my shoulder and upper back

[Good_Enough]

I think I pulled something the other day when doing heavy lifting and also with trying to open a door which I didn't realize was nearly impossible for a petite woman who doesn't have buldging muscles to open.

Anyway, it's been causing me a lot of pain this entire week. I've been icing it and using a heating relaxant (is that a word?) rub-on gel but as soon as the gel wears off there's immense pain, and as soon as I remove the ice the pain starts to come back. Are there any stretches or massage-related things or anything else you can think of that might help it to feel better? I'd like pain killers to be a last resort and used only if all else fails.

[Animad]

I have a lot of back problems and get a lot of pain from it so I'll tell you some of what I've been told and stuff. Hot water bottles are good to relax your muscles so if you use them (not too hot) under the sore bit but you shouldn't sleep on them or anything in case they burn you (I have slept on them(once flooding my bed in the night before an exam!!!, leant against them for hours, put really hot water in them and stuff but I wouldn't advise it). Also, you should try to stay activre, gentle exercise such as walking will help but don't put too much pressure on it and if it really starts to hurt rest (overdoing the exercise does make it worse). Theres also gentle stretches that can help, ones where you try to sit up straight and keep extending your back until it can go no further and hold it there for a couple of seconds. One where you put your hands on the back of your head whilst sat down and bend your back forwards as far as you can and push your head further down with your hands until you can definately feel the stretch and hold it for a couple of seconds. Then theres ones where you, still sitting down, rotate your body, so your spine bends to the side and then when you go as far as you can hold it for couple of seconds but that may be more for the lower/mid-spinal regions. I know a few more. I'm also on painkillers constantly after fighting not to go on them for ages the pain just got too bad and they have helped. Seeing a GP may be a good idea if it doesn't start to improve in a few days, you might need a referral to see a physiotherapist or something.

Hope this makes sense...let me know if it doesn't and I'll try and help.

Kim

[phoenix]

sound like you may have done something a bit more han just pulled the muscle maybe go and see your GP they can also reffer you on to see a physiotherapist

[Mandimoo]

you say you dont want to use pain killers, do you mean orally?

have you tried ibuprofen gel? or patches.
have you tried the heat patches that stay hot for 8hours?

try going to the dr, you may have done more damage than you realise.

mand x

[Good_Enough]

This is second time I've injured this shoulder in three months so I'm going to try and find a chiropracter since I've heard they can do wonders.

There's ibuprofin gel and patches? Wow, I've never heard of that before.
Last time I hurt my shoulder I used the 8 hour patches and a heating gel pack. I had a lot of trouble with getting the 8 hour patches over the area that was hurting, though, because it was like a broad circle of pain and I didn't know where the origin of pain was from, and it was the same this time so I got some of the heating creme by a brand with similar patches that had the same active ingediant.

My shoulder is feeling a bit better today, but if it's still causing me a lot of pain tomorrow I'll call my GP. I think today is the day where they are only open in the morning hours and they've either closed a short while ago or they are getting ready to close, so calling tomorrow will work just as well if I need to go.

[meganf]

i know it may sound weird but try having a hot bath and relax, take it easy and try not to do too much lifting from now on.
try backin ibrufen with paracetamol as it is safe but remeber to follow the rules
try icing it every hour 4 10 mins or alternit it with heat as well
hope this helps
i still think you could do with goin to the doctors to see if you have done more damage thank you think
hope you are ok