if you are able to go to a doctor and get prescriptions, topical Rx meds that don't alter my mental state and help immensely are Lidocaine patches (which is a nerve blocker) and Voltaren gel (an NSAID gel that doesn't have to go through your gut so that's a plus). Lidocaine used to be ridiculously expensive but in the US they recently came out with a generic. I'm not a dr, discuss with your dr, etc, but. They help me on days when otherwise I would not be able to move.
I have a foam roller that hurts a loooooooot when I use it and so I don't always use it, but it really helps roll out some of the myofascial tension. I'm not sure what the source of your pain is, but it may or may not help and mine was $15 on Amazon for a giant one. Or you can use a tennis ball in a pair of hose or a sock and roll it under your shoulder muscle. OR if you're at work on break, you can kind of massage your shoulder on the corner of a wall. It is one of the less skilled more painful massages I have ever done, but I do it sometimes when my muscles are getting super tight.
How is your set-up not at work? Does the pillow you sleep on exacerbate your pain? Does your bra dig into your shoulder muscles? Do your socks cut off circulation in your ankles? Do you carry a heavy bag or backpack? Do you have lumbar support in your car and chairs at home, if that helps? These things may be more in your control than your work schedule, and if you can change them incrementally it can help lower baseline pain.
I also cope with pain through dark dark humor. Um, but not dark snarky humor can be good too? A lot of the Facebook Meme advice is all "it's all about your attitude" and I want to HULK SMASH that shit, but it helps me feel less sidelined by the Fates if I can laugh about what the fuck is happening. YMMV. (Sometimes these are in the form of "where is my bionic body, is it on backorder, I ordered it ages ago" or "clearly Professor Xavier needs to recruit me already because I obviously have enough genetic mutations, now when does the superpower kick in".)
Distraction is also highly underrated, IMO. I don't know if you can listen to music at work or if that is something that would help you? Or podcasts/podfics? When I had data entry job I would do music, and also bribe myself with how soon I could stretch with my coffee break, and also change the desktop background to something cheering.
anyway sorry for the wall of text. hope some of this helps.
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2016-01-30 06:19 pm (UTC)I have a foam roller that hurts a loooooooot when I use it and so I don't always use it, but it really helps roll out some of the myofascial tension. I'm not sure what the source of your pain is, but it may or may not help and mine was $15 on Amazon for a giant one. Or you can use a tennis ball in a pair of hose or a sock and roll it under your shoulder muscle. OR if you're at work on break, you can kind of massage your shoulder on the corner of a wall. It is one of the less skilled more painful massages I have ever done, but I do it sometimes when my muscles are getting super tight.
How is your set-up not at work? Does the pillow you sleep on exacerbate your pain? Does your bra dig into your shoulder muscles? Do your socks cut off circulation in your ankles? Do you carry a heavy bag or backpack? Do you have lumbar support in your car and chairs at home, if that helps? These things may be more in your control than your work schedule, and if you can change them incrementally it can help lower baseline pain.
I also cope with pain through dark dark humor. Um, but not dark snarky humor can be good too? A lot of the Facebook Meme advice is all "it's all about your attitude" and I want to HULK SMASH that shit, but it helps me feel less sidelined by the Fates if I can laugh about what the fuck is happening. YMMV. (Sometimes these are in the form of "where is my bionic body, is it on backorder, I ordered it ages ago" or "clearly Professor Xavier needs to recruit me already because I obviously have enough genetic mutations, now when does the superpower kick in".)
Distraction is also highly underrated, IMO. I don't know if you can listen to music at work or if that is something that would help you? Or podcasts/podfics? When I had data entry job I would do music, and also bribe myself with how soon I could stretch with my coffee break, and also change the desktop background to something cheering.
anyway sorry for the wall of text. hope some of this helps.