The Green Room - Are everyone's shoulders like this?

Mar 8^th, 2010 at 8:48pm

JingleBeq Offline
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Okay, why am I always so tense and achy? Is this just what's normal? Are there people out there who DON'T always have tight muscles in their shoulders, necks, and backs, and who don't have chronic headaches from it? I'm almost starting to wonder if I should go see a doctor about this, but maybe I'm just making a big deal over nothing.

Really. Even if I get a massage, it feels nice, but my muscles are still just as tense afterward. It's like I'm incapable of relaxing. I"m trying to remember if it was as bad when I was exercising regularly.

I make pretty things.

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Reply #1 - Mar 8^th, 2010 at 9:16pm

Krumpson Offline
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Have you tried meditation or yoga or anything like that? Right now I'm not one to speak. I had a really tense weekend and I have a knot in my back the size of a melon. But I've spent years (since I was in Jr. High) developing progressive muscle relaxation, and it has been a great help. Then I started doing other meditation techniques and Hatha yoga with Swami about nine years ago, and it's all awesome stuff. High, high recommend if you haven't tried it.

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Reply #2 - Mar 8^th, 2010 at 9:22pm

Mister Grinch Offline
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Have you considered visiting a chiropractor? If the muscles repeated get tense the same way over and over it could be because of the underlying structure, and I hear tell, though it's never happened to me, that a rib or two can pop out of place and cause havoc elsewhere with muscles trying to compensate and doing jobs they shouldn't have to.

I know lots of people think it's quackery, but if it keeps happening over and over to you, you may want to at least give it an explore.

There is one thing you never put in a trap, if you're smart - if you value your continued existence - if you have any plans about seeing tomorrow there is one thing you never EVER put in a trap.� Me.

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Reply #3 - Mar 8^th, 2010 at 11:41pm

Swami Offline
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Yep. It's fairly regular for me when I'm under stress and not able to keep up on my T'ai Chi and Yoga practices. Most westerners like to carry their stress and tension in their shoulders, which tenses up their backs and necks as well (I call it "Atlas syndrome" you carry the weight of the world on your shoulders). I recommend learning a little T'ai Chi and/or Yoga from a qualified instructor. It will help a lot.

"You just saved the whole of space and time... take the evening off! Maybe a bit of tomorrow."

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Reply #4 - Mar 10^th, 2010 at 1:10pm

Androsia Offline
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Swami wrote on Mar 8^th, 2010 at 11:41pm:

Yep. It's fairly regular for me when I'm under stress and not able to keep up on my T'ai Chi and Yoga practices. Most westerners like to carry their stress and tension in their shoulders, which tenses up their backs and necks as well (I call it "Atlas syndrome" you carry the weight of the world on your shoulders). I recommend learning a little T'ai Chi and/or Yoga from a qualified instructor. It will help a lot.�

too bad we don't know any qualified instructors around here

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Reply #5 - Mar 12^th, 2010 at 11:21am

Swami Offline
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Androsia wrote on Mar 10^th, 2010 at 1:10pm:

Swami wrote on Mar 8^th, 2010 at 11:41pm:

Yep. It's fairly regular for me when I'm under stress and not able to keep up on my T'ai Chi and Yoga practices. Most westerners like to carry their stress and tension in their shoulders, which tenses up their backs and necks as well (I call it "Atlas syndrome" you carry the weight of the world on your shoulders). I recommend learning a little T'ai Chi and/or Yoga from a qualified instructor. It will help a lot.�

too bad we don't know any qualified instructors around here

Dragon Studios T'ai Chi and Yoga

"You just saved the whole of space and time... take the evening off! Maybe a bit of tomorrow."

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Reply #6 - Apr 10^th, 2010 at 7:36pm

Silent Knight Offline
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I often have this problem as well.

http://www.maniccity.tv/

"The power is not in the mask. It's in whether we chose to wear it."
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Reply #7 - Jul 14^th, 2010 at 8:40am

BellaRose Offline
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Ello,

New girl here but just wanted to chime in.
I also get BAD BAD knots, in fact my left shoulder knot has been so big and bad for so long now that I've actually seriously contemplating naming it.
Depending on just how chronic a problem this is for you, how much pain it's causing, and if it's accompanying any other type of chronic pain you really may want to go to a doc about it first and foremost.

One big thing to consider: are the knots only noticeable when you're under more stress than usual, or do they seem to keep getting worse even when things are really calm for you?
Things like fibromyalgia and myofascial pain, both VERY common amongst women especially, could be an aggravating factor just depending on any other present symptoms.
I do also agree 100% though about the benefit of gentle yoga, as well as finding a good massage therapist of course.

Hope that helped!
Now you all probably think I'm really stuffy haha :-P

-Bella Rose

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Reply #8 - Jul 27^th, 2010 at 3:49pm

kitchensinger Offline
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I used to have huge knots in my back right shoulder blade, and my neck was always killing me.

I don't know why the pain stopped.� But these are the things that I have physically changed from when I last had them:

1.� I manage my stress and anxiety better with deep breathing (all throughout the day).

2.� I exercise regularly (and I lost about 20-25 pounds).

3.� I sleep with pillows under my arms so that the weight of my arms aren't pulling my shoulders back all night long.

4.� I have better posture.

Goodluck.� I hate back and neck pain.

"I have noticed that nothing I never said ever did me any harm."--Calvin Coolidge&&&&"Some families go water skiing together; others go camping.....our family does THEME PARTIES." --my brother Ben

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