Pain in the neck

My BFF Yaelle calls it "iPhone-itis." I know it's not ENTIRELY due to my iPhone (because I've had this issue since college), but her nomenclature is pretty accurate. Thanks to a job that involves me being hunched over a laptop or iPhone all day, I have chronic pain in my neck and upper back.

A few months ago, I decided to try to take care of this problem once and for all. I found a local chiropractor who also offers acupuncture, physical therapy and massage and I made an appointment. After putting me through a bunch of exercises, he determined that I have a disc bulge in my neck that is causing secondary problems, including knotted muscles and decreased range of motion of my head. The solution? Every two hours, I'm supposed to do neck exercises. Two sets of 12. These involve pulling in my chin like a turtle, tilting back my head, and shaking it as if I'm saying, "no." It looks RIDICULOUS. But it works almost instantly. After just one set of exercises, I have dramatically improved range of motion.

I'm having a hard time remembering to do the exercises, and even when I DO remember, there is usually someone sitting in my office. Let me just say that it is really hard to look professional and inspire confidence when you are retracting your head like a turtle. I am strategizing ways to fit the exercises in, though, because my PT told me that if I can't fix the problem, I might have to stop running. The long runs seem to exacerbate the problem, due to the extreme stress they put on my body (and I'm sure my running posture sucks). I am not quitting running (no way, no how), so silly exercises it is.

Oy.

Comments

[kyooty]

The image in my head is priceless!!!! shake shake shake... :)

[pseudostoops]

I had to do those too, after I landed myself in PT from a freak pilates accident. (I wish I were kidding.) I know how silly they look/feel, but man do they work.