About 15 minutes after I do high intensity exercises (weight circuits, sprints), my ears feel like they are clogged. The best way I can explain it is feeling like taking off in an airplane, and not being able to equalize the pressure. It goes away after a half hour or so. Google didn't turn up any answers so I thought I'd ask you folks.
If a crackhead with parkinsons has a seizure while holding a fist full of their own faeces? The splatter marks on the wall are probably more readable than my writing. I've tried the notebook and pen thing a few times - but I really might as well just not bother - I'm more likely to be able to remember the numbers than I am to be able to read my writing two days later.
I tried JEFit for Android and it looked pretty good but I ended up fucking around with it too much while I was at the gym and I was taking too long between sets and stuff. Now I just do my lifts and go home and log it (I've been logging on instrength recently). It helps that I'm doing stronglifts 5x5 because there's not a lot to remember.
I just finished a good bike ride and a bench set. I sat down on the bench, reached back to grab the bar to ease myself into position, and my shoulder decided to shit itself. To be somewhat more specific, it felt like the spot where the tricep joins the deltoid tried to twist itself outward by about 90 degrees. I pulled my arm (mainly using the working one) to my chest and cradled it like a bitch for about ten seconds before it just kind of moved back into place. This has happened before, although it's been nearly a year since the last incident, during which my arm was completely and absolutely immobile, uncontrollable, and in absolute agony for about three minutes before it, as with the other times, just kind of moved itself back into place. My question to anyone on here with sports medicine experience: I know you can't 100% diagnose without actually examining someone firsthand, and I don't expect you to give me "professional advice", but can anyone tell me what it sounds like I'm dealing with here?
It sounds like a sublaxation. Are you externally rotating to reach back? (Like reaching for your back pocket). I think if your rotator cuff had torn you'd notice the pain more frequently than once a year. You can't shorten the length of your ligaments, but you can strengthen your shoulder girdle, giving you more stability. I'd start doing some more rows, reverse lat ext, internal and external rotation, I's, T's, and Y's, and punches, circles, and figure 8's for serratus anterior. Focus on strengthening mid and low trap, rhomboids, post delt, lats, and rot cuff. And, stretch your pecs. The main thing is to get out of a protracted, rounded position with your shoulders. Think about your shoulder blades hugging your spine and relaxing away from your ears. If you feel your upper traps taking over knock down the weight. PM me if you want explanations/links to exercises.
A foam roller, also a baseball. Check <a class="postlink" href="http://www.mobilitywod.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">www.mobilitywod.com</a> and you'll find all kinds of superawesomegood stuff.
Speaking of leg issues, I have what seems to be sciatica going on. I have tingling in the bottom of my foot, pain in the achilles, and pain/tingling down my hamstring. Been going to the chiropractor, but it's not really helping. Anyone here have any sure fire tips? I have a foam roller, and it's helping a little, but this is pretty damn miserable.
I think chiros are quacks. We always did a lot of stretching and "neural flossing" with people with sciatica. The stretches were mostly piriformis and hamstring. Also, standing on stairs with your heels hanging off so you can alternate stretching one calf/Achilles at a time...go back and forth 30 times, 3 sets. The neural flossing consisted of: 1. Lay supine and make sure your sacrum is pressing into the floor. (don't let your lumbar go into flexion/flatten). Both legs are bent. Use a dog leash to hold the weight of your leg (handle goes around your foot). 2. Extend your leg so you're getting a hamstring stretch. 3. Dorsiflex your foot. 4. Plantarflex your foot. 5. Bend your knee. Repeat 9 times, for 3 sets through the day. Or you can do something similar sitting in a chair. The difference is that after you dorsiflex you extend your cervical spine and let your gaze go up toward the ceiling. Bring your neck back to neutral before you plantarflex and bend your knee.
There are certainly bad chiros out there just like there are bad mechanics, bad teachers, and bad trainers but it doesn't mean all mechanics, teachers, and trainers are quacks. A good chiro is worth their weight in gold. A properly aligned spine restores many restricted neural pathways and allows for optimal performance. That said, if you're having sciatic issues, find a chiro who does decompression and have a consultation. It's a relatively new procedure, but it has an 85% success rate in treating/curing disc herniations and sciatic issues. Only problem is that not many insurances will cover it.
a baseball and a bench can be your friend. Sit on a bench (or a floor even...just nothing mushy), then put the baseball in the center of your buttcheek. Work yourself over the baseball for several minutes, then move it around and do it again. It's...a different kind of pain, but it helps SO MUCH.
One technique I found that really helps with adhesions is if you find a lump, just leave the ball on it for about 60-90 seconds. Get off the ball for about a minute, and then repeat. Do this three times, twice a day for 3 or 4 days and you'll be right as rain.
What she said. I personally prefer a trigger point ball, if you have access to one. If not, a lacrosse ball is basically the same thing at 5 percent of the price.
I'm sure there are many good chiros out there and for some people that works for them. That's awesome, but that doesn't much change my opinion of their philosophy. I definitely believe in manual therapy and its value. It has its place, for sure. But, in the majority of clinical cases it should not stand alone like chiros seem to claim. I've had a lot of body work done over the years and believe in it, but I don't believe in the idea of manipulations and mobs fixing everything. It's ridiculous. The idea is that a chiro will realign the spine, right? Most of those issues stem from muscular imbalances and poor posture built up over years. If you're just getting adjusted and not addressing the root of the issue, a chiro is a quick fix that isn't lasting. And, mobs and manipulations aren't going to do much for a bulging disc or spondylosis. You can't mob a disc back into place or manipulate your spine back to that of a 20 year old's. Also, I don't believe in a patient walking into a room and laying down while someone does mobs and manipulations for an hour. If you really have spinal issues, those are for life. They never go away 100%, and your first flare is most likely not your last one. Part of rehab is education...becoming empowered and learning how to manage a flare and properly take care of yourself. I know people who started doing Yoga who say their spines have never felt better. I really respect them because they don't necessarily like Yoga; they just know it's what works for their bodies. That isn't going to work for everyone, but there are people out there who don't want to get better. They get a sick satisfaction from being "injured". I think chiros enable that a little bit more because those patients just walk in and lay down. They are completely dependent on a chiro and don't have to take any responsibility for their treatments. Why would a chiro ever cut those people off if they're paying to come in? I've seen many people with bulging cervical discs thanks to chiros. And, there are still some dinosaurs out there doing end-range manipulations and severing vertebral arteries, killing the person. It's not that difficult to do to a woman. I wouldn't let one of them touch my neck unless I was in so much pain I wanted to shoot myself. There is no cure for disc herniations. Where does the 85% success rate come from? In my experience it depends on what part of the spine you treat with traction. People with some cervical issues, TMD, and migraines seem to respond to traction. Anything with the lumbar seems like it has no effect with people. But, that's just from clinical experience and conversations with people who have been in this much longer than I have. I love reading new evidence-based research, so maybe there's a journal article I haven't read yet.
Chiropractor is one step among many for good rehab. A chiro won't be able to fix muscular imbalances or issues, but a physical therapist and PT work isn't going to fix a mis-aligned spine. I used to have mild scoliosis, and my spine looked like a mess. I saw a bad chiropractor for a few years and nothing changed--I saw a good chiropractor and 6 weeks later the x-rays of my spine looked like they belonged to a different person, way straighter. Before: I couldn't deadlift 135 lbs without shooting pain. After: I deadlifted 385 a few weeks ago. I go to the chiropractor pretty much any time I injure myself, and my recovery time is always a matter of days to weeks, even for injuries that leave me literally unable to walk. There is a huge variation of quality among chiropractors, the bad ones will actively hurt you and the good ones are priceless. It's not a fix-all, you still need to take care of your body, but it can contribute a lot to rehab. Not to mention: Find a chiropractor that does ART and he will work on releasing the muscle tension that caused the spinal imbalances in the first place. Again, not a cure-all, but it does make a difference. Hahaha... what? Can you please list more than a single case where a chiropractor has literally killed their patient? LOL.
I've heard of this happening a handful of times, not just once. I didn't know those people personally, and because of HIPAA I don't know their names. But, it can definitely happen. They started vomiting in the car, drove back to the chiro or the ER, but they still died. Or they had a stroke. Aren't you a paramedic or EMT? Doesn't that make sense to you that someone who doesn't know what the hell they're doing can pretty easily kill someone/give someone a stroke? Quick search: <a class="postlink" href="http://www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/chirostroke.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRel ... troke.html</a> It is rare, but it does happen.