Best acupuncture & acupressure books according to redditors
We found 121 Reddit comments discussing the best acupuncture & acupressure books. We ranked the 33 resulting products by number of redditors who mentioned them. Here are the top 20.
We found 121 Reddit comments discussing the best acupuncture & acupressure books. We ranked the 33 resulting products by number of redditors who mentioned them. Here are the top 20.
http://antranik.org/lacrosse-ball/
Also this book is amazing.
Yes. Watch from 1 hour and 17 min in:
r/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EhtU5ei6YaM&t=247s
In terms of learning to work with energy the number one most important thing IMO is to learn to really ground/root your energy. That can be done very deeply through standing meditation postures from qigong (called Zhan Zhuang). You can also directly learn to sink your energy.
A few good books for learning to do standing meditation and to ground
https://www.amazon.com/Way-Energy-Mastering-Internal-Strength/dp/0671736450/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1536310978&sr=8-1&keywords=way+of+energy
https://www.amazon.com/Opening-Energy-Gates-Your-Body/dp/1583941460/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1536311094&sr=1-1&keywords=opening+the+energy+gates+of+your+body
And for working with energy in general:
https://www.amazon.com/Healing-Promise-Qi-Creating-Extraordinary/dp/0809295288/ref=pd_bxgy_14_img_3?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=0809295288&pd_rd_r=f2a13599-b27c-11e8-ad5d-f9d1f1abea37&pd_rd_w=jSsme&pd_rd_wg=PHn62&pf_rd_i=desktop-dp-sims&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_p=6725dbd6-9917-451d-beba-16af7874e407&pf_rd_r=4E6D4PWEM54GBZ9TJKQP&pf_rd_s=desktop-dp-sims&pf_rd_t=40701&psc=1&refRID=4E6D4PWEM54GBZ9TJKQP&dpID=51wRmSyNaFL&preST=_SX218_BO1,204,203,200_QL40_&dpSrc=detail
https://www.amazon.com/Healing-Light-Tao-Foundational-Practices-ebook/dp/B004J4WM6S/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1536311129&sr=1-1&keywords=healing+light+of+the+tao
https://www.amazon.com/Way-Qigong-Science-Chinese-Healing/dp/0345421094/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1536311155&sr=1-1&keywords=way+of+qigong
40 was when I really noticed that I needed to be more diligent in my training. I'm 55 now, and I stay in shape by never getting out of shape.
Backs are weird things. My experience is that rest might get the back pain to go away, but unless you address the underlying issues, it's going to keep coming back.
Big contributors for me were:
The first two were from sitting too much and too much time on the bicycle.
It took a lot of work and some PT to get to a space where my back is generally not an issue for the activities that I do. I especially recommend the Trigger point therapy workbook.
If you want to be able to diagnose and fix these issues yourself, The Trigger Point Therapy Workbook is the guide that will get you there. I use it to diagnose and pre/re-hab myself all the time with great results.
sure! I found out how to do it in this. I had a hard time trying to find an online tutorial but this is the closest one I found. I recommend that book whole heartedly. It's helped me a lot with pain and mobility coupled with other things like becoming a supple leopard and such.
This. Your muscles in your hands and wrist are smaller and will get overworked much quicker, use the big muscles in your arm and shoulder if possible.
I had RSI pretty bad about 10 years ago, I ignored it at first thinking it would go away and then had to take 6 months off to recover. I found a few good books, but this book, coupled with stretches helped me more than multiple physiotherapists and specialist visits. Maybe it will work for you: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/1608824942/
From what I remember, it's todo with finding where nerves are trapped in muscles due to constant overuse and inflammation, thus causing refered pain, then massaging those areas. It took several months before I noticed results, but I've been completely symptom free for years, after being told I would have to manage the pain for the rest of my life...
(Decent sleep and cold ice packs were also helpful, braces did not do anything for me.)
I am a beginner as well, but I will share the books I'm working my way through. They are not necessarily all beginner books as they range from general overviews to very thorough reference manuals. I hope you find something on the list that helps.
Most have Kindle samples you can download if you use Amazon.
Between Heaven and Earth: A Guide to Chinese Medicine https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00F8FA6ZG/
The Web That Has No Weaver: Understanding Chinese Medicine https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00XAZ625E/
The New Chinese Medicine Handbook https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0179ZS8R0/
The Spark in the Machine: How the Science of Acupuncture Explains the Mysteries of Western Medicine
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ICS8MIE/
The Healer Within: Using Traditional Chinese Techniques To Release Your Body's Own Medicine Movement Massage Meditation Breathing https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00D184QVW/
Optimal Healing: A Guide to Traditional Chinese Medicine https://www.amazon.com/dp/0979948495/
Healing With Whole Foods: Asian Traditions and Modern Nutrition (3rd Edition) https://www.amazon.com/dp/1556434308/
Recipes for Self Healing https://www.amazon.com/dp/0952464020/
The Ancient Wisdom of the Chinese Tonic Herbs https://www.amazon.com/dp/0446675067/
The Way of Qigong: The Art and Science of Chinese Energy Healing https://www.amazon.com/dp/0345421094/
Fundamentals of Chinese Medicine: Zhong Yi Xue Ji Chu (Paradigm title) https://www.amazon.com/dp/0912111445/
Secrets of Self-Healing: Harness Nature's Power to Heal Common Ailments, Boost Your Vitality,and Achieve Optimum Wellness https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000ZJY5X4/
The Acupuncture Handbook: How Acupuncture Works and How it Can Help You https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GW4MG3W/
The Chinese Way to Healing: Many Paths to Wholeness https://www.amazon.com/dp/0595399509/
Acupuncture Points Handbook: A Patient's Guide to the Locations and Functions of over 400 Acupuncture Points https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07D35N6SJ/
The Root of Chinese Qigong: Secrets of Health, Longevity, & Enlightenment https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01FIICLXC/
Chinese Medical Herbology & Pharmacology https://www.amazon.com/dp/0974063509/
Chinese Herbal Medicine: Materia Medica, Third Edition https://www.amazon.com/dp/0939616424/
Finally, here's a few books by Mantak Chia that are profound, enlightening, vulgar, dangerous, or just aweful, depending on who you ask. I haven't read any of them but they made my list for some reason just to check out. I have a feeling he's an author people very much either like or dislike:
Chi Self-Massage: The Taoist Way of Rejuvenation https://www.amazon.com/dp/1594771103/
Awaken Healing Through the Tao: The Taoist Secret of Circulating Internal Power https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01NGTUSV4/
Awaken Healing Light of the Tao https://www.amazon.com/dp/0935621466/
Healing Light of the Tao: Foundational Practices to Awaken Chi Energy https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004J4WM6S/
I was fortunate, while in school, to come across this text (https://www.amazon.com/Tongue-Lingual-Coatings-Chinese-Medicine/dp/B0000EH2KR/ref=sr_1_15?ie=UTF8&qid=1541863665&sr=8-15&keywords=tongue+diagnosis+in+chinese+medicine) with about 275 tongue images.
​
And really as far as 'in practice' is concerned you need to look at a lot of tongues. When I was first learning, with everyone I met, it was, "Hi, how are you, may I see your tongue and feel your pulse?" I mean for years. Not just healthy people, see if you can go to retirement homes, homeless shelters, other places where people, alas, won't be in the best health. Talk to your teachers/ mentors, etc. If you are on this path, you will need the help of others to learn how to help others. A quick google search found several good articles:
https://www.sacredlotus.com/go/diagnosis-chinese-medicine/get/tongue-diagnosis-chinese-medicine
​
http://www.giovanni-maciocia.com/tonguegallery/ - Maciocia's book is considered good, but has few pictures
​
This one (https://www.amazon.com/Modern-Tongue-Diagnostics-Chinese-Medicine/dp/1717777058/ref=sr_1_13?ie=UTF8&qid=1541863665&sr=8-13&keywords=tongue+diagnosis+in+chinese+medicine) looks interesting, but it's only 121 pages at $124. Which doesn't seem right.
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http://www.acupunctureandherbalmedicine.com/the-four-examinations-part-2-tongue-diagnosis-in-chinese-medicine/
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http://www.acupunctureandherbalmedicine.com/the-four-examinations-part-2-tongue-diagnosis-in-chinese-medicine/
I totally agree on the Theracane. The Trigger Point Therapy Workbook along with the theracane can save a lot of money and reduce recovery time.
I used it along with corrective exercises to fix my rotator cuff. Every athlete should have both especially if they're just starting a strength training program. Even if you've read Starting Strength and watched the videos, you're probably going to fuck up your form at some point and put unnecessary stress on a muscle. The trigger point work book will help you identify the affected muscles and treat them. A lot cheaper than seeing a massage therapist.
I'm gonna sound like a broken record here, but a lot of these problems can be fixed by taking much longer with the preliminaries. You sound like you're like me and a lot of women. You take a while to get warmed up. And he wants to jump in with oral or PIV before you're even halfway warmed up and ready for it. And then PIV is an express train and once it starts it feels like it's out of your control.
[Note: being wet doesn't necessarily mean you're ready! See: The Mystery of Arousal and Vaginal Wetness.)
This doesn't work for everyone, but it really helps a lot of couples in similar situations:
Get a good folding massage table, some coconut oil, and some nice big soft towels.
Get a good book on sensual or erotic massage.
Start learning and practicing on each other. It feels wonderful and it's a huge education for both of you about your partner's body and how to give them maximum pleasure and how to guide them on giving you what you need.
In particular, it will take the pressure off of him and let him learn how to understand your timing and needs and how to satisfy your body without the distraction of dealing with his own arousal and orgasm. It will give you both the intimacy and the feeling of loving and being loved that you need, without getting frustrated or impatient because the other person's needs don't synchronize with your own.
Plus, the orgasms are amazing and you can have as many as you want! And regular sex gets better as a result, because you're more relaxed and you both understand each other's bodies so much better.
For example, he will discover how long it takes before you're ready for oral, and several good ways to get you there, and because he discovered it for himself, while he was in control and focused entirely on you, it will really stick this time. Once it's a habit, and he's learned your "tells," he can use that during regular sex without even having to think about it.
One final link, a plug for Shakti's tantra website: Extraordinary Passion -- The Art and Science of Modern Tantric Sex. Once you get everything back on track, you're going to be halfway to doing tantric sex anyway, and you're probably going to want to see how much more there is to do. That's the place to go when you're ready.
Good luck! I hope you guys get everything sorted out!
I had the same issue with the wrist when I hurt my shoulder. You might wanna look into trigger point massage. That really helped me at the time.. Just my 2c.
https://www.amazon.com/Trigger-Point-Therapy-Workbook-Self-Treatment/dp/1608824942
That's a really good point! I have both, but I'm not 100% clear on the difference either, to be honest (I should probably ask for clarification next time...). However, OP, you should definitely ask the doctor you like about myofascial pain syndrome. Also, take a look at the Trigger Point Workbook (Davies and Davies). It's totally harmless and may provide you with a lot of relief. It's been great for my enormous, rock-hard knots, and I was even able to help my husband with his neck pain.
http://www.amazon.com/Trigger-Point-Therapy-Workbook-Self-Treatment/dp/1608824942
I've been in a similar situation for the last 6 years. First it was fingers, then my outer forearms. I work in IT, love gaming, very depressing, tried all the things. Last year, I bought this book: https://www.amazon.com.au/Trigger-Point-Therapy-Workbook-Treatment-Guide-Relief/dp/B00ECLGALG
It's taken a year of poking around (juggling real life commitments alongside), but recently I finally managed to mostly eliminate the arm pain through the massage prescribed in the book. The problem wasn't my tendons, rather the muscles that controlled those tendons. I worked out the kinks, and I've started to enjoy some late night gaming sessions again.
These 3 are my bibles for my practice.
I use the cosmetic ingredient dictionary so regularly that its falling apart, and ethics of touch was hugely helpful for me to get into the right mindset.
The milady standard is what's taught in all NIC exam prep esthetics courses as of 2018, and its everything you need.
https://www.amazon.com/Exam-Review-Milady-Standard-Esthetics/dp/1111306923/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?keywords=milady+esthetics+textbook&qid=1572801173&sprefix=milady+est&sr=8-1
https://www.amazon.com/Ethics-Touch-Hands-Practitioners-Professional/dp/1882908422/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?adgrpid=56738567460&gclid=Cj0KCQjw9fntBRCGARIsAGjFq5GLmzRGMCOuUK38RzXgdQf2t4Vx3wEwX1ZHNRS2POApCSEl3dqfcq4aAhDcEALw_wcB&hvadid=274736590276&hvdev=m&hvlocphy=9021324&hvnetw=g&hvpos=1t1&hvqmt=e&hvrand=7034269035402737343&hvtargid=kwd-308880410391&hydadcr=22219_10176633&keywords=ethics+of+touch&qid=1572801143&sr=8-1
https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/a-consumers-dictionary-of-cosmetic-ingredients-complete-information-about-the-harmful-and-desirable-ingredients-in-cosmetics_ruth-winter/309337/item/5468319/?mkwid=Kgc4Uomt%7cdm&pcrid=70112892192&product=5468319&plc=&pgrid=21326673552&ptaid=aud-473968998433%3apla-293656415450&utm_source=google_shopping&utm_content=Kgc4Uomt%7cdm%7cpcrid%7c70112892192%7cpkw%7c%7cpmt%7c%7cproduct%7c5468319%7cslid%7c%7cpgrid%7c21326673552%7cptaid%7caud-473968998433%3apla-293656415450%7c&gclid=Cj0KCQjw9fntBRCGARIsAGjFq5EJ--zjNJZCHD2S44D_Bhi-yBFkRoS08qGEcw-T4TcyiW96LHb5CbsaApKcEALw_wcB#isbn=0307451119&idiq=5468319
You want to become good at giving massages? Give many and ask feedback every time, and not just at the end, every few moves: pressure, general feeling, are you cold, is it too rough(more oil!)... without being too annoying of course. The amount of pressure depend on the goal of the massage: light strokes for general relaxation, deep strokes to relax tight and stressed muscles. It's generally advised to start with light pressure before going deep.
You want to be GREAT at massages? Learn your musculoskeletal anatomy, and learn it well! If you know which muscles are where, and what they're used for, learning how to fix them is easy. And then learn about trigger points. This book is where I started and it's a very good introduction to both subject. This one is a more advanced version for Swedish massage. And finally, take a class: Swedish massage is you "generic" table massage, and Shiatsu is a Japanese version practiced on a floor mat. It will give you some first hand experience(pun intended) and massage is the type of thing that is often best taught by a teacher.
It seems like you really need to focus in on the details of what, exactly, is triggering you when leading up to and engaging in sex.
Now, with full fledged sexual abuse along with the other unwanted behavior you describe, this might be best done with a professional, but in any case you sound like you at least have a bead on a couple of things that could be the cause.
> he doesn't really have sensuality down
> I finally have enough self esteem to think I deserve some other kind of sexuality
I think those are excellent starting points. Your BF's approach has probably evolved to a degree around what you are starting to find less desirable...rough stuff. If he wasn't adept at sensuality in the first place, that combination might have hemmed him in to some degree, in what he's come to know generally works well. That is now changing for you and either he hasn't kept up/paid attention, or you're keeping it and your reactions close to the vest. Either way, it seems like this is a communication thing, and as long as he's sensitive and willing to learn and adjust to your changing needs, this has the potential to be a whole new life for you both in terms of sexuality.
Whatever you do, keep him in the loop. I say this all the time to LLs of both genders posting in here. You care. That's a lot more than can be said for most of the LLs described in here. Make sure he knows that you know there is a problem, know it's important, and are taking tangible steps to make it better.
"And in honor of that and the new direction you need the sexual intimacy to take....here's a copy of The Art of Sensual Massage.
And some good books to start with:
https://www.amazon.com/Healing-Promise-Qi-Creating-Extraordinary/dp/0809295288
https://www.amazon.com/Way-Qigong-Science-Chinese-Healing/dp/0345421094/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1525452385&sr=1-1&keywords=ken+cohen
https://www.amazon.com/Healing-Light-Tao-Foundational-Practices-ebook/dp/B004J4WM6S/ref=sr_1_6?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1525452407&sr=1-6&keywords=mantak+chia
Hold your belt with your injured arm. When my shoulder is messed, I just train one handed (if it's not bad enough to require not training).
Also, look into trigger point work. I have found this book to be quite good. Also, weight lifting, you'll want as much strength as possible to support the injured shoulder.
Stretching isn't actually quite the right thing to deal with a muscle already knotted up to the point it's causing a headache. Those are caused by trigger points, or "knots", and stretching doesn't get rid of them, but intense, focused massage does. Check this out - The Trigger Point Therapy Workbook - the book is based on a brilliant medical tome written by the doctors who discovered trigger points (one of whom was JFK's personal physician) interpreted for laymen and written from the perspective of how to do the trigger point therapy on yourself and it's absolutely fantastic. I can completely fix (actually fix, not mask) most of my friends' tension headaches in under two minutes now, and I literally buy cases of the above book to give away to people. Read the Amazon reviews and give it a shot; you'll thank yourself almost immediately.
Brother, you may want to look into Trigger Point therapy
I hope it offers some relief.
Hi!
I used to get massages by a PT as well, and the type of massage that worked best for my pain was a deep tissue trigger point massage, which I believe is similar to the massage you've said is effective for you. As you mentioned, that easily becomes expensive, but my neurologist turned me on to a much cheaper solution. I do home massage therapy on myself using a Theracane and workbook and get the same benefits I was getting from having the massage done to me by a PT. I'm posting this from mobile so pls message me if links don't work. This way I can also get exactly the relief I want where I want it and most importantly when I want it.
I-ching is only like the classical physics. While my Chinese colleague told me that there's another theory called "heavenly stems and earthly branches".
"heavenly stems and earthly branches" is usually used together with I-ching. And "heavenly stems and earthly branches" can be even more complicated and more powerful than I-ching. If I-ching can be compared to classical physics then "heavenly stems and earthly branches" can be compared to quantum physics.
There're some books about it.
https://www.amazon.com/Heavenly-Stems-Earthly-Branches-TianGan/dp/1848191502
I would recommend against getting a "sexy massage" book if you're not having sex. I find it more fun to just learn what works and why, and add the sexy myself.
I also recommend against exoticizing books just about eastern massage unless they're for people who actually want to practice it (As opposed to people who just like Asia. You're not doing this just because you like Asian things). There really is no secret - all the schools have something to contribute.
Swedish massage is the style I prefer - it's closest of the schools I've encountered to what people in the States expect from a massage (i.e. starting from the classic back and shoulder rub), and there are techniques for people who like it harder or softer, for all over the body, etc. Best of all, it's systematic, so you can learn principles and then experiment with them - and even if you do it poorly, it's still good. Whereas if you do Shiatzu poorly, it's ridiculous.
But books that teach you those basics and systematic ways of approaching it, but also include Eastern techniques, are especially awesome.
There's a book I really like called The Healing Art of Massage that I can't find on Amazon (which I got when I was in high school for a very similar purpose; I'd find the author, but I'm not by my bookshelf), but in its absense, I'd recommend, just from looking at the listings, The World's Best Massage Techniques by Victoria Stone, or The Book Of Massage: The Complete Step-by-step Guide To Eastern And Western Technique, which has a bunch of authors, including Lucinda Lidell.
Hmmm... It's a favorite topic of mine, but I'm not sure which one you meant. Here are two posts and some books & videos:
by Gordon Inkeles - the classic, updated.
You aren't doing anything wrong I think, you just have trigger points that are cutting off circulation. I suggest yoga and/or trigger point self-massge
to get the kinks out of your hip muscles.
I thought it said "Massage book recommendations for the key", so here's my pick: https://www.amazon.com/Book-Massage-Step---Step-Technique/dp/0743203909/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&keywords=books+on+massage&qid=1418702915&sr=8-1
> I've been told by EVERYONE that building a strong back helps but have found that to not be true.
I would concur. IMHO, people who don't suffer from scoliosis just repeat what is in the literature. Obviously, there is a back imbalance, but what kind? I've been told by a medical doctor that swimming would help, but why? 'Because it is "good" for the back.'
In terms of exercises, I've found !transverse rotation! to be the key, and unfortunately, it's hard to replicate that movement with bodyweight training. It's probably the biggest gap in bodyweight after lack of leg development.
No comment about 'wall angels,' I never did them.
Foam rolling & triggerpoint release - it might be that your foam roller is too soft, or you don't know where the hot spots are (I'm hazarding a guess). Now, I'm not a medical doctor, but you'd do yourself a favour by getting [Clair Davies' book] (https://www.amazon.com/Trigger-Point-Therapy-Workbook-Self-Treatment-ebook/dp/B00ECLGALG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1494967995&sr=8-1&keywords=clair+davies+trigger+point+therapy+workbook) and getting suitable tools. I have several, but I've found the jackknobber and the [Massage Block Twinblock Pro] (https://www.amazon.com/Essential-Headache-Performance-Myofascial-Recovery/dp/B00W4LZZK8/ref=sr_1_cc_1_a_it?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1494968059&sr=1-1-catcorr&keywords=massage%2Bblock&th=1) to be my go-to tools. [This chart] (http://www.proudback.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/trigger-points.jpg) might also help.
S-curve - So I've seen your vid 3 times, and I can't see your S-curve, especially because you don't face your back directly to the camera. It is likely not as pronounced as you think (if image was an issue).
What strikes me though is how stiff your thoracic spine is. It is kyphotic even when you are hanging from the bar (I had a 'permanently' kyphotic T-spine too). I'd do research on how to mobilise it, because it is evolved to be mobile, whereas yours seems to be a solid block.
> how my spine effects my ability to progress
I've not found my scoliosis to hinder my calisthenics training. The major concern is can you make it worse by training? And I believe you can. That's why I use foam rolling / triggerpoint release to keep it at bay, though /u/xBrodysseus has experienced improvement because of training.
>I don't understand the mechanics at work.
The mechanics of the front lever are the same whether you have scoliosis or not. Maximum effort retraction and maximum RoM depression of the scapulae, and then pushing the handle down to your hips.
>Making it impossible to get my back truly straight (It also makes form checks pretty frustrating)
As far as I can tell, your T-spine is not mobile in the sagittal plane. This is a kyphosis issue, not a scoliosis one.
Front Lever - Regarding form-checks, was this your last set? If I may be frank, the L-sit pullups were not clean, you were struggling with the front pull to tucked front lever, and your jack-knife front lever did not have any scapular retraction.
If this is your regular strength level, you need to regress to horizontal rows and work those moves with maximum scapular retraction. This would be my advice to you whether or not you have scoliosis.
Front lever is certainly (easily) within your build, but you are likely not strong enough to be practicing front lever holds (insufficient scapular retraction).
I recommend getting a lacrosse ball since they are quite cheap and versatile: https://www.amazon.com/Kieba-Massage-Lacrosse-Myofascial-Therapy/dp/B017V7UKW2/ref=sr_1_2?s=team-sports&ie=UTF8&qid=1486000450&sr=1-2
In addition, read up on trigger points and how to massage them. I suggest reading https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ECLGALG/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1
Man, I'd upvote this post ten times if I could. I wish you the best with your success, and have little doubt you'll have lots of it, even though you might get strange looks from the institutionalized MDs with whom you might work.
I'm confident you'll love the shit out of Kharrazian's book.
And it's funny you mention it, because I'll be doing acupuncture soon, hopefully in the next few weeks, but I'm thinking of trying a potassium medication my doc just prescribed given that my RBC (not my freaking CMP/serum levels -- another reason why I pull my hair out with the "average" doc, who could easily miss low magnesium or potassium because serum levels look good), given apparent hypokalemia judging by RBC levels (and a CMP/serum reduction in potassium by almost an entire freaking point over the last few years for whatever reason). On the note of acupuncture, this book looks fascinating (although judging by his responses on Goodreads, the author is a douche).
BTW (me again being totally humble and knowing that you know a shit more comprehensively than I do, medically speaking), have you ever read ol' boy's (nobody seems to hear about him anymore) Andrew Weil's Spontaneous Healing? He has a section which I'm sure you'd love where he distinguishes Eastern from Western medicine, saying the latter is almost neurotic on its emphasis on how the substance itself (void of all confounds) must by itself as an independent variable must by itself cause changes (dependent variables, whatever they are).
He says Western medicine pays way too little attention to the power of the body to heal itself if appropriately taken care of, a point that's missed by docs (at least twenty years ago when this book was written) who focus on the "substance only" approach mentioned in the last sentence. He also says the East doesn't lose its shit and actually supports the power of placebo -- which is actually ironic for the West, given that the power of at least SSRI (if not all) antidepressants appears to be with its placebo qualities (with plenty of ugly methodological unforgiveable acts committed by pharmaceutical companies to bloat up the seeming effect of their medication, such as by using "placebo washouts" or disregarding studies that show no or negative effects, etc.), seeing how only with severe depression do antidepressants outperform placebo, and placebo doesn't have, you know, a shitton of side effects.
So it is possible that carpal tunnel isn't really what you have. Doctors are notoriously bad at differentiating between true Carpal Tunnel syndrome and trigger points that create the same pain patterns. If stretching actually helps, then it is probably trigger points, as there's not really any way for stretching to reduce the amount of pressure on the tendons that go through the actual carpal tunnel (which is the claimed source of the problem with normally diagnosed carpal tunnel syndrome).
The difference, is you can treat the trigger points yourself.
It is the best $15 I've ever spent in my life. https://www.amazon.com/Trigger-Point-Therapy-Workbook-Self-Treatment/dp/1608824942
It covers the entire body from head to toe, jaw to anus. And it has a special section on CTS. I've bought a few of them for friends and family. I was an (undersized) NCAA Division 1 athlete, and I lifted 9 times a week to try to get up to where I could be competitive. After I quit, It took my body 5 years to forgive me. This book was a big part of why I finally got better.
I understand constant headache and migraines for weeks. When you say nothing else works do you mean concerning medicine only? You said they are tension related and trust me, yoga is amazing for reducing pain. There are so many great yoga teachers on youtube just waiting to teach you how to reduce stress and pain. Yoga with Adriene is a great place to start if you don't have experience or need a bit of a refresher.
Obviously as many massages as possible will help and here's a little something that has changed my life: neck block
This can be used in myriad ways to reduce stress in neck, upper back and face. It's tempting to go cheap and just get the small part that sits atop the black stand but you will not gain the relief you need that way. It's worth the investment if you invest your time. Another miracle tool is the Body back Buddy find the right size for you and I promise you will never want to put the thing down. You can work on knots anywhere in your body that cause tension without a massage therapist's limited time.
Learn about Myofascial massage techniques, The Trigger Point Therapy Workbook is a God send. It even says right on the cover, the first type of main you can helps reduce yourself by learning these techniques is fibromyalgia. Chronic Myofascial Pain causes great pain in the face and head and this book teaches you how to fix this yourself. Help yourself and get these things if you can.
Another thing, when was your last eye exam? When I finally got glasses my migraines went from 5-8 times a month to 1-2 every couple of months. Didn't even realize I actually needed glasses.
Hopefully these things help! Having dealt with regular headaches and migraines since the age of six, these are really the only things that have changed me.
Check out this book. I had SI joint dysfunction for ~14 years and knee problems for ~10. Been doing foam rolling and trigger point release stuff for a few weeks and they are both drastically reduced.
Here’s a pathology book that may be useful.
Try The Trigger Point Therapy Workbook, it's worked wonders for me on chronic back + shoulder pain from an old motorcycle accident. Used to go to physical therapy every few months but after picking up that book I haven't been for years.
/u/ayksum prescribed some good stuff. Keep it functional - like things you would do every day.
Also: I'm wondering if you pinched a nerve or have a trigger point? Is there any pain in your wrist? You may want to consider investing 10 bucks US (kindle) or ~19 (soft cover) for The Trigger Point Therapy Workbook. If I ever experience pain or limited range of motion I bust out the book, find the section with the diagrams of wherever it hurts then look for possible trigger point areas to massage that may be referring pain wherever.
I'm not saying that is what is going on with you here, but it may be a factor. Thought I would share something that has really made a difference for me and I recommend to all my friends. 30 pages of reading and the rest of the book is diagrams and pictures.
Thanks for the fascia tip. It's a new territory for me.
I wanted to leave these suggestions from my read list. Can't say much, haven't read them yet. But they might be of interest to you.
Good luck on your goal !
https://www.amazon.com/Attachment-Based-Yoga-Meditation-Trauma-Recovery/dp/0393709906
https://www.amazon.com/EMDR-Universal-Healing-Tao-Psychology/dp/1620555514
https://www.amazon.com/Tao-Trauma-Practitioners-Integrating-Treatment/dp/1623172225
https://www.amazon.com/Trigger-Point-Therapy-Workbook-Self-Treatment/dp/1608824942
Try the TMJ treatments in this book.
I used it for my carpal tunnel/TOS worked wonders
Also you can search “jaw-neck sequence” by kit Laughlin on YouTube
Let me know how it goes
Thanks for taking the time for a detailed reply!!!
My concern with the Kinesis also lies in that I'd need one of the office, one for home, etc.
One is already plenty expensive, but I might have to at least try, if nothing else is working.
I appreciate the OSHA suggestion. I've tried to follow their guidelines, but the ones for monitor positioning, idk...
Like they almost seem like they were written for guidelines for using a 15" CRT, rather than a wide 22" LCD. I can never get comfortable for long following those guidelines.
They say Comfortable viewing angle is 15 to 20 degrees which ends at about the center of the screen, so, what about the rest of the screen if I'm processing a report or coding? Should I always be centering my work on the monitor? /rant
I've been working for Orthopedists for years. It's usually posture, PT, etc. It never is a long term solution, that works for very long.
I figured, I might as well try to get the keyboard situation sorted...
Anyway, so sorry for your difficulties!!!
You might want to check out this book, I've found it useful for understanding some of the persistent muscle pain, I've had for years.
Problem is, work is constantly keeping me in a cycle of re-injury, until I can get this sorted out.
Thanks again :)
We use bloodletting mainly to clear heat and break stagnation.
http://www.amazon.com/Pricking-Vessels-Bloodletting-Therapy-Medicine/dp/1848191804/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1425474014&sr=1-1&keywords=pricking+the+vessels+bloodletting+therapy
To expel demonic energy, you need 5 Element "Aggressive Energy" protocals.
http://www.5element.com.au/Agressive_Energy.html
http://www.sacredlotus.com/go/foundations-chinese-medicine/get/5-elements-aggresive-energy-treatment
http://theory.yinyanghouse.com/theory/chinese/five_element_acupuncture_theory
Also: get this book!
Here are all the local Amazon links I could find:
amazon.com
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Beep bloop. I'm a bot to convert Amazon ebook links to local Amazon sites.
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That really sucks man. It's so easy to overdo some things so easily. Currently I'm battling my own shoulder tendonosis, fairly effectively.. lately I've gone the shotgun approach of throwing a bunch of treatments at it and whichever one works, great. The current regimen is...
-Adding Glucosamine/Chrondroitin/MSM (1500mg of GlucChron, 1500mg MSM....) to my daily men's vitamin
-Doubling up my fishoil intake
-Prescribed Prednisolone ( 84mg for the total "pack".. started out at 24mg/day, 20mg, 16mg, 12mg, 8mg, 4mg... currently on the second to last day)
-Previously prescribed meloxicam 15mg daily (arthritis antiinflammatory... wasn't prescribed with my prednisolone though, shoulda asked the doc about this. I take it before workouts. I'll text my dr. friend and ask her later about doubling up on this and prednisolone)
-penetrex - an anti inflammatory cream... i hadn't heard about traumeel, and though i steer clear of homeopathic medicines... the reviews on amazon are pretty outstanding... i'll look into that
-trigger point therapy... while i've concentrated a lot on the shoulder complex, yours is a little different. my bible is the Trigger Point Therapy Workbook.... it's awesome and I'd suggest everyone buy a copy. I went and copied (likely) the relevant pages for you.. Starting with the tricep section, which also referenced other muscles to check for trigger points, and branching out from there. It's a bit more targeted of an approach than plain SMR and may zero you in on some problem areas.
Tricep page 1
http://i.imgur.com/efZViA1.jpg
Tricep page 2
http://i.imgur.com/dHXwHzD.jpg
Teres Major / Latissimus Dorsi
http://i.imgur.com/de93PsR.jpg
Serratus Anterior page 1
http://i.imgur.com/XB6BBLD.jpg
Serratus Anterior page 2
http://i.imgur.com/NHFgJo0.jpg
If it helps you, strongly consider buying it. It's a fantastic resource. And it's like $14 with Prime shipping. http://www.amazon.com/Trigger-Point-Therapy-Workbook-Self-Treatment/dp/1608824942/
-Lastly... and most importantly, rest. I've pulled back on a ton of shoulder training and stress to give myself some time to heal. It's been hard, but my shoulder last night has felt stronger than it has in over a month. Hopefully I don't get overly eager and get it aggravated before it's ready for a full workload.
Good luck man, injuries suck.
edit : sorry for the formatting guys.
Sounds like a overuse injury, but the source of the problem might not be in the same spot where you feel pain. Because of how nerves run to your limbs issues with your back or shoulder can cause pain in your arms. Or it could be something in your forearm muscles.
You'll have to do a little learning about it on your own but I'd recommend using trigger point self-massage. Basically you find these little knots in key points in your muscles, and by loosening them up they can relieve pain and other symptoms.
This site isn't really well-written but it has some good info:
http://www.triggerpoints.net/
http://www.triggerpoints.net/forearm-and-hand.htm
If you get serious about treating it yourself I'd highly recommend this book. It's my go-to for any kind of pain:
http://www.amazon.com/Trigger-Point-Therapy-Workbook-Self-Treatment-ebook/dp/B00ECLGALG/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1396739344&sr=8-6&keywords=trigger+point
Let me know how this goes for you.
Are your hip flexors tight? I used to get really bad recurring lower back pain on one side too, especially after doing any sort of overhead pressing. Then I read this book:
http://www.amazon.com/Trigger-Point-Therapy-Workbook-Self-Treatment/dp/1608824942/ref=dp_ob_title_bk
Which told me my hip flexors were the problem. I started foam rolling them aggressively and I got better. It was like magic.
I don't have much experience seeking help from professionals except for getting completely useless PT after knee surgery, but there are so many rave reviews for ART practitioners changing peoples lives, why not try a different therapist if your current one isn't helping?
How to Prevent and Heal Flu and Common Cold Using Acupressure and Acupuncture (Journal of Chinese Herbal Medicine and Acupuncture)
Yeah, that fits.
From reading and personal experience, I think a lot of people who are in 'mild panic mode' a lot of the time and can't concentrate find they have high breathing, are stuck in their heads, have tense necks - - - but don't notice it, because you only realise after you've 'opened out' that you were narrowly focused. They are "ungrounded".
Probably any exercise can help with that a bit. But something where you are consciously directed to shift your attention - like Qi Gong - can really expand your little world and loosen you off?
There's a great book called The Psychology of the Body, which is for massage therapists, but it went through different body tension patterns and their attentional focus, and it was very interesting how postural habits and character traits coincided. The massage therapy was therefore about leading the client's attention into their full body, more than just 'releasing muscle tension'. (I've never actually had the experience of that, but it sounded interesting.)
A lacrosse ball and this book is what you really need.
[Chinese Acupuncture and Moxibustion] (https://www.amazon.com/Chinese-Acupuncture-Moxibustion-Seventeenth-Printing/dp/7119059947/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1492380966&sr=8-1&keywords=chinese+acupuncture+and+moxibustion) is the standard text book for learning Chinese Medicine.
One more thing: trigger points in your jaw muscles could be causing a lot of your pain and imbalances. Here's another book recommendation for you:
http://www.amazon.com/Trigger-Point-Therapy-Workbook-Self-Treatment/dp/1608824942/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1418355596&sr=8-2&keywords=trigger+point+therapy
Study both of the books I've recommended and be diligent in applying the principles you learn, and I promise you that you'll see improvements in the pain you're experiencing.
I don't really know, sorry. This book sounds like it would meet your needs - http://www.amazon.com/Basic-Clinical-Massage-Therapy-Integrating/dp/0781756774.
Here is the lww.com link, (http://www.lww.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_Basic-Clinical-Massage-Therapy_11851_-1_9012054_Prod-9780781756778_50011771). You can use that link and apply the discount I've posted on /r/medicine to get 20% off + free shipping.
I don't have a ton of product knowledge for massage, I just know a few books that are appropriate to practitioners. I'll ask people who work in that area and get back to you if they give me any insightful feedback.
The book you posted is from the 70s and is 192 pages while the book I posted is from 2006 and is 443 pages. Both sound like they are an appropriate fit but I would think the LWW book would have more detail. Check out the product reviews, i'd base your purchase off of those.
Doctors don't specialize or receive much education on muscle disorders, don't be surprised if he's not familiar with the disorder or the modern treatment protocol.
If you do have MPD: it is good news, it is treatable, sometimes partially and sometimes completely.
https://www.painscience.com/tutorials/trigger-points.php
Here's an intro, this site is great, the guy does good science. I haven't bought this ebook yet though.
https://www.amazon.com/Trigger-Point-Therapy-Workbook-Self-Treatment/dp/1608824942
here's the book that will help you recover.
Remember that it takes 4 to 6 weeks to feel the improvements of a workout. I'd recommend getting this book. I have it and I have been able to diagnose every injury-to-be that I've had with it.
Also, if you're worried about taking time off, I'd recommend this video, to reassure yourself.