The campus nurse gave me a couple of people I might try for sports medicine. She also suggested getting massages, which I am not so sure about because of:
a. the cost (surely my insurance doesn't cover them, and they're like $40 a pop or something. The cheap, I has it.)
b. I am still uncomfortable about being touched, especially by a person I do not know well. I am not sure if I would find it that relaxing. Or heck, I don't know, maybe it would help, though I doubt I could do what I envision as a "massage" - the strip down to nothing (or just underwear) and lie facedown on a table. That's too much giving-up-of-control for me. But maybe a chair massage, or one where I don't have to disrobe extensively, might work.
She also told me what I already know: use moist heat and ibuprofen if you can (I may have to buy a buckwheat bag just to keep in my office; we do have a microwave over there). And another thing: I may not be drinking enough water. Apparently in some people mild dehydration can bring the tension headaches. And I know I don't drink enough water during the day - the bubbler fountain is not all that appealing and I forget to fill up and bring my Sigg bottle most days.
I think I will call (when I get a few open moments) one of the two places she suggested, at least to talk to someone about it. The good news is so far this week I have had no neck issues.
3 comments:
Some insurance companies do cover massage; it might be worth looking into.
If you can find whole flaxseed, that makes a really nice heat bag; supposedly the oil in them really retains heat well. I made one for myself and one for my husband; I used scrap fabric, so they're in designs we enjoy. They were really fast and easy, and I got the perfect shape.
I've had problems with not drinking enough water during the day, so I ended up getting a mug I like and figuring out how many cups of herbal tea I need to drink to hit the number. It's more appealing than cold water on a cold day, and I have a little bottle of dish soap to clean out the mug, so it just lives in my cabinet.
I'm glad the neck issues aren't happening this week.
Most massage therapists are quite used to people who are body-shy, and if you tell them that's how you feel, they will be able to make you feel more comfortable. And yes, it's a bit pricey, but it does leave you feeling good. Alternatively, a physical therapist may be able to show you exercises and other techniques that you can use yourself.
I love my massage every other week and MyGuy has one every week to keep his neck and back issues from getting too bad. Maybe to start out building a relationship with a massage therapist you could ask them to massage your neck and upper back sitting up? That is how ours finishes MyGuy's massage and it might lessen the control issue. You still need to take your top off, but at least you would not be lying down.
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