yogini Posted March 27, 2009 Report Share Posted March 27, 2009 Does anyone have lots of tightness in the shoulders? My shoulders are really open these days. I hurt my wrist in yoga and now have to do everything on my forearms, which a shoulder-opening position. Normally I'm one of those people who is hunched over and has really bad back pain. I have huge knots in my back and shoulders that pop loudly when I rub them. Now my back pain has gone way down. And my POTS symptoms also feel better and I feel more alert. I also notice the opposite - when I feel the worst, my shoulders are extra tight and painful. I am wondering whether there is a relationship between shoulder tightness and POTS?(I don't have EDS, by the way.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
all4family Posted March 27, 2009 Report Share Posted March 27, 2009 Yes! I get extreme muscle tightness with the popping..Especially in my shoulders neck and chest...even my chest pops if you can believe that.Suzy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Broken_Shell Posted March 28, 2009 Report Share Posted March 28, 2009 Hi,I also have severe myofascial and muscular tightness and pain, especially in my neck, shoulders, and face. I have been receiving physical therapy weekly for almost two years, and while it helps short term, my body seems unable to maintain a long-term benefit. My pain doctor and neurologist think that this constant and inappropriate tightness may be related to the dysautonomia. I don't have fibromyalgia because my pain is caused my every little position and activity that uses the muscles, but I don't have intense pain if someone touches me. They just call it "myofascial pain syndrome." The PT that I have found helpful is Upledger trained myofascial therapy. I have also been helped quite a bit by use of kinesiotape. You might want to consider trigger point injections - I didn't find them helpful, but they might be worth a try, especially if you have a lot of knots. Hope that helps, and I hope that you are feeling better! ~ Broken_Shell Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ernie Posted March 28, 2009 Report Share Posted March 28, 2009 Hi,This is part of POTS and its coat 'Coat hanger'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yogini Posted March 28, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 28, 2009 Thanks, guys. Broken Shell, I think you're right. I think the knots are related - they may be controlled by the autonomic nervous system. And if nothing else, getting rid of them might improve my circulation and blood flow. I forgot I have a book on Trigger Point therapy which I am going ot start reading. And I will also look into the kinesiotape. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EarthMother Posted March 28, 2009 Report Share Posted March 28, 2009 I have bad flaires of "coat hanger" pain, as well as less frequent but far more intense facial (trigeminal) pain attacks. Sometimes I think each may be related to "bracing". When POTS symptoms are bad -- I tend to unconsciously brace (hold tight) against the feelings or sensations. A pushing away response that I don't realize I am doing. A couple months ago I was getting terrible "burning mouth syndrome" pains. It can happen to women in perimenapause frequently, but I also read it could be related to tongue bracing. I noticed then, that I DO tend to brace my tongue on the roof of my mouth and my front teeth. Once I became aware ... I was able to consciously relax my tongue, more and more each day. The Burning Mouth seemed to go away. But I realize that could be coincidence. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Broken_Shell Posted March 28, 2009 Report Share Posted March 28, 2009 Thanks, guys. Broken Shell, I think you're right. I think the knots are related - they may be controlled by the autonomic nervous system. And if nothing else, getting rid of them might improve my circulation and blood flow. I forgot I have a book on Trigger Point therapy which I am going ot start reading. And I will also look into the kinesiotape. Yogini,Sounds like a good starting point. I have tried trigger point injections, and I am thankful each day that I have found kinesiotape because it has really helped me quite a bit with my myofascial problems, so let me know if I can help you find any other information. Good luck!~ Broken_Shell Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yogini Posted April 4, 2009 Author Report Share Posted April 4, 2009 Well, I went to see my dr today. He felt my back and heard my trigger points pop and gave me a referral for 8 visits with a pain management dr. It's actually great, because my PCP is pretty conservative about treatment and it was his idea to send me to a specialist. This pain doctor apparently does trigger point injections, electrical stimulation, massage and all sorts of other things. So I am extremely excited. I've lived with this pain and tightness my whole life....waaaayyyy before POTS. I've paid oodles out of pocket for massages, which helped a little, but never got rid of it. And to think there is a doc that could have helped me all this time. I will be calling her first thing Monday am!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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