My back went out

submitted by [deleted] from (self.whatever)

Spasm on the left shoulder blade. Doubled me over in pain at the dinner table. We were having Chinese too and I wasn't even finished. Sometimes the universe is so unfair.

It took over an hour to get a teledoc. They don't do muscle relaxants on the phone.

So I'm just pounding back beers, which are a weak muscle relaxant.

I feel like we're back to 1800s medicine, you can treat yourself with whatever you can order and booze.

On the bright side, the alcohol is working.

Bonus track: You are my sunshine

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[–][deleted] 5 insightful - 3 fun5 insightful - 2 fun6 insightful - 3 fun -  (2 children)

When you're not drinking, you could pop 4 x 200 mg ibuprofen for the pain. Your liver probably needs a bit.

[–][deleted] 5 insightful - 3 fun5 insightful - 2 fun6 insightful - 3 fun -  (1 child)

That's good advice, I did that earlier even with the beer although I know it's not ideal. My liver feels in pretty decent shape these days, no pains, and I don't pour quite so much vodka down my gullet as I once did.

[–][deleted] 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

https://www.spine-health.com/blog/relieving-pain-under-your-shoulder-blade

[–]Zapped 4 insightful - 4 fun4 insightful - 3 fun5 insightful - 4 fun -  (2 children)

Did you approve your own post?

[–][deleted] 4 insightful - 4 fun4 insightful - 3 fun5 insightful - 4 fun -  (1 child)

Fat fingered it.

[–]skeeter 3 insightful - 4 fun3 insightful - 3 fun4 insightful - 4 fun -  (0 children)

DIRNK SUM WISKY ENN SMOK SIM KRIK.

[–]Zapped 4 insightful - 3 fun4 insightful - 2 fun5 insightful - 3 fun -  (8 children)

How's your neck and arm? Are your triceps and thumb, index, and middle fingers numb or tingly on the same side?

[–][deleted] 4 insightful - 3 fun4 insightful - 2 fun5 insightful - 3 fun -  (7 children)

I'm not having a heart attack, just a muscle spasm, no worrying symptoms, but I appreciate the concern.

[–]Zapped 3 insightful - 2 fun3 insightful - 1 fun4 insightful - 2 fun -  (4 children)

Not where I was going. I had a herniated disk in my neck a while back and the biggest and first symptom was pain and spasms in my shoulder blade. It progressed to a dead triceps muscle and those mildly numb three fingers.

[–][deleted] 3 insightful - 2 fun3 insightful - 1 fun4 insightful - 2 fun -  (0 children)

Oh, well shit, that's what I get for assuming. Heart attack was the teledoc's first concern and it makes sense. I didn't think about a herniated disc at all since it wasn't that close to the spine.

[–]roguecanine 2 insightful - 2 fun2 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 2 fun -  (2 children)

How are you doing now??

[–]Zapped 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

It took Meloxicam a week or two to kick in, but it really helped. I also did stretching exercises a few times a day that helped. The only lingering effect is a weak triceps; the middle one. I had to build up my other ones to get back to full strength. I waited two weeks to see the doctor because I thought it was just a pulled muscle. If I had gone to the doctor sooner, I may have saved that muscle.

[–]Zapped 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

What did you find out? Any better?

[–]roguecanine 3 insightful - 2 fun3 insightful - 1 fun4 insightful - 2 fun -  (1 child)

What are the odds, same shit, last couple days, left shoulder. Turning head to the left is hard. I would go swimming if I could, that I think would have helped with relaxing muscles.

[–]Zapped 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

Try doing a pushup and see if that side is weak. Do you have to sleep in a certain position to get some comfort? If it is a herniated C-4/C-5 disc, they may give you anti-depressants to get some sleep. I couldn't sleep for more than an hour at a time until the Meloxicam started working. I was able to get by without the anti-depressants, though.

[–][deleted] 2 insightful - 2 fun2 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 2 fun -  (8 children)

Quinine, as found in tonic water, would probably help too. That's some 1950s medicine. And OJ, since it has more potassium than a banana, and magnesium.

[–][deleted] 4 insightful - 3 fun4 insightful - 2 fun5 insightful - 3 fun -  (7 children)

Low sodium spicy V8 is relatively high in potassium. However, be sure that you're not dehydrated first. If you've been piledriving fluids, look into the V8.

[–][deleted] 3 insightful - 3 fun3 insightful - 2 fun4 insightful - 3 fun -  (6 children)

I have a potassium chlorate salt substitute (NuSalt). I have to be careful though because I'm on Benazepril and Metoprolol, they retain potassium.

[–][deleted] 4 insightful - 3 fun4 insightful - 2 fun5 insightful - 3 fun -  (5 children)

Are you getting enough magnesium and sodium? This is nosey as hell, but what color is your pee?

[–][deleted] 4 insightful - 3 fun4 insightful - 2 fun5 insightful - 3 fun -  (4 children)

I'm getting enough sodium based on previous food logging, a little too much but not extreme, and I do take magnesium sulfate because I have a low magnesium intake and epsom salt is just what I have on hand.

This is nosey as hell, but what color is your pee?

Nah, I appreciate you helping. It's a pale yellow.

[–][deleted] 5 insightful - 3 fun5 insightful - 2 fun6 insightful - 3 fun -  (3 children)

If the ibuprofen is helping at all, I would just keep a steady flow of fluids and chill for a couple of days on a ton of movement. Did your wife feel around the area and make sure there's nothing out of the ordinary?

[–][deleted] 3 insightful - 3 fun3 insightful - 2 fun4 insightful - 3 fun -  (2 children)

She tried to massage it but even a light touch was too much last night. That was weird. It hasn't spasmed today so far so I've been working the area lightly with a roller. It's tender but nothing feels out of the ordinary.

[–]Zapped 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

Pain all gone?

[–][deleted] 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

It's almost as good as new although I think I need to be careful with it for now, thanks for asking.

[–]swordofdamocles42 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

Friend see if you can find CBD patches, online. they are amazing for this type of pain.

:D

[–]thefirststone 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

Try arnica salve or tea (externally). It's on the shelf at pharmacies or as dried plant parts in "ethnic" groceries. A miracle on bruises and injured muscle and tendon.

[–][deleted] 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

Thanks, totally forgot about that stuff. I think I have a tube of it around here somewhere.

[–]H3v8 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

Did you try a warm bath? It's better than nothing.

[–]JasonCarswellMental Orgy 1 insightful - 2 fun1 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 2 fun -  (2 children)

Do the McKenzie stretches do anything for you?

They help me.

[–][deleted] 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

I never knew they were called that, but those are handy. I should do them more.

[–]JasonCarswellMental Orgy 2 insightful - 2 fun2 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 2 fun -  (0 children)

I think I learned about them from my chiropractor brother, or before he even became one, as I've had back issues almost 30 years.