<p>[Trigger</a> Point Therapy Workbook; Your Self-Treatment Guide for Pain Relief](<a href=“http://www.triggerpointbook.com/]Trigger”>http://www.triggerpointbook.com/)</p>
<p>And I have to thank CC for it, of course. Someone mentioned this book in a thread a while ago – I can’t find it anymore so can’t thank them directly, but thank you anyway! I had jotted down the title, then put it off but finally ordered it online through Amazon when my shoulder pain would not go away. I started trying out the self massage techniques and within two days, I have almost full range of motion back in my shoulder and upper arm and relief from pain. I have had this problem since January, and nothing really helped, not PT, not exercises, yoga, swimming, nothing, until this. </p>
<p>One caveat, this book is not a quick read. It is fairly well organized, but there is a lot of information and a lot of experimenting on your body to find the trigger points. I was flabbergasted to find trigger points all over my entire upper back, neck, and upper arm. I really couldn’t feel them until I poked them with my finger, and then WOW. Unbelievable. Now I’m almost convinced that trigger points are responsible for most of the “twinges” I have in my body that I blamed on aging. Strangely, most of them are referred pain from the same trigger points: for example, my thumb pain is related to my arm pain which is related to my stiff neck. </p>
<p>I just wanted to share what feels like a miracle. I recall a frozen shoulder thread recently that had a lot of posters-- I know many of you are also suffering. I feel a bit like a born-again evangelist, but I really do feel like I have a new lease on life now that my chronic pain is gone.</p>
<p>It’s nice to hear that you’re feeling better, and I’m certain that trigger point therapy has many merits. However, after having had a frozen shoulder, lots of PT and surgery to release it, I am wondering if your shoulder was truly frozen. Two days to release adhesive capsulitis? You could go on the road with that cure!</p>
<p>Sounds like an interesting book - I may have to check it out. Thanks for posting it.</p>
<p>Congrats on getting rid of your frozen shoulder. I suffered from it also. Then I was at a weekend away with a couple of friends and we went for massages. The masseuse focused on my shoulder when i mentioned the problem. An hour later I was in such pain I felt nauseous. Then the next day I realized I had regained some movement. Several more massages over time and my arm was back to normal after 2 years of misery.</p>
<p>I got a severe frozen shoulder in March 2009, that is literally just beginning to subside now (say in the last 8 weeks). I am off to order a copy of the book. I wish I had seen this a year ago. Thanks!</p>
<p>Thanks for posting about this book. I actually ordered it a while ago, but found it very complicated, and I didn’t persist. I’ll have to give it another try.</p>
<p>A few years ago, I had a problem that I thought was in my hip joint. I had pain and loss of movement. When I sat cross-legged, one knee was way up in the air rather than being close to the floor. I mentioned it to a massage therapist in passing, not imagining that it was muscular in origin. But she pressed on a few points (not even in my hip), and when the massage was finished, she said to try sitting cross-legged. To my amazement, the hip was completely cured. She said that she had done trigger-point therapy on it.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, she is in a different state, and I went to her while on vacation. I wish I had someone here who could do it to my shoulder.</p>
<p>I imagine that trigger point therapy would not help a true frozen shoulder, but most of us who posted in the shoulder thread don’t really have a diagnosis, just a problem. I have no idea what is wrong with my shoulder.</p>
<p>mousegray, what pages of the book did you use?</p>
<p>NYMom, you might try this: [NAMTPT</a> | National Association of Myofascial Trigger Point Therapists](<a href=“http://www.myofascialtherapy.org/]NAMTPT”>http://www.myofascialtherapy.org/)</p>
<p>I used Chapter 5 primarily. The book is rather complicated, but I was feeling so demoralized by not getting better after all these months that I was willing to put in the time (an entire weekend basically). It would be good to read Ch. 2, All about trigger points, and Ch 3, Massage Guidelines, then go to the chapter that focuses on the area of the body that is bothering you. I mostly use a small bouncy type ball in a sock to massage the trigger points in my back and in my upper arm. The neck muscles I use my fingers. I may get one of those thera-canes. </p>
<p>I wish I had found this book 6 months ago.</p>
<p>Thank you, mousegray. I’ll give that chapter another look, and check for a local trigger-point masseuse!</p>
<p>Thank you Mousegray. I read the book a few years ago, but I became discouraged when I couldn’t figure out where the trigger point was to my area of pain. I will reread it and try again.</p>
<p>I have a theracane, but not the book. I find my own trigger points by poking around with the t-cane. Not a lot of success though.</p>
<p>I think I posted initially about this book. It does take a lot of effort to understand it but it is very effective if you put in the time. I had true frozen shoulder and using the book did take away the pain. PT helped regain mobility.</p>
<p>Well then it must have been your post I read, journey. Thank you!</p>
<p>cbreeze, the book is a good guide to which trigger points cause which pains. It’s not really intuitive, meaning that where you feel the pain is not usually where the trigger points are. I was really skeptical about this, but after following the diagrams, I’m a believer.</p>
<p>Referred pain is very strange. I experienced it when undergoing a diagnostic laparoscopy during an infertility workup. During this procedure, the abdomen is blown up with gas so that the doctor can see well within the cavity. In the next couple of days, residual gas bubbles up and hits the diaphragm. The pain is felt in the shoulders - quite a wierd sensation.</p>
<p>*I experienced it when undergoing a diagnostic laparoscopy during an infertility workup. *</p>
<p>That sounds so painful.
The single most painful thing I have ever experienced ( more than giving birth after three days of labor), was a hystosalpinogram when I had a huge ovarian cyst. ( but the radiation must have blasted it away)
Ironic that procedures before pregnancy are more painful than labor. :(</p>
<p>Ive used an older version of this book, it is useful in determining what/where an injury is for treatment or to help your medical provider assist you.
[Listen to Your Pain: The Active Person’s Guide to Understanding, Identifying, and Treating Pain and Injury (9780143111955): Ben E. Benjamin](<a href=“http://www.amazon.com/Listen-Your-Pain-Understanding-Identifying/dp/0143111957/ref=dp_ob_title_bk”>http://www.amazon.com/Listen-Your-Pain-Understanding-Identifying/dp/0143111957/ref=dp_ob_title_bk</a>)</p>
<p>This site also looked interesting</p>
<p>[Self</a> Myofascial Release Exercises](<a href=“http://www.sport-fitness-advisor.com/self-myofascial-release.html]Self”>Self Myofascial Release - Sport Fitness Advisor)</p>
<p>I’ve had deep tissue massage & have felt the benefits immediately, especially around the thoracic spinal area, I have asthma and could breathe much easier.</p>
<p>I have had physical therapy as well- but I admit the massage therapy was much more helpful and long lasting- because physical therapy mainly consisted of the PT, teaching me how to do certain exercises, ( which the LMP can also do), instead of actual manipulations.</p>
<p>I admit, I am almost as picky about massage therapists, than I am about hair stylists ( I cut & color my own hair, but I do see massage therapists, however, few were covered by our ins & now- no one is covered- however I suppose that frees me up to see who I want- I look for those who are familiar with Rolfing/deep tissue/myofascial release.</p>
<p>This doohickey looks pretty cool though for those inbetween times
[Amazon.com:</a> 22" Tiger Tail Rolling Muscle Massage](<a href=“http://www.amazon.com/Tiger-Tail-Rolling-Muscle-Massager/dp/B000FCGDAE/ref=tag_dpp_lp_edpp_ttl_ex]Amazon.com:”>http://www.amazon.com/Tiger-Tail-Rolling-Muscle-Massager/dp/B000FCGDAE/ref=tag_dpp_lp_edpp_ttl_ex)</p>