Chronic Neck/Back/Shoulder Pain (8+ years)

[violablue]

Hmm! Posture is definitely one of the core issues of your problem. Especially as it's been a problem over the long term. I'd think for this you might try finding a McKenzie (MDT) trained physiotherapist with a good reputation. The one I'm working with presently has great success with instances such as yours. At the very least, find someone who can really aid you with your posture, stabilizing you in a good one. This requires lots of muscle retraining and counterbalance exercises for those forward flexed postures.

[yOnKiNaToR]

Thanks for the response!

Yes, I agree that the posture is an issue but I'm getting total apathy in regards to doctors about it. They refuse to believe that my posture can cause such issues (This is coming from multiple family physicians, an osteopathic manipulator, and LMT's). Physical therapists have also looked at me and said that my posture is decent. (I tend to disagree but what do I know!)

I will post pictures of what I'm talking about. Mind you, my posture is bad if relax my body but I an force it into a correct position though (which is how I normally walk)

Any suggestions for the constant stiff neck and back? I feel like an old man and my trigger points never go away.

With is different from a MDT than a traditional physical therapist?

Hmm! Posture is definitely one of the core issues of your problem. Especially as it's been a problem over the long term. I'd think for this you might try finding a McKenzie (MDT) trained physiotherapist with a good reputation. The one I'm working with presently has great success with instances such as yours. At the very least, find someone who can really aid you with your posture, stabilizing you in a good one. This requires lots of muscle retraining and counterbalance exercises for those forward flexed postures.

[violablue]

That's very odd! In physio, much of what we do in ortho for neck, back, and shoulder pain, is posture correction. Even with post-surgical patients, posture is often part of the rehab program.

You can find an MDT practitioner at the McKenzie Institute Website. The McKenzie Institute - Welcome to the McKenzie Institute USA.

Most physio programs don't teach McKenzie method and if they do, it's just a light brush on the topic. So the knowledge is gained in post-graduate continuing education courses. This usually means, only practitioners taking the course have MDT in their physio treatment toolbox. It is great with all kinds of joint, disk, and muscular pain.

It's hard to tell if your stiff neck and back is coming strictly from trigger points and posture or also from joint or disk issues. With a neck disk issue, you can have pain radiating into one or both shoulders, and as it worsens, into the hands and fingers. Scalene trigger points can also create a similar radiation pattern. You say you've seen a number of doctors, so I'm assuming they've tested you for various types of arthritis and bone issues?

And you say none of therapies you've tried so far have released your trigger points. This includes acupuncture in the shoulder area? It is often very helpful in this way.

My fave book on trigger point release is Clair Davies Trigger Point Therapy Workbook. You'll find many great self-release methods in it. It is a great educational resource.

Don't give up. Try an MDT practitioner and see if that makes a difference.