Tightly wound

I now have confirmation that I am, in fact, literally tightly wound: I had a massage today.

I am actually a huge fan of massage, because about ten years ago I had problems with my lower back going out, which resulted in a number of sessions of lying flat on the floor being bored out of my mind. To rectify this, I went to a sports massage person at the student health care center, and he was BRILLIANT. He completely cured my back, and it's never gone out since. But I stopped going once my back was better, because I was a grad student and didn't have the money to keep getting massages. (In fact, I had to ask my parents for money to pay for the sessions I did have. My mom, who trained as a nurse in the science-is-king 1950s, worried that massage was rather, well, holistic, in fact, a little close to [gasp] chiropractry, and shouldn't I really go see an orthopedist and get an prescription for muscle relaxants? I said, why would I want to take drugs if I can do something to cure this withOUT drugs? And was very happy to be correct.)

So, that was ten years ago. I had one massage the year I moved out here (which was at a spectacularly nice salon, but was of the soothing rather than vigorous variety). Fast forward to two weeks or so ago, when I had my first massage since then. 

Yes, my workplace brings in a masseuse once a week to give 20-minute chair massages. Yes, it's a difficult life I lead.

Anyway, the nice massage lady asked me if I had any areas of concern, and I said it had been so long since I'd had a massage, and I'm so kinked up from sitting in front of the computer every day, that whatever she wanted to do was fine.

I sat in the chair, she got started, and instantly these slender little fingers of iron honed in on two HUGE knots in my shoulders. She found exactly the right place and just sort of held her fingers there. And it hurt like a mofo. I swear, it was like she'd found the parts of my shoulders that were sick, and she was letting all the bad stuff out.

So after that, I decided that for my birthday, I was going to get myself a full-length, real massage. (Yup, it's my birthday today.) And at first I worried that it wasn't going to be that great. My massage therapist was a large and cheerful young woman, but initially seemed to be more of a blunt instrument than the laser beam of the woman who came to my firm. (Of course, it later dawned on me that if you give your massages in 20 minute increments, you have to get good at honing in on problems quickly.) 

But then she found my teres muscle and poked it for a while. And I thought my shoulders were going to explode. And when I finally stood up at the end of it all, I felt like someone had yanked my shoulders back, like there had been some kind of yoke before pulling my shoulders forward, and someone had finally released it. 

(I think that yoke would be called "the keyboard" and "the mouse.")

I also came out of there feeling completely stoned. "Says the woman who's never BEEN stoned," NLLDH says to me. Well, this is what I imagine it's like (and if it's not, why does anyone bother?) - light, serene, blissful. It really did feel like my muscles had been full of toxins and the massage had released them all. 

Anyway, my nice massage lady said the same thing that the sports massage guy said to me so many years ago: I'm wound tight as a drum. She said that if she were living in my body, she'd find it really painful.

Apparently I need extensive, extensive massage sessions.

Such a tragedy.

Comments

[jo(e)]

Just reading this makes me want a massage.

[Notorious Ph.D.]

Happy Birthday!

Exact same back issues: low back thrown out at age 30 or so due to ZERO abdominal tone. Shoulders constantly up around my ears and hunched forward. Teres muscles (major and minor) always a mess. AND... just booked a massage for Saturday. Don't forget to drink tons of water for the next 24 hours, because if you don't flush those toxins out, they'll just settle right back in.

If it helps, think about the shoulder work as preventative. I didn't take good enough care of mine, and ended up with spontaneous onset of "frozen shoulder" (adhesive capsulitis), which is a common condition for women, but average onset age is 55. Let me tell you, this is not a condition you want: pain, both shooting and deep, for months; restricted range of motion for over a year. Massage and regular, gentle flexibility exercises (light yoga) will help.

Also, I've found (and I'm not the only one) that regular cardiovascular exercise also helps -- my half-baked theory is that it promotes blood flow throughout your muscles, which helps prevent those painful knots that can result in that whole "I can't turn my head from side to side" thing.

(sorry to go on so long; I just really identify with this post.)

[shell]

I can totally relate. I get a spot in my right left just below the blade from right hand mouse work when I have to do that extensively. Being at home this summer and not teaching online either has served as reinforcement that that is the catalyst. I wish I had a local masseuse I liked. The best place around here is in WLR, and the sheer traffic afterward isn't worth the trip.

B's getting pretty good, but it's not the same.

[Another Damned Medievalist]

you know, I've been waking up for several months now with my fists clenched, and my dentist has prescribed a LOT of muscle relaxers and massive doses of ibuprofen to counteract the fact that I'm clenching my teeth at night despite the bite guard.

But my gym has massage therapists (it's affiliated with the local hospital), and they are not horrendously expensive. I could afford about 4 sessions in a 3-4 week period, and then once a month. I'm seriously considering it, because it would be far nicer than drugs (although the couple of times I've had massages I've felt sort of ill and drained after -- is that normal?)

Which is to say, Happy Birthday (again!) and thanks for being tightly wound, because honestly, I think this post will help me a lot!

[susan]

Happy birthday!

Politica gets regular massages to counteract a variety of muscle issues she has (they're actually prescribed by her rheumatologist so she can run the cost of them through her flexible spending medical account, which is somewhat helpful). It has made a HUGE difference in her daily life.

[Bardiac]

Happy Birthday! The massage sounds lovely!

[Leslie M-B]

Happy birthday!

I'm jealous of your massage. I get one or two a year, but it's been too long. After the last one, I was so relaxed I didn't think I could drive.

[idwsj]

Happy birthday!!!! I approve of this massage-agenda.

[Susan]

Happy Birthday. Massages are very good. And they always find the places on my shoulder where all the tension is. It's amazing how much it hurts, and how good it feels when all released!

[Sisyphus]

Happy Birthday from someone else who is probably too tightly wound! I also recommend yoga to stretch out and get oxygen to all those muscles between massages.

[Kori]

1. Happy birthday.

2. I'm with you on the massages.

[comebacknikki]

Happy belated birthday (again)!

I'm with you on the tightly wound train -- the last time I had a massage, the therapist told my back was so rock-like, she was surprised her hands weren't all bruised. :)

[Paige]

Happy birthday (albeit belatedly) -- and I'm glad the massage had such pleasant effects!

[The Bittersweet Girl]

Happy Birthday!

Massages for everyone! (I wish)