The Cure for Shoulder/Neck Pain?
- At May 24, 2018
- By Roxanne Snopek
- In Roxanne Writes On
- 0
Isn’t everyone looking for the cure for shoulder/neck pain?
It’s an occupational hazard for pretty much everyone these days. At some point or another, we all find ourselves at a screen, on a keyboard, looking at a monitor, usually with questionable posture. For writers, it’s especially bad. For writers on deadline, it’s the worst.
I’ve had a lot of deadlines this year. That, followed by some overenthusiastic gardening, has culminated in a nasty, immobilizing pain in my shoulder. Can’t lift my left arm, can’t sleep on my left side, (can’t shut up about it, according to some) all of which makes working at my computer rather dicey. According to the physiotherapist, I’ve got tendon and nerve impingement due to the joint being locked down. Imagine, he said, a vacuum cleaner nozzle sucked up against a wall. Nothing moves until you break the seal. That’s my arm. The good news is, with some easy exercises to open up the joint and get it healing, it’s already feeling better. So that’s this week’s task. Next week, we will rebuild… better… stronger… faster…
But, in the meantime, I’m finally taking action to change up how I work. Over the years, I’ve looked at standing desks of all sorts but none of them seem quite right for my situation, because the bulk of my writing work is done on a laptop. Then today, in a moment of serendipity in Starbucks, my husband and I saw a guy working on this nifty device.
It’s called a Roost Laptop Stand – Adjustable and Portable Laptop Stand – PC and MacBook Stand, Made in USA. The Starbucks guy said it’s changed everything about the way he works, and as he explained, I could see it. Correct neck angle. Correct elbow angle. No spilling coffee on the laptop. 🙂 I came home and ordered one immediately. (The keyboard and trackpad are sold separately so that’s next on my list.)
Has anyone used a system like this? I’d love to hear your experience.
Chronic Back Pain Part 1
- At March 31, 2015
- By Roxanne Snopek
- In Life, Roxanne Writes On
- 2
So, some of you know that I’ve been struggling with issues with my shoulder-back area. It’s a chronic sitting thing. The disease of our age, I suppose. Who hasn’t had trouble of this kind, I ask you? First-world problems.
Nevertheless, imagine a cramp in your calf (is that what they call a charley-horse? I’ve never known for sure.) but instead of your calf, it’s under your shoulder-blade somewhere, deep inside. And it doesn’t stop. A knife in the back would be a kindness but where’s an enemy when you need one?
After one bad episode in fall that abated – more or less – with prescription meds and time, I got another one about a month ago. What freaked me out this time was that exercise, ie: yoga MADE IT WORSE! Went to my clinic again, with very low expectations, I might add.
But to my surprise, the doctor I got this time not only took me seriously but sent me for a battery of tests to rule out, among other things, cardiac problems. (Post-menopausal woman with a panicky look in her eye and radiating back/chest pain… hm.) Then, he sent me for something called Intra-Muscular Stimulation, aka Dry Needle Therapy.
That knife in the back I was looking for?
Found it.
Gotta go. Limiting the time I spend at my desk is part of my therapy. Come back soon, I’ll tell you more then. In the meantime, is there a therapy that’s worked for you to counter chronic back pain? Please, share!