Literally.
I put my neck out on Friday. No, I wasn’t bungee-jumping or doing gymnastics or painting the ceilings. I was, um, waking up.
I turned my head too quickly the wrong way, and pop, ouch, squeal. There I was, not even out of bed yet and down for the count.
Luckily, I had my bi-monthly (that does mean twice a month, doesn’t it?) massage therapy appointment scheduled for the afternoon. I quickly put in a call for a chiro appointment. The chiro couldn’t even move my neck, although he gave me a nice adjustment of a trouble spot that had been plaguing me since Wednesday and which probably led to the neck trouble. The massage was great, but did more for my back than my neck, because my life is also a PITA.
Literally.
I’ve been walking like a duck since childhood (or like a ballet dancer, take your pick). Then in high school I hurt my right knee in a production of Oklahoma! (I know, weird, right? Let’s just say it involved a wagon wheel back stage and a cast member who was taking “Break a Leg” too literally). Since The Knee Incident, I’ve been slightly hobbled, and apparently it’s affected my gait. Factor in a major car accident when Youngest Son was 11 months old, and an abusive need to (try and) run Allie McBeagle two or three times a week…well, my gimpy right knee/right hip means my massage therapist needs to take care of my PITA every couple weeks, too.
Over the weekend, the neck has relaxed some. But it’s still not great. If I would just lie in front of the TV for three days, all would be fine. Or so my mother tells me. Apparently, back in the day, when you put out your back or your neck, you rested for three days, and voila! you got fixed.
Now we’re too busy to rest for three whole long days. At least I am. If I could convince myself not to do any activities that exacerbate my problem, I might not keep finding myself in pain. But that would mean not using the computer, not writing, not painting the house when it needs it, not walking and running the dog, etc., etc. It would mean sitting there like a lump. Not for me.
Cindy, I feel for you. I have arthritis in my neck, and if I use a laptop for more than 20 minutes, my neck is in trouble. Which means I’m confined to my PC. And any tension goes straight to my neck.
I hope you’re better soon.
I’ve never heard of arthritis in the neck, Edie. Ow. I think I’d rather be me.
Part of my problem is that ibuprofen puts me to sleep. But it’s also what helps get rid of the pain. So when I’m in pain, I put up with it during the day and hope for some relief at night.
I don’t have a laptop. I wonder what it is about the laptop that causes neck trouble that doesn’t occur with a desktop? The desktop used to give me trouble, but I have a great chair now with armrests. Those really help. My keyboard and mouse are at the proper, lower level, plus I have an ergonomic keyboard.
Come to think of it, a laptop keyboard would probably bother me. Even once I get a laptop, which I hope to do next year, I would mainly use my PC for writing and the laptop for travel/convenience.
I suspect the laptop causing problems is mostly linked to the placement of the keyboard behind the trackpad. I don’t get neck strain, but it does affect my shoulders and wrists.
And I’ve had bad neck problems, so you have my full empathy. I hope you’re feeling better today!
Hi, Natalie,
I’m feeling a bit better, thanks. Had my hair cut yesterday, and it was a challenge getting my hair washed in that sink. She really had to support my head to help me get out of that awkward position.
I have massage therapy again next week, and I’m torn between waiting for another chiro appt until then or going in today or tomorrow.