What would u do?

[hart]

Yesterday I worked at the property, with Joe. I was lifting bricks encased with mortar, pounding the mortar off them, pushing a wheelbarrow with de-mortared bricks about 15 feet them dumping them. I did this for about 4 hours.

My hands hurt last nite, but they seem fine. This is not the first time I've done this, been doing this and similar activities for about 2 weeks.

Today I woke up with pain in my upper left back around my shoulder. The pain aint excruciating or anything, but it twinges up to about a 6.5 on a scale of 1-10 and it is bothersome and I want it to go away.

I can afford the $30 copay, I have plenty of sick leave. I'm at work. I plan on not lifting anything heavy today but should I seek medical attention?

I don't want to be out of commission, we have lots of things to do. Should I make an appointment to see my usual doc, who I don't know well and will probably tell me to rest it, maybe pain pills, which will only zonk me out.

See a chiropractor (could it be a pulled muscle?) or an acupunturist, my good friends swears by them, or just grin and bear it, or wait and see if it gets worse.

I don't want to be out of commission (as far as working on the property), would seeing someone prevent this?

 

[AUFred]

Probably a muscle strain. Try Ibuprofen or Tylenol and see if you get any relief.

 

[hart]

Okay Fred, we have an ER bag in case we get a natural disaster, I took 8 ibuprofen out of it and will see if they help. They don't touch my headaches but maybe they will do something for this!

 

[AUFred]

Ibuprofen never touches a headache for me either but often gives me relief from achy muscles. I create my share of those.

 

[satinbutterfly]

Most smaller injuries heal themselves in about a week. If you're having trouble sleeping or working that would be cause for a doc visit, but otherwise ibuprofen and get some ice on the spot and it will help. 15 minutes on and 45 minutes off.

If it lasts longer than a week see a chiro/rehab specialist. Make sure they do rehab work for sure... just plain chiros really can't do much for you.

 

[AnitaBeer]

Ibuprofen should hopefully help. If not definitely try Naproxen. Naproxen is amazing. I agree with putting ice on it then alternate maybe a heating pad as well in there. It does sound like a pulled muscle or pinched nerve, which are both things you should hopefully be able to deal with at home so you can save money. If it comes down to it I would go to a chiropractor. They work wonders on these kind of issues.

 

[edgray]

some rub-on ibuprofen, like Reflex Gel would work wonders for that. Maybe a bit of yoga? If you've strained your muscle some gentle stretching could really help. Also, if you have access to one, a hot tub or jacuzzi, soak that pain away

 

[hart]

I'll pick up some Naproxen tonite Anita thanx. We don't have a hot tub but I do put the sprays on the showerhead turned onto the muscles that hurt real focussed. Will do that again tonite.

 

[RedRyder]

Once you get through this pain..... and are feeling 100% again.... Warm up before you start to work.

Stretch and bend. Take breaks and drink lots of water too.

 

[Peter Parka]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XuRJSsAYxDA

:thumbup:usa:

 

[Francis]

Hot and Cold, Heavy on the cold to relieve the inflammation.. Hot to relieve the pain and relax the muscle so says my therapist.. And Aleve ( Ibuprofen ) alternative for the pain.. Not sure if its over the counter in the US but it is in Canada and works wonders..