TTBM: So a couple Fridays ago, I went with a couple other masters up to Flint, MI for a two-day karate seminar. We stayed at a hotel, and since I was the third person in a two-person room, guess who got to sleep on two chairs put together the first night? This ninja.
So I woke up the next morning with my neck stiff and sore. I figured I'd pinched a nerve again, but I pushed through it. I was able to switch out for a bed the second night, but didn't help much. It also didn't help that on the second day of the seminar, which was for testing/recertification, I got to be one of the three people on my hands and knees for an older gentleman to jump over for a flying side kick board break. At tests, you get two tries per break. And both times, he landed square on my back/neck. Didn't hurt after I got up and brushed it off, so I pushed through the rest of the day, and even went back to regular karate class the following Wednesday. (In between, on the Monday after I got back, I got a molar pulled, but that was easy and more of a relief than anything).
By that Friday, I was in constant pain in any and all positions. I went to the chiropractor that night and the following Saturday morning, but it didn't really help. I was alternating ice and heat on my back and shoulder, but that only dulled the pain a bit (in fact, the heat probably worked against me, as heat increases blood flow which increases inflammation). Not only was my neck/back constantly feeling like it was being stabbed, but the pain was travelling down all the nerves in my right shoulder and arm, making all the muscles spasm and causing it to feel like I'd dipped my arm in hot lead.
So I called off work the following Monday and went to the doctor. Came away with a prescription for Mobic (an NSAID pain-killer) and Flexeril (for the muscle spasms). Neither took away the pain, so I got the okay to double the dose of Flexeril and to use the Norco (aka hydrocodone) I'd been prescribed after the tooth extraction. Didn't help either. So I took off Tuesday and saw another doctor (at the same clinic), explaining that none of the meds were stopping the pain at all, and the pain was actually increasing. So I got a prescription for Percocet (aka oxycodone) and an appointment to get x-rays to make sure there was nothing wrong with my actual spine/shoulder. There wasn't, and although the percocet didn't help all that much, it helped a bit (taking two of them, three times a day).
So I went back to work that Wednesday. Big. Mistake. And by the end of the day, I knew it. Couldn't even think because of the constant pain, which wasn't helped by all the typing I do.
So I was home again on Thursday and Friday, still needing to take all the meds and unable really to do anything but watch TV. In addition, the tips of some of my fingers started to go a bit numb.
Saturday and Sunday passed much the same, except the pain subsided and I was eventually able to work off the meds. So I've been able to work all week, just making sure to take it easy on my right arm (fortunately I'm a lefty). There's still pain in my neck and shoulder (we're pretty certain the pinched nerve is in my shoulder), and occasionally in my right arm...and my entire right index finger (and some of the hand around it) has been numb since Sunday...but I'm off the meds at least.
...so yeah...been a fun couple of weeks...[]