Question about muscle relaxers and/or patches

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I've been doing lots of physical therapy to get my back/neck more mobile.  Therapist was able to get a couple joints moving recently and the soft tissue around them is very upset about all this.

I can get everything stretched out with stretches and heat and then get 2-3 hours sleep before things tighten up and I get woken up.  Spend an hour or so getting loosened up and then get a bit more sleep until (you guessed it)

It's basically the left shoulder blade area.  This has me wondering if there are patches I can use instead of (or perhaps in addition to) pills.

Making a call to my GP today...hoping you guys may have some ideas.  

Best,

FF

[formflier]

I've been doing lots of physical therapy to get my back/neck more mobile.  Therapist was able to get a couple joints moving recently and the soft tissue around them is very upset about all this.

I can get everything stretched out with stretches and heat and then get 2-3 hours sleep before things tighten up and I get woken up.  Spend an hour or so getting loosened up and then get a bit more sleep until (you guessed it)

It's basically the left shoulder blade area.  This has me wondering if there are patches I can use instead of (or perhaps in addition to) pills.

Making a call to my GP today...hoping you guys may have some ideas.  

Best,

FF

[GaGrl]

What about the patches that provide heat? My DH seems to respond to beat on his back better than anything. We're thinking about buying a hot tub.

[Gemsforeyes]

Hi FF-

I always keep Biofreeze on hand and it works great.  It’s liquid with a roller head and uBPDbf has me use it PRIMARILY for his left shoulder blade.  He Supplements that periodically with a half or whole flexeril for seized up muscle and he sleeps like a tired pup.  Although if I take one, it’s for spasms and I don’t get tired.  Go figure?

And... if you don’t have one, a large bean bag heating pad (Dreamtime warm embrace body wrap), the microwaveable kind, is the BEST for what ails ya.  I’m a permanently injured former athlete.  Can’t survive without this thing.

We’ve also used the large Tiger Balm patches for pain, but the Biofreeze is better.

Hope you feel consistently better.

Gems

[Cat Familiar]

I have a far infrared heating pad that I love—actually have two of them. The jade one wakes me up in the morning and the tourmaline one makes me sleepy in the evening.

I had never heard of far infrared heating pads until I got stem cells for my shoulder and my doc encouraged me to use one daily. It helps with pain as well as bringing more circulation to the area.

Also I have a cold laser that really alleviates pain. My physical therapist suggested that for an Achilles’ tendon injury. If you get one, make sure to use the protective glasses so your eyes don’t get exposed to the red light. I use the glasses while I set it up, then I throw a towel over the area and take the glasses off.

All items are available on Amazon. The heating pads start at about $125 and the laser $350.

As my PT explained, the far infrared is heat without light and the laser is light without heat.

[formflier]

What about the patches that provide heat? My DH seems to respond to beat on his back better than anything. We're thinking about buying a hot tub.

I do really well with heat.  We have a jacuzzi tub and a tankless water heater...so I can heat my sore muscles all I want.

I've had several providers tell me not to use a heating pad all night...although I'm not exactly sure why they say that.

Best,

FF

[formflier]

For tonight I have a Flexeril to take at bedtime.  I don't think I've ever taken them before.

I'll make sure and be good and stretched out before bed.  (I have been other two nights as well, just woke up hours later all knotted up..ugg)

I'm going to check out the other products on Amazon.  The heating pad thing has me thinking again about why I've never done it before or why providers mentioned not to do it all night.  (I normally ask for explanation)

Best,

FF

[I Am Redeemed]

I'm also a fan of biofreeze and tiger balm patches.

Flexiril makes me sleepy and sluggish so I don't like it.

I have heard that heating pads can cause burns if left on while sleeping, but that's probably the regular electric kind. I have never heard of the infrared kind.

[GaGrl]

My mom used BioFreezec-- it works well for her lower back (stenosis).

I have arthritis in my left hip -- I have a glass of wine and a couple of Motrin, and all is right with the world; obviously pretty minor. When I had a herniated disc at C6-6, I tried every alternative treatment possible but finally had surgery -- instant relief, but who wants to go through surgery and four weeks of recuperation followed by PT unless absolutely the past resort?

[Cat Familiar]

I only use my far infrared pads for an hour or so, while I'm online, having coffee and reading or watching TV--and then I use the tourmaline one and I often fall asleep and have to ask my husband what happened at the end of the show, so I don't feel so adrift the next evening when we're watching the following Netflix episode.

If you have a Tempurpedic mattress, don't ever use a heating pad in bed. It could warp your mattress.

Some people will sleep on their far infrared pads, but mine are bumpy with the stones and I don't think that would be too comfortable for side sleeping. My PT has a real high end one that would be very comfortable, but I wouldn't want to spend that amount of money--and we have Tempurpedic mattresses in all the bedrooms.

Unlike traditional heating pads that feel hot to the touch, the far infrared pads do get warm, but they warm the stones and they don't feel hot on the skin. The heat goes much deeper into the body and warms the muscles, fascia, and bones--instead of superficially warming the skin.

[formflier]

I have a tempur-pedic mattress, glad you mentioned that.

My plan is to use the relaxer at night for a few nights and then give a test sleep in a few days to see if I'm past this middle of the night knotting up.

About to head out to do some light exercise!

Best,

FF

[GaGrl]

Do you sleep on your back or your side?

If you are a side sleeper, you may need a pillow that supports your head and shoulder in the right position, and not a regular pillow that forces your head into a bad angle.

[Turkish]

Are you aware of Egoscue's book, Pain Free?

https://www.egoscue.com/

My buddy, who worked retail for over two decades, swore by it. He was a business owner (7-11 franchisee, then his own mini Mart for 20 years, until he was about 50) so he worked a lot more hours than his employees. We used to hang out and he did all sorts of odd looking exercises and stretches, but he said they helped.

[formflier]

Usually a back sleeper.  I use a cervical pillow.

Well...the pill has been popped.  Heading off to hot bath and then see what kind of sleep I get.

Pretty good stretch session completed.

Best,

FF

[snappybrowneyes]

FF,
The lidocaine patches work well for pain and you can buy them at CVS or Walgreens, no script needed. I have struggled with the severe tightness you described. One thing that helped me was dry needling. I had it done by a PT for the knots in my back and it made a huge difference. It is uncomfortable when they do it but worth it. Basically a very thin needle is placed in the tight muscle and moved in and out. The muscle contracts with each time the needle is pushed in. After, the muscle is sore for a few days but relaxes.

Mine was a couple of decades old injury and just 3 sessions made a world of difference. Biofreeze is great as well.

[AskingWhy]

What about those devices called transcutaneous (T ENS) nerve stimulator muscle relaxers?

You can buy online and they are just like the ones doctors use.  Just make sure you read all warnings on packages.

[formflier]

Well, the flexeril helped me get through a bunch of bad nights and actually get some sleep.  I was able to not take it for 3 days.

Just woke up with really tight/spasming peck muscle.  Tried for a while to calm it without taking the flexeril but finally gave up and took one.

I can feel it starting to calm.  Will try to get back to sleep in another 10-15 minutes. 

Luckily the muscles around my shoulder blades appear to have calmed over the last few days.

Best,

FF

[formflier]

I'm going to discuss TENS units with my physical therapist today.

Looks interesting.

Best,

FF