I went to a Chiropractor...

spuf66

I think I have mentioned that my shoulder has been tender for the past few weeks... well it's been getting worse and worse where my shoulder pretty much has a dull ache most of the time with moments of acute pain. A friend of mine has had some great results seeing a chiropractor so I decided that I should go visit one too. So I called one up this morning and a couple hours later, I had my initial visit ever, as I've never been to one before.

My visit lasted about an hour with the first 30 minutes or so, being the interview process where he learned about my condition and what I've been doing and history to try to determine the cause, which included doing an exam on my body. I'm a little out of alignment and the opposite side of body of my pain has more tension. He decided to do some actual treatment and he "gapped my joints", which resulted in that popping and cracking. It didn't hurt but it did shock me to get cracked like that! He also stretched me out a bit and gave me some exercises to do each day. He also used some kind of gun looking thing that pushed a padded piston to help move the spine a bit.

I was a little sore afterwards but did feel a bit better. I'm going back on Monday for my next treatment, which should only take about 15 minutes or so now that the initial visit is complete. Once the pain gets under control, he would like to work on my posture. I tend to lean forward so that maybe puts extra pressure where it shouldn't.

So I took the day off from working out, which is the first time I've done so (other than our Sunday rest days) since we started back on Feb. 9 and it feels weird not to have worked out. I can still workout but I need to back off a bit on the exercises where my shoulder starts to ache. As a result, I'm also taking a break from our daily challenge for a bit. Maybe I should just take a break from the pushups since I can still do squats and those darn leg lifts.

I'm hoping after a couple weeks, I'll feel a lot better and maybe I can resume doing the tough stuff again. I must admit I've been slacking off a bit in my workouts because of the stress of the upper body moves so I'm fearing the scale this week!

hysteria2

Sounds like you're on the right track. I can attest to the results of overdoing it, and you don't want to go there! Rest is a good thing. Really!

spuf66

Yeah I know it is Hysteria... it's a lot easier to tell somehow to rest and relax than it is to actually do yourself!

kristinels

Chiropractors and "cracking" scare me! Lol! My hubby goes and he swears by it, but I just can't bring myself to try it. I actually have had issues with unhealed whiplash from years ago that plague my neck and shoulder on my right side. I've done massage to try to address it, but oddly - I feel like all this exercise may be helping my situation because I don't notice the shoulder pain as much as previously. It used to really bother me when I slept. It still does, but not quite as much I don't think. Either that or I'm getting used to it...

I'm glad you're getting the care you need - it would be even worse to put yourself in a position where you have to back off long term because of an injury! I feel you though on the anxiety of not being able to keep at it full steam. I actually missed doing my workouts while travelling this weekend! There are probably some lower impact things you can do - like you said - that avoid that area - that would at least keep you burning off some calories each day.

spuf66

Ouch Kristine about your whiplash. I've been learning a lot about fascia lately and how to relieve the tension related to it. Massage is good for the muscles and they respond well to it and heal pretty quickly. Fascia, which is the connective tissue all throughout our body, responds differently. It acts as a shock absorber for your body so it's not necessary a bad thing but it doesn't respond to the quicker massage techniques. To release tension in this fascia, one needs apply pressure or stretch for several minutes, sometimes up to 5 and even 8 minutes before it will start to relax.

If you have checked out the DB Recover Release series with the foam roller, it's also addressing releasing the tension in fascia and between that series and the Recover Mobility ones, it's really helping me deal with my issues. If you haven't treated yourself to those, I highly recommend doing so.

I went to the chiropractor yesterday and he stretched my upper back by basically propping my head up with support along the shoulder and about 3 or 4 minutes in, things started to loosen up a bit and I got more range. I'm still sore but I am feeling better. I'm going in again tomorrow so hopefully I'll feel even better then.

Oh, he did adjust me a bit where I cracked some more. Yeah, I still don't like that part! Turns out the cracking sound is air (nitrogen) bubbles popping. Nothing to fear... or so I keep telling myself.

spuf66

I went for another visit yesterday and he worked me over pretty good so I decided to take a break from working out yesterday plus I didn't really have the time to do so. Anyways, when I woke up this morning, I felt so much better! At first, I didn't feel any soreness or pain but a little of it has returned this afternoon but nowhere close to what it was last week. I'm so excited to be feeling better! I'll have to remind myself not to overdo the working out and kinda ease back into it. My next visit is Monday so I'll give an update on that later.

kristinels

I saw a video a few days ago on foam rolling for 'deep tissue' massage. I'll have to check it out - although I don't own a foam roller. It's great that you are feeling so much better! I'll bet that makes you happy Coincidentally, I didn't work out yesterday either (other than my usual 11k-12k 'steps' on my Fitbit). I was having a really crappy day at work and a coworker asked me if I wanted to get out of the building and go get lunch - so I went and that sucked up my workout time. I still just ordered a chicken salad though, so at least I wasn't bad with my skipped workout and my meal. It sounds like the chiro was definitely the way to go for you - maybe you can try some of the easier CardioSculpt workouts...

debbieinca

I guess it was a no workout Thursday for all of us. I had to do things after work I just didnt make time.

hysteria2

I miss Bootcamp.

debbieinca

I know especially in the beginning when everyone was starting together . It is so quite there now.

spuf66

I agree that Bootcamp was a blast and maybe if they come up with a new one, it would be great to do again. Debbie is so right... it's pretty dead there except for the non bootcamp team thing that I never really got in to. With the Bootcamp on Demand, no one is really on the same page so there's no reason to talk about anything.

spuf66

My shoulder started to really hurt after my last update and it really got to aching yesterday. I ended up sleeping around 15 hours last night between napping and actually sleeping as I was really tired and I haven't been getting enough sleep the past few days. I was really surprised to find that my shoulder was pretty much pain free this morning! I'm really going to try to get more sleep going forward and hopefully that's a key to my pain.

hysteria2

OK, so here is how I ended up. I ordered T25 and 21 Day Fix (both Beachbody) and am doing the daily Shakeology shake (which I like very much). I also ordered Jillian's Body Revolution (a 90 day dvd program). I decided I would just alternate these. Well that's not working so great, especially since I am also doing treadmill work and training outside for the next 10K. So yesterday with the frustrations mounting I decided to do one program at a time while continuing the 10K training. Today I'm starting the 21 Day Fix and will then do either T25 or Body Revolution. And I am still fighting the sugar demon. Until I get him under control I will be at the same weight. I confess I have lost no weight since BC, but I think I'm still losing inches. The battle continues.

spuf66

Well I can see doing two different programs at the same time could be a problem as it seems like a program puts together certain exercises to work in concert with one another so hopefully you'll be seeing some much more desirable results now that you're going to do just one at a time. I'm interested in hearing about Jillian's Body Revolution. I was tempted in ordering that before Christmas but decided to hold off.

I think my wife is going to do the 21 Day Fix (or something that sounds similar to it) when things calm down for her. The more I read about sugar, the more I see how bad it is for you. Good luck in your battle with that monster Hysteria!

So I went for my visit today and had some adjustments and some stretching. The front of my shoulder was especially tight today so he put a lot of pressure on the sore spot and I did some stretching of my neck. I think it's helping and I have more stretches to do now, including cat and cow, which I really like doing. I go back a week from tomorrow so hopefully I can get thru the week without too many issues that crop up.

debbieinca

I also can see that doing a lot of different programs would be frustrating. What is the 21 day fix?

hysteria2

21 Day Fix is a daily exercise program (for 21 days) that involves cardio, weights, yoga and pilates. It's not easy at all! They have a modifier for every session, and I must admit I follow her a lot.

debbieinca

I just looked up 21 day fix. Are you following the diet plan with measuring cups?

hysteria2

Actually no. I got the program for the exercises. I ended up with 2 (one basic and one deluxe), so I sold the extras on eBay. (I had no use for the plastic containers, though my dog would have enjoyed playing with them.)