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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by jaby on February 13, 2002, at 16:56:48
I have problems with anxiety/depression and am plagued by horrible muscle tension. At times I can stretch and have the pain back immediately. I have used many different meds, but am wondering if anyone has had any luck with this. It is definitely realted to my other problems.
Posted by Elizabeth on February 14, 2002, at 2:30:06
In reply to Extreme Muscle Tension, posted by jaby on February 13, 2002, at 16:56:48
> I have problems with anxiety/depression and am plagued by horrible muscle tension. At times I can stretch and have the pain back immediately. I have used many different meds, but am wondering if anyone has had any luck with this. It is definitely realted to my other problems.
How about benzodiazepines? Or Soma?
-elizabeth
Posted by Emme on February 14, 2002, at 9:02:25
In reply to Re: Extreme Muscle Tension » jaby, posted by Elizabeth on February 14, 2002, at 2:30:06
Over the last few weeks, as I've been adjusting meds, I had shoulder tenseness and pain, and even muscle-related pain in my arms and hands like I have never had before. I don't know whether to blame the medicine, or just overall tenseness from life. I am using a benzo, but it wasn't cutting it. But a good massage therapist put the brakes on the problems! No more pain in my hands, shoulders a bit tense but not painful. It's expensive and I wish I could go every week. But it's been worth every penny and I haven't had to add another drug to the mix. I'm hoping as I get back into yoga, some of the poses might help offset the problem.
Emme
> > I have problems with anxiety/depression and am plagued by horrible muscle tension. At times I can stretch and have the pain back immediately. I have used many different meds, but am wondering if anyone has had any luck with this. It is definitely realted to my other problems.
>
> How about benzodiazepines? Or Soma?
>
> -elizabeth
Posted by IsoM on February 14, 2002, at 10:06:04
In reply to Re: Extreme Muscle Tension, posted by Emme on February 14, 2002, at 9:02:25
Emme, if massage therapy helped then there's something you can do at home to help. I have muscle tension & pain in the same places as you due to a couple of old injuries plus a genetic weakeness there, I think. My Mom & 2 sons who also get pain & tension, plus me, all have the same shoulder, back, & neck posture. And all have the same points of pain around these areas. The knots can become rock hard.
When I'm working about the place, cleaning, cooking & doing laundry, I'll put music on to work by & pause frequently to do Tai Chi type swaying, dancing, stretching movements in time to the music. If the neighbours could see me, they'd probably phone someone to take me away. But it feels so good & keeps the area relaxed. I know when I don't do it regularly, the pain builds.
Adapt whatever sort of movements you need to do & improvise till it feels good. A lot of slow arm & shoulder movement is great for me. Another movement I came up with is something like pretending you're using a bow & pulling the arrow slowly way back. Then I alternate with the other arm doing the pulling. (I use to do archery when younger & had a set.) Try these ideas for a week & see if it doesn't help. Much cheaper than massage!
Posted by Emme on February 16, 2002, at 7:52:06
In reply to Re: Extreme Muscle Tension » Emme, posted by IsoM on February 14, 2002, at 10:06:04
Hi IsoM,
Thanks for the suggestions. I sympathize with the rock-hard muscles. What you do sounds similar to what I've started to do at work sometimes. After sitting for a while, and no doubt tensing my shoulders as I work, I feel the need to move around. I go out in the hallway and go through some yoga poses including a couple of sun salutations, as well as doing stretches the massage therapist suggested. You're right, it does seem to help. Fortunately my office is in an annex space with a handful of cool people otherwise I'd be sure to look kooky. :)Yeah, massage therapy can get expensive. One really helpful thing she did was figure out exactly which sore, tense muscles were causing pain in which body part. Sounds obvious I know, but there were a few surprises, especially with the pain in my fingers, which I wouldn't have found on my own. Now I know to massage those spots myself. So as well as just plain feeling good, she has increased my awareness of my body, which is helpful. Plus, this particular woman really has hands of magic. :) So now that I'm getting a handle on the muscle tension problems, I'll just go once in a while for a treat/tune-up.
cheers,
Emme> Emme, if massage therapy helped then there's something you can do at home to help. I have muscle tension & pain in the same places as you due to a couple of old injuries plus a genetic weakeness there, I think. My Mom & 2 sons who also get pain & tension, plus me, all have the same shoulder, back, & neck posture. And all have the same points of pain around these areas. The knots can become rock hard.
>
> When I'm working about the place, cleaning, cooking & doing laundry, I'll put music on to work by & pause frequently to do Tai Chi type swaying, dancing, stretching movements in time to the music. If the neighbours could see me, they'd probably phone someone to take me away. But it feels so good & keeps the area relaxed. I know when I don't do it regularly, the pain builds.
>
> Adapt whatever sort of movements you need to do & improvise till it feels good. A lot of slow arm & shoulder movement is great for me. Another movement I came up with is something like pretending you're using a bow & pulling the arrow slowly way back. Then I alternate with the other arm doing the pulling. (I use to do archery when younger & had a set.) Try these ideas for a week & see if it doesn't help. Much cheaper than massage!
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