Jon Kirkendall on tue 6 apr 99
Hi Everyone:
Recently I have been suffering from back pain - but not the lower back
kind, the upper back kind. It radiates out from the third vertebrae
from my neck (I think it's "T-3"), and the muscle soreness extends from
there to over my shoulders and down my chest. The dr. was surprised
that I don't have headaches from it, and recommended that I find someone
who teaches the Alexander Technique, as did a massage therapist. At its
worst, I literally feel like I have a heavy hand in the middle of my
upper back pushing me down. I have tried yoga to no avail, and am
currently taking muscle relaxants to ease the pain (don't like 'em).
I've had this problem before and it's gone away after a couple of days,
but this started a week ago after a day of throwing and hasn't let up.
Does anyone know anything about the Alexander Technique, or experienced
this sort of pain, or have any ideas?
Jonathan in DC
where the cherry blossoms are in full bloom. Amazing sight.
Darrell Gargus on wed 7 apr 99
Jon:
Hi! I have had this type of back problem on and off for a long time.
The way I have been taught to relieve this is to strech my head forward,
make a fist in both hands, and have my arms straight down my side. Now,
as your head is the the forward position, extend your arms further down.
Like you are reaching for something toward your knees with straight
arms. This stretchs out the muscles along the top of your shoulders, in
your neck, and around your should blades. I do this until I feel the
muscles loosing up. The cause of this is the muscles in your neck get
too tight from typing type situations. Or from where you have your arms
and neck in a stressfull situation for a long time. At least that is
what I have been told (I am a part time secretary and sales rep=losts of
typing and computer work!)
I hope this helps!
Becky
Jon Kirkendall wrote:
>
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> Hi Everyone:
>
> Recently I have been suffering from back pain - but not the lower back
> kind, the upper back kind. It radiates out from the third vertebrae
> from my neck (I think it's "T-3"), and the muscle soreness extends from
> there to over my shoulders and down my chest. The dr. was surprised
> that I don't have headaches from it, and recommended that I find someone
> who teaches the Alexander Technique, as did a massage therapist. At its
> worst, I literally feel like I have a heavy hand in the middle of my
> upper back pushing me down. I have tried yoga to no avail, and am
> currently taking muscle relaxants to ease the pain (don't like 'em).
>
> I've had this problem before and it's gone away after a couple of days,
> but this started a week ago after a day of throwing and hasn't let up.
>
> Does anyone know anything about the Alexander Technique, or experienced
> this sort of pain, or have any ideas?
>
> Jonathan in DC
> where the cherry blossoms are in full bloom. Amazing sight.
Anne Hunt on wed 7 apr 99
Otay, Jon, you've pushed a button, so i'm putting on my neuromuscular
therapist hat. Let's play the game called "differential diagnosis" - short
version - 'though, of course, "bodyworkers don't diagnose, they evaluate".
- Have you been coughing and/or sneezing a lot-- a cold, spring
allergies, etc? If yes, could be the posterior superior serratus muscles,
which lay underneath the rhomboids and look like little baby rhomboids.
They're little "breathers" to assist movement in the upper back portion of
your ribs/breather bags---and serious coughing, etc. can cause referring
trigger points (are there any other kind?) and/or spasm.
-Imagine pressing your chin straight back into your spine, then do it!
Sometimes helps to actually put your finger on your chin to get the "feel"
of it. Then, trying your best to use your recessed chin as a pivot point,
roll your head as close to your chest as you can get. Where do you feel the
pulling and/or pain? If it's mainly in your back, we'll get there in a
minute.
If it's in the little hollows above your collarbones (and it could be
one side or both), you've got some scalenes problems. They attach to either
side, and a wee bit toward the front, of the neck/cervical vertebrae, and
run down to attach to either the first or second rib, depending on their
name. They assist a wee bit with neck movement, but mainly help lift the
first two ribs in the breathing process. (Funny how this breathing stuff
keeps showing up...!)
The scalenes, along with some cronies, are the main culprits in causing
thoracic outlet (really should be called "inlet") syndrome, which also
causes a faux carpal tunnel syndrome--and the hits just keep on comin'.
That diagnostic stretch you did is also great for home treatment---we should
ALL be doing it whenever we think of it during the day.
Also, the scalenes are a couple of millimeters forward of the levator
scapulae upper attachments--lower atch are at top of shoulder blades-- which
are notorious for causing neck and upper back pain---they're also the "gee,
I must've slept wrong last night and now my neck hurts lilke hell & I can
barely move it" muscles. And guess what?? If the scalenes are punky with
trigger points, they frequently refer into the neighbor levator scapulae and
aggravate the hell out of them, so it really becomes a family affair.
Since you said the magic word "throwing", the culprits are prolly in
your back muscle "family"---too much detail already, & i've got pots and
plants calling. *Simple but important body/biomechanics lesson: if you are
tensing up/exerting force with one set of muscles--say, your "front"
muscles, ESPECially if you're bent over /rolled over at all---the antagonist
muscles muscles (the back ones) are going to lengthen, stretch, weaken, be
put into eccentric contraction. Sooney later, the back muscles are going to
strenuously object (enough of this #@*& already!) and pull back in an effort
to put them and their bones "back" into position: SPASM* (And you're just
innocently trying to make pots!)
So, Jon, your assignment, should you choose to accept it (and the order
is important), is:
- Find out (call them, if necessary) if your medical insurance covers
massage therapy, or even physical therapy. If yes, get
a prescription from your doc for it. My personal take on down and dirty
effectiveness is a neuromuscular:) or trigger point therapy; you've got to
reprogram the specific "hot" nerves in the muscle(s) plus get rid of the
hyaluronic (highly ironic), lactic, carbonic acids and serotonin that are
bathing the nerves and perpetuating the situation. (THEN you could do the
Alexandar if you wanted). Some physical therapists know that stuff. Call
them and ask what type of work they do. If therapists don't offer the kind
of work you want, take your ball and go someplace else---you're a consumer
and customer, even of things medical. If your insurance is n/a, then shell
out the bucks---you're worth it---for treatment; this is a "weak" area for
you and, like a cold sore, will keep on recurring 'til the end of your days
unless effectively treated.
- Stretch out your front/chest muscles 3 to 4 times a day. (Sidebar -
look at clothing you've been in while potting; what do you see besides clay?
Two sets of creases: one at the groin, and the other at the shoulder/chest
juncture--basically where our limbs attach to our trunk--wherever we hunker
over, compress, tighten up, decrease circulation; the creases MUST be
stretched out in the other direction!!!)
CHEST:
Stand in doorway as if you're starting to go through.
Place hand of whichever side you want to stretch on the wall, palm on
the wall. Shoulder level.
Arrange yourself so that either the inside of your elbow, or your upper
forearm close to your elbow is at the wall/doorway corner.
Put one bent leg forward to make a stable base.
Lean forward---don't press your hand/arm into the wall, just use them to
anchor/position yourself!!
As you lean forward, you should feel the muscle "webbing" between your
shoulder and chest stretch.
Stay in the stretch for 3, not 10, not 30, but 3 seconds, exhaling, then
move back to upright position for three (3) seconds, inhaling. Repeat.
Make it dance-like or meditative if you want. Get "into" the area you're
stretching, listen to it say "thank you", and anything else it wants you to
know, besides "You turkey!". Repeat 10 to 20 times, ..3 seconds "on", 3
seconds "off". You'll feel yourself leaning onto your forward leg more as
those muscles loosen.
Do the same for the other side.
THEN, do the same thing, but with your arm positioned about 5 inches
higher on the wall---HAH! Thought you had this aced, didn't you?!
Then, do the same thing, but with your arm @ 5" higher yet. The higher
you go, aside from hurting more, will majorly decrease your ability to lean
forward.
This is a sure-fire, foot-stomper stretch and VERY important.
By the bye, IMPLICIT in "a day of throwing" should be a variety of breat
hing exercises, stretches, neck rolls, you name it, to honor the body,
prolong its use, and feel sooooo good!
-After you've done this stuff, do what you can to strengthen you back
muscles---motion to use will be opening your arms wide and bringing
shoulderblades together, i.e. weightlifting flyes (sp?)
- Finally, strongly recommend laying off of the wheelwork until this is
resolved and muscles have had a chance to catch their figurative breath...do
handbuilding, firing, whatever.
I put together a little repetitive stress injury and treatment package
for the Clay People group I belong to---if you wanna, send your snailmail
address & i'll send you a copy. We're all after quality of life, right? Now
you know how to build a watch, and you're prolly saying she's nuts, she's
wrong, and i ain't doin' it! Hey, Jon, whatever melts your butter---don't
you just love louisianaisms?
Cheers! anne & the cats in sequim wa where my nanking and weeping cherries
are blooming but d.c. must be drop-dead gorgeous and i can't believe i just
spent the first 2 1/2 hours of my day typing this...
Stephen Mills on wed 7 apr 99
It's a life saver, I've had problems with my back for some years, and
now as a result of learning Alexander Technique I am relatively pain
free. This is NOT an instant fix. It teaches you "whole body" usage, so
that all movements and postures are conducted with the co-operation of
and consideration for the rest of your body, and this means practising
A.T. until it is automatic ALL the time. Believe me it's worth it.
Steve Mills
Bath
UK
In message , Jon Kirkendall writes
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>Hi Everyone:
>
>Recently I have been suffering from back pain - but not the lower back
>kind, the upper back kind. It radiates out from the third vertebrae
>from my neck (I think it's "T-3"), and the muscle soreness extends from
>there to over my shoulders and down my chest. The dr. was surprised
>that I don't have headaches from it, and recommended that I find someone
>who teaches the Alexander Technique, as did a massage therapist. At its
>worst, I literally feel like I have a heavy hand in the middle of my
>upper back pushing me down. I have tried yoga to no avail, and am
>currently taking muscle relaxants to ease the pain (don't like 'em).
>
>I've had this problem before and it's gone away after a couple of days,
>but this started a week ago after a day of throwing and hasn't let up.
>
>Does anyone know anything about the Alexander Technique, or experienced
>this sort of pain, or have any ideas?
>
>Jonathan in DC
>where the cherry blossoms are in full bloom. Amazing sight.
>
--
Steve Mills
Bath
UK
home e-mail: stevemills@mudslinger.demon.co.uk
work e-mail: stevemills@bathpotters.demon.co.uk
own website: http://www.mudslinger.demon.co.uk
BPS website: http://www.bathpotters.demon.co.uk
millie carpenter on thu 8 apr 99
Jon
Please call your doctor and get a prescription for an X-ray and see
exactly what is wrong if you haven't done so. and then get a good
physical therapist, they are really well trained in all kinds of
techniques, they do all kinds of massage and muscle rebuilding so that
the disks don't slide anymore or do other wierd things.
I have had compressed disks, c-5 & C-6, by the time all was said and
done, I had no use of the my upper right side and it took 6 months of
physical therapy to get back to normal, for me. the only good that came
from it was that I had a lot of time to think about what I really wanted
in my life, and this allowed me to start taking art classes again, and
I got into clay.
If you want to come to Annapolis, I have wonderful orthopedists,
psyiatrists(they study body movement) and PT that I will share.
Millie in Md. where all the flowers are in bloo...achoo!
Kirkendall wrote:
>
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> Hi Everyone:
>
> Recently I have been suffering from back pain - but not the lower back
> kind, the upper back kind. It radiates out from the third vertebrae
> from my neck (I think it's "T-3"), and the muscle soreness extends from
> there to over my shoulders and down my chest. The dr. was surprised
> that I don't have headaches from it, and recommended that I find someone
> who teaches the Alexander Technique, as did a massage therapist. At its
> worst, I literally feel like I have a heavy hand in the middle of my
> upper back pushing me down. I have tried yoga to no avail, and am
> currently taking muscle relaxants to ease the pain (don't like 'em).
>
> I've had this problem before and it's gone away after a couple of days,
> but this started a week ago after a day of throwing and hasn't let up.
>
> Does anyone know anything about the Alexander Technique, or experienced
> this sort of pain, or have any ideas?
>
> Jonathan in DC
> where the cherry blossoms are in full bloom. Amazing sight.
Wendy Moore on thu 8 apr 99
Jon:
Do you know anyone in the theatre business? or have any ties at a
university that has a well developed drama program? Many actors are taught
the Alexander technique in conjunction with their studies in movement.
There are several colleges in the D.C. area that could help you. Don't know
much about it myself, but having been a costume designer connected to
several universities, I've heard about it quite often.
Wendy Moore, in Michigan
The Apron Lady
Jon Kirkendall wrote:
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> Hi Everyone:
>
> Recently I have been suffering from back pain - but not the lower back
> kind, the upper back kind. It radiates out from the third vertebrae
> from my neck (I think it's "T-3"), and the muscle soreness extends from
> there to over my shoulders and down my chest. The dr. was surprised
> that I don't have headaches from it, and recommended that I find someone
> who teaches the Alexander Technique, as did a massage therapist. At its
> worst, I literally feel like I have a heavy hand in the middle of my
> upper back pushing me down. I have tried yoga to no avail, and am
> currently taking muscle relaxants to ease the pain (don't like 'em).
>
> I've had this problem before and it's gone away after a couple of days,
> but this started a week ago after a day of throwing and hasn't let up.
>
> Does anyone know anything about the Alexander Technique, or experienced
> this sort of pain, or have any ideas?
>
> Jonathan in DC
> where the cherry blossoms are in full bloom. Amazing sight.
Mary Lee on thu 8 apr 99
I purchased a posture support from a medical supply store. This is not a
remedy for whatever is the basic problem but it increases painless throwing
time. If you have med insurance or can afford it, get x-rays and a
specialist to interpret and diagnose. Of interest, see CM April issue's
article on Brian VanNostrand standing with back against wall while throwing
on an appropriately adjusted wheel.
It's an inspiration to read the discussions about physical problems -- no one
even considers "turning their back" (no pun intended) on clay.
Mary L
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