do 2 telehealth appts with them, they send the script directly tp the supplier, who mails it out. It's expensive, was $100 for consultation and $240 for the monthly supply, but my "monthly" will probably last me 3-4 months with the low dosage I'm taking .
Thanks for this , I will look into It.
I had this every day for 5 years.. it was all stress and anxiety related.
Got rid of my ex and it all disappeared 🤣 sorry it's probably not the solution for you but I definitely feel you!!
I've only had it twice in 18months & I felt like ripping my head off because it was so bad.
I was told I needed twice a week massages to relieve it but there was no chance of that ever happening
Kinesiology for stress relief.
Remedial Massage with cupping, dry needling and craniosacral therapy.
Pure magnesium oil.
Change your pillow regularly (seriously it does wonders for me).
Yoga.
These all work for me.