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Pain Management/chronic neck/shoulder/arm/hand pain plus headaches

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Question
I am a seventeen year old college student. I think I injured myself in dance last year. Last fall I had horrible neck  and shoulder pain that extended into my hands so it was too  painful too write. I quit dance and the pain eventually subsided. I tried dance in spring, the pain came back and I went to a physical therapist. The pain did eventually subside. However, now I have started college and the pain is back. I can't stop bending my head down from reading because reading is what I do. The pain is only getting worse.   What  can I do?

Answer
Hi, Laura,

I don't think dance caused your injury; it would have had to be something forceful and sudden like a fall, blow -- or maybe a hard yank (dance?).

In any case, your neck muscles are being held tight by protective reflexes.  The way out is to recapture control of those muscles through movement training.

I say more in my articles on whiplash injuries and on completing recovery from an injury, at somatics.com/page4.htm, including how to recover.

With regard,
Lawrence Gold

Pain Management

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Lawrence Gold

Expertise

back pain exercises -|- back muscle pain -|- back muscle spasms -|- degenerative disc disease -|- disc bulge -|- dizziness -|- groin pain -|- groin pull -|- lifting injuries -|- lower back pain -|- lower back exercises -|- sciatica -|- whiplash injuries -|- Hanna Somatics -|- headaches -|- iliopsoas bursitis -|- iliopsoas muscle -|- iliopsoas syndrome -|- iliopsoas stretch -|- movement limitations -|- psoas stretch -|- psoas muscle pain -|- psoas stretch -|- psoas major -|- psoas muscle -|- somatics -|- somatic exercises -|- somatic education -|-

Experience

In practice since 1990. Two years on staff at a hospital Wellness and Rehabilitation Center.

Publications
Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients, American Journal of Pain Management, Somatics: Magazine-Journal of the Mind-Body Arts and Sciences. More complete listing at somatics.com/gold.htm

Education/Credentials
Certifications: Hanna Somatic Education, the Dr. Ida P. Rolf method of Structural Integration (partial list)

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