Back/Shoulder/Neck pain
Back/Shoulder/Neck pain
Author
Discussion

obob

Original Poster:

4,193 posts

223 months

Thursday 12th September 2013
quotequote all
I am getting very stiff upper back/neck and shoulder pain. I am 70% sure it is from sleeping funny, I sleep upside down or on my side and can't stop myself.

So should I see someone about it who can recommend the correct mattress/pillows for the way I sleep and possibly diagnose if that is what is causing it or should I go ahead and buy some pillows.

My mattress is fairly new, very expensive, but fairly firm which suits the Mrs but maybe not me? Would a foam topper help?

22s

6,526 posts

245 months

Thursday 12th September 2013
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Are you stressed? I get that pain when I'm really anxious about something.

obob

Original Poster:

4,193 posts

223 months

Thursday 12th September 2013
quotequote all
22s said:
Are you stressed? I get that pain when I'm really anxious about something.
Nope, I am the most laid back person ever known.

944fan

4,962 posts

214 months

Thursday 12th September 2013
quotequote all
I have had lots of upper back / neck pain. It got so bad that sometimes I would wake up with tension headaches that would put me out of action.

I now have a firm memory foam pillow. Do some googling as there is lots of information on what you need but you basically need a pillow that is the correct size to keep your spine straight. I have been through about 4 pillows trying to find the right one. In the meantime a deep massage is got for releaving the tension and getting the knots out of your muscles.

XJSJohn

16,151 posts

248 months

Thursday 12th September 2013
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This is exactly what i get from driving a new or unfamiliar car that i have not got the driving position right in ... or from doing longer drives than usual ....

changed car, doing longer comutes?

obob

Original Poster:

4,193 posts

223 months

Thursday 12th September 2013
quotequote all
XJSJohn said:
This is exactly what i get from driving a new or unfamiliar car that i have not got the driving position right in ... or from doing longer drives than usual ....

changed car, doing longer comutes?
No, not commuting. I walk to work. Had the same 2 cars for a while now.

Pretty sure it is to do with my bed.

Reading on the internet, it seems as a side sleeper I need a memory foam mattress (or at least a topper) and a firm pillow.

Is there a difference in memory foam - i.e. the expensive products to the cheaper stuff?

ally_f

245 posts

216 months

Monday 30th September 2013
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I'm not an expert, but having tried a couple of cheap memory foam toppers I bought this one...

http://www.dreams.co.uk/luxury-memory-foam-topper

and it's amazing. Totally transformed a nearly new, half decent mattress that felt alright to what feels like sleeping on a cloud!

I don't like memory foam pillows though... but again pehaps that's because I've only tried a couple of cheaper ones.

mattikake

5,110 posts

228 months

Tuesday 1st October 2013
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Chances are you're suffering from too much sitting.

All that happens when you sleep is your muscles are released, they then spasm or knot but otherwise go beyond a hard workout and approach damage - RSI type effects basically. Before you can recover, you're off out for another hard day's sitting...

It takes about 20 years for the effects to begin. Unless you fix the problem, they get progressively worse until you die.

Back/shoulder/neck are all connected (as are head and bum/hips/legs/feet), your entire posterior. Muscles pull on each other. Headaches are a common side effect and misdiagnosed as eye-strain or stress in 90% of cases. A poor bed are also a common misdiagnosis and a while a better matress/pillow may seem to have a positive effect, all they do is alleviate the symptoms and move them on into later life, where eventually you end up with such chronic problems you're unfixable find yourself with a walking stick, zimmer-frame or a mobility scooter...

Too much sitting is going to be the next big epidemic after obesity as the generation that has had 50 years of sitting is only just getting old enough to feel the full force.

Have you had your posture checked - squat test or plumb-line?

rs4al

954 posts

194 months

Tuesday 1st October 2013
quotequote all
mattikake said:
Chances are you're suffering from too much sitting.

All that happens when you sleep is your muscles are released, they then spasm or knot but otherwise go beyond a hard workout and approach damage - RSI type effects basically. Before you can recover, you're off out for another hard day's sitting...

It takes about 20 years for the effects to begin. Unless you fix the problem, they get progressively worse until you die.

Back/shoulder/neck are all connected (as are head and bum/hips/legs/feet), your entire posterior. Muscles pull on each other. Headaches are a common side effect and misdiagnosed as eye-strain or stress in 90% of cases. A poor bed are also a common misdiagnosis and a while a better matress/pillow may seem to have a positive effect, all they do is alleviate the symptoms and move them on into later life, where eventually you end up with such chronic problems you're unfixable find yourself with a walking stick, zimmer-frame or a mobility scooter...

Too much sitting is going to be the next big epidemic after obesity as the generation that has had 50 years of sitting is only just getting old enough to feel the full force.

Have you had your posture checked - squat test or plumb-line?
So what is the solution ?

mattikake

5,110 posts

228 months

Wednesday 2nd October 2013
quotequote all
rs4al said:
mattikake said:
Chances are you're suffering from too much sitting.

All that happens when you sleep is your muscles are released, they then spasm or knot but otherwise go beyond a hard workout and approach damage - RSI type effects basically. Before you can recover, you're off out for another hard day's sitting...

It takes about 20 years for the effects to begin. Unless you fix the problem, they get progressively worse until you die.

Back/shoulder/neck are all connected (as are head and bum/hips/legs/feet), your entire posterior. Muscles pull on each other. Headaches are a common side effect and misdiagnosed as eye-strain or stress in 90% of cases. A poor bed are also a common misdiagnosis and a while a better matress/pillow may seem to have a positive effect, all they do is alleviate the symptoms and move them on into later life, where eventually you end up with such chronic problems you're unfixable find yourself with a walking stick, zimmer-frame or a mobility scooter...

Too much sitting is going to be the next big epidemic after obesity as the generation that has had 50 years of sitting is only just getting old enough to feel the full force.

Have you had your posture checked - squat test or plumb-line?
So what is the solution ?
Officially? Nothing. The system doesn't care. It just says wait until you're in constant pain and report to the NHS who will give you a wheelchair for some more sitting. wink

Unofficially? Stretching, exercising and to replace as much of the sitting as possible with standing, kneeling, slouching...

This is an explanation:- http://www.mptp.info/corporate/fixdeskposture.html

This is aiding prevention:- https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=3652030669...

Shameless self-plug perhaps but I'd rather not have to plug at all, and the truth is as truth etc.

Early symptoms are if you have a lordotic posture, anterior pelvic tilt, a sway back posture or even have a considerable spray-footed walk... back pain is just around the corner.

Matt_N

9,032 posts

231 months

Wednesday 2nd October 2013
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Matt - I seem to remember you may have posted some useful youtube videos of various stretches to help alleviate poor desk posture or have I confused myself?

If so would you mind doing so again? TIA.

AngryPartsBloke

1,439 posts

180 months

Wednesday 2nd October 2013
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What's your exercise like Op? I suffered from back pain for years but now i rarley have any issues because of the amount of exercise I do now andthe lifestyle changes I made. Of course the causes can be diffrent but the solution is normally the same.

rs4al

954 posts

194 months

Wednesday 2nd October 2013
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Matt, you don't anyone down Brighton - Worthing way who has the same outlook as you ?


mattikake

5,110 posts

228 months

Wednesday 2nd October 2013
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Bit busy atm. I've done my big post for the day so I'll have to come back about stretches and exercises. You could just search my older posts. I'd say google Mattikake+Pistonheads+Hip flexors

In fact that search produces this thread: http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Matt_N

9,032 posts

231 months

Thursday 3rd October 2013
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mattikake said:
Bit busy atm. I've done my big post for the day so I'll have to come back about stretches and exercises. You could just search my older posts. I'd say google Mattikake+Pistonheads+Hip flexors

In fact that search produces this thread: http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Cheers Matt, exactly what I was after.

obob

Original Poster:

4,193 posts

223 months

Thursday 3rd October 2013
quotequote all
Cheers Matt, I do sit a lot because I am an office drone. I do do lots of exercise though. No where to stand where I work.

You mentioned posture checks. How/who does that?
I got a new mattress topper and pillows and it has helped a lot but it's not gone completely.