Arm, Shoulder and Upper Back Trigger Points

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HOME Ceu Connection

I used to present for home CEU Connection and sometimes course info comes to my inbox. From the course description – it sounds like they had a patient like me in mind to train therapists to target the knot or “trigger point” that has been causing pain for the past 4 years.

This condition is also called nerve encapsulation and notalgia-paraesthetica.

This condition was originally caused from an injury that resulted in restricted shoulder mobility . I was very lucky to have found a myofascial Release Therapist who cured me in only 3 sessions. But this was over 20 years ago when I was in top physical condition and that therapist has moved away. Then the pandemic came, stress levels exploded and I couldn’t swim at the local YMCA.

The Healing Journey

This is a journey nobody asks for but I want to be strong, functional and pain free- I was so weak that I had my family carry groceries and anything heavy to avoid worsening the pain. As soon as the Covid vaccine changed the world- I saw a variety of health practitioners:

  1. First a physiatrist who I was told also performed dry needling. After 2 sessions, there was no change. He recommended a massage therapist. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dI6OOxBUJUU
  2. The massage therapist was great but after 3 sessions, I realized that the benefits were short lasting and not curative.
  3. Over six months the chiropractor helped decrease pain and the knot was smaller. He thought that the benefits had plateaued. I agreed.
  4. The acupuncturist had a 2 month waiting list and when I finally started – I did enjoy the heated table, sun lamp and her sweet disposition. But I didn’t notice any changes due to the needles after 3 months.
  5. I moved to a new area and the new primary physician took an x-ray and said that I had spinal stenosis and should have physical therapy. The therapist seemed really good even though he juggled treated 2-3 patients at the same time. I didn’t like his focus on increasing repetitions and weights at his speed instead of at my speed. I have the entire rest of my life to gradually get stronger regardless of what insurance or the PT have to say. However, I learned the exercises and do them regularly. I can lift a watermelon onto a cart and into the car- which is a huge success to me… I quit PT after 6 months to focus on swimming, cycling, walking and a Zumba class at the Senior Center.
  6. I decided to try another Myofascial Release Therapist who sounded fantastic and she was! But I had no plans to pay $170/hour for more than a few sessions. Medicare paid for the chiropractor and physical therapist- which is a huge plus….

The MFR therapist said that I needed to address the tight fascia before engaging in resistive strengthening with weights and bands. This made sense and I learned a lot about movement and stretching from her that I now utilize at home. I still have mild aches and pains and I’m not sure if its due to being 70 years old, the stress of being mom to a mentally ill adult, or some condition like fibromyalgia which is also stress related. Whatever it is, I’m working hard to have a healthy immune system, strong body and pain-free life.

I applaud anyone taking this course (I can’t vouch for the quality) because these therapists can help people like me. Now, let’s get Medicare to pay for the treatments!

A few posts about my healing journey:

and when you can no longer don a bra…

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