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 Too Many Irons in the Fire
Posts: 1724
  
Location: Augusta, KS | I turn 22 next week, and I feel more like I should be turning 42.
Both of my shoulders are bad, I can't lay down without my arms falling asleep and my shoulders getting "stuck". My back is constantly in so many knots that my arms and hands regularly go numb during the day. I've been having pain in my hip flexors. I just feel like i'm falling apart. I muck 25+ stalls a day and have a very physical job, the stall mucking is a lot of the problem, but I'm stuck with it for the time being.
Any ideas on low cost things I can do to help? I can't afford regular massages or anything like that. I'm in pretty good shape, I don't eat 100% healthy, but I cook all of my meals at home and stay away from processed food. Do I need to be taking vitamins? I just need to do something! I'm tired of feeling old! |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 928
Location: Bigfoot Country | save up for a massage!! You need one!! Try some magnesium, the best is Jigsaw magnesium. It's online at jigsawmagnesium.com and will help relax your muscles and take the lactic acid out. Or, buy some Epsom salts and sit in
a bath with them. You will absorb the magnesium in the Epsom salts and help your muscles feel better. Do you know anyone with a Jacuzzi? Good luck!
FYI....42 is NOT OLD!!! lol
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 Hog Tie My Mojo
Posts: 4847
Location: Opelousas, LA | Get a BOT T shirt to sleep in, it really helped me when I tore my rotator cuff.
You may have to use an extra pillow when you sleep to support your shoulders. I have to have my head on a firm enough pillow to keep some weight off my shoulder and "hug" another to keep the weight of my arm from pulling on my other shoulder too much.
If you are cleaning that many stalls you may also need to ice your shoulders at night.
25 is a lot of stalls. The guys at the track dang near cry if they do any more than 10, usually 8 is thier limit. You have a right to be hurting. |
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 Reaching for the stars....
Posts: 12704
| I wish I could still feel 42!!! LOL!
But I know what you're going thru. I had more joint problems from age 30 to 40 than I do now at 50+. I've learned not to overdo, no matter what. I have learned the proper way to do what I have to do. And I will NOT carry water! I think carrying full water buckets is what did in my shoulders, elbows and wrists. Since I quit that silliness I have healed greatly. |
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 Expert
Posts: 3782
Location: Gainesville, TX | I sleep with a heat pad (it turns off after about 30-45 minutes). I also stack my pillows just so and take hot baths when I'm sore. Magnesium is another great idea. Also, see if you can find a massage school close. They are much cheaper as they are students trying to learn. |
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 Own It and Move On
Location: The edge of no where | IcyHot is your friend. |
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 Ditch the Stirrups
Posts: 5369
Location: Sorrow Not! Defending against workplace bullies | Make sure you are careful of your body at your job. For example dont wait until the wheelbarrow is overfull before dumping it. If you are careful the physical activity is good for you. My sister who is 60 works as a school custodian and is in great shape. But she is also very careful not to overdo.
I am 51 and I rely on Tiger Balm and Sore no More. |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| Drink lots of water too, as you could have a built up of lactic acid in your muscles and you need the water to flush all the toxins out |
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 Texas Taco
Posts: 7499
Location: Bandera, TX | Go see a chiropractor. Makes a huge difference.
Hope you feel better. Getting old really sucks. |
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 Expert
Posts: 2308
Location: Viola, IL | I second getting a back on track shirt or back brace, or mini blanket to lay on at night.
Also tiger balm, icyhot, etc.
I am 27, and have two bulged discs and bursitis in my SI. I've torn my rotator cuff, broken both my wrists, ankles, and elbow. I've had numorous torn ligaments. I hear the "you're too young for this", stuff all the time. And people are right, don't over due it. Taking a bit longer, so that you aren't stressing your body is the key.
Also, massages are great, chiropractic is great, and just regular stretching and PT exercises are also helpful. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 600
Location: Oklahoma & Texas | I feel your pain...I'm 35 and fallin apart lol...knee surgery 3 years ago..neck surgery last year... other surgeries years before that on ankle, leg, etc....when you sleep make sure you are NOT sleeping on your stomach...back or side only and my neck doc said best n position to relieve pressure off spine is flat on your back or with small pillow under your head and your knees up with feet flat on the bed..helps me when I get achy..hot bath helps.. we got a hot tub 2 years ago and I love it..helps a lot...def take the magnesium...glucosamine helps..if it continues to get worse go get looked at may be worth a couple steroid shots to calm the inflammation down.. |
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| The number one thing you can do to feel better is to remove as much sugar from your diet as possible. Carbohydrate overload decreases your immune system, which causes inflammation. Inflammation is what makes your body hurt. Plain and simple... Allergies will also cause inflammation so take allergy meds, and try to avoid what you are allergic to. Again, keep inflammation under control. I totally believe in INCREASING your fat intake too. This low fat stuff is NOT healthy IMO. |
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 Cotton Balls are the Devil
Posts: 1271
Location: My own little world! | INVEST in a good mattress. They make a huge difference. We still have our old mattress (in the guest room) I tried sleeping on it once when the AC was not working, I couldn't even lay on it for the time it took to get to sleep with out my arms falling asleep........ while I was awake.
Also Advil helps, but you have to take it on a regular bases in order for it to be effective. |
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 Chasin my Dream
Posts: 13651
Location: Alberta | Eat right and enough, water and get lots of rest......I'd save up for a massage or good chiropractor appointment... |
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| My Back on Track tshirt has helped my shoulder and back pain tremendously. It won't replace a good deep massage, but will help you go a lot longer between. Mine has paid for itself. |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 316
Location: Tornado Alley | I think we are in the same area. I have a nice hot tub that you can use. PM me if you would like to take a nice long hot soak. It is pure bliss! |
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 Money Eating Baggage Owner
Posts: 9586
Location: Phoenix | I agree with the chiro. Usually with my insurance is $25 a visit...WELL worth it. And Buofreeze. Like Icy Hot just doesn't burn as bad. |
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Hungarian Midget Woman
Location: Midwest | I really really like Muscle Mend by Burt's Bees. All natural and works quite well. It does feel warm, but did not irritate my skin. It does smell strongly like menthol. lol
The other one I like is actually horse liniment... this one. They sell it at the feed stores around here. Icy Hot and other human liniments don't help me. http://www.valleyvet.com/ct_detail.html?pgguid=b9636a4f-3062-472a-b...
Yoga or stretching might also help you. Taking enough time to rest when you can is also very important. And advil liqui-gels. LOL
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I Need a Xanax!
Posts: 2774
| I am only 32 and have a lot of stiffness and pain too. I agree with others....get a GOOD mattress. Don't sleep on your stomach, go to a chiropractor, take a good magnesium supplement(I take Doctor's Best Mg from Amazon), don't overdo it at your job. Always lighten your load even if it means doing double the amount of walking. Taking fish oil supplements or ground flax will help with soreness too. Also, make sure you wear a REALLY good bra with wide straps. I hope some of this stuff will help and I'm going to stay tuned to this thread for ideas too because I definitely feel your pain. |
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 Expert
Posts: 1367
Location: mi | Along with all of the other suggestions. When I clean stalls I do a stall then I go do something else. Get hay fill a water bucket do grain..... You get the point. I try to break up the cleaning time to give my muscles a break for a couple minutes. So its 5 minutes of cleaning 2 minutes of something else. If I am in a ram and just need to get it done then that night my wrists and hands are aching. It does take a bit longer to do it this way but it helps. |
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