Help For a Frozen Shoulder When my shoulder locked up last year, constant pain was the least of my worries. As a massage therapist and structural integrator, I depend on my arms for my livelihood, not to mention simple daily tasks like opening doors and brushing my hair. The helplessness was surprising and frightening. Fortunately, I developed several ways to speed my recovery and am happy to share them with you. Although a frozen shoulder seems to come on suddenly, it's usually accumulation of many small injuries and a deprivation of healing. I could trace my initial injury to a day of weed whacking months before. I remember telling my shoulder, " I know it hurts, but we need to get this done, and you will recover. " It did, but not completely. Then, about a week before my vacation, I strained it again dancing, then spent hours using computer, and worked a heavier than usual schedule with clients. Multiple injuries, even if each one is small, add up and take their toll. The first step in healing a frozen shoulder is to rest, truly rest. I was fortunate to be able to depend on my husband, kids, and friends to help with most mundane tasks. My arm lay at my side for days and didn't lift anything including itself. That means I did not brush my hair, open a door, or even dress or undress myself with that arm. Let me clarify. Resting is not scaling back 20, 30, or even 50 percent. It's complete and total relaxation for several days. Controlling inflammation is also important. Some inflammation is necessary for healing, but ice packs and ibuprofen can also reduce pain and speed recovery. After a few days of real rest, next step in healing a rotator cuff is passive range of motion exercises. I had benefit of warm, Mexican ocean to aid my recovery. I stood in water, up to my neck, and let the waves massage and mobilize my shoulder. I couldn't swim and didn't try. I just walked in water. You can get the same benefits from walking in a warm swimming pool. Many communities have special warm-water pools, but a hot tub or regular swimming pool would work, too. The key is to keep your arms limp and let water mobilize shoulder and melt adhesions. For complete healing, regaining full range of motion is necessary. Move your arms without any pain every day. Eventually we will restore what you lost. It is vital to move as far as we can and not feel any pain. Try shoulder circles, arm circles, and putting arms behind your back. But don't make any movements that cause pain. Pain equals injury. No-pain equals recovery. Work both arms so we don't develop adhesions in non-injured arm. A physical therapist can be very helpful in designing exercises that build balanced strength and flexibility in your shoulders. Finally, prevent future micro-injury. Make rest and exercise a daily practice and, as best you can, to regulate overachieving activities that actually lead to weakness and dependence.
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Relpax? For what? Relpax: uses Relpax is used to treat migraines when they occur. It helps to relieve headaches, pain, and other symptoms of migraines, including nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light/sound. Prompt treatment allows we to get back to your normal routine and may decrease your need for other pain medications. Relpax doesn't prevent future migraines or reduce how often we may get a migraine.
Relpax belongs to a group of drugs called " triptans. " Migraines are thought to occur when certain blood vessels in the brain become swollen ( dilated ) . Relpax works by helping blood vessels in the brain to return to normal size. It may also block pain signals in brain. Relpax: how to use Read Patient Information Leaflet available from your pharmacist before we start using Relpax and each time we get a refill. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions.
Your dosage is based on your medical condition and response to treatment.
Take Relpax by mouth, with or without food, at first sign of a migraine as directed by your doctor. If there's no improvement in your symptoms, don't take any more doses of Relpax before talking to your doctor. If your symptoms are only partly relieved, or if your headache comes back, we may take a second dose after 2 hours or as directed by your doctor. Do not take more than 2 doses in a 24-hour period. For Canadian product: according to drug manufacturer, don't take more than 40 milligrams in a 24 hour period.
If we have certain conditions that increase your risk of heart disease and you have never taken Relpax before, we may need to be monitored for rare but serious side effects ( e. g. , chest pain ) when we take the first dose. Your doctor may ask we to take the first dose in office. See Precautions section for more information.
Tell your doctor if your condition does not improve or if it worsens. Relpax: side effects Tingling/numbness, nausea, weakness, drowsiness, or dizziness may occur while use Relpax. If any of these effects persist or worsen, tell your doctor or pharmacist promptly.
Remember that your doctor has prescribed Relpax because he or she has judged that benefit to we is greater than risk of side effects. Many people using Relpax don't have serious side effects.
Tell your doctor immediately if any of these unlikely but serious side effects occur:
Pain/pressure/tightness in the chest/neck/jaw can occur shortly after using Relpax. These side effects are usually not serious. However, we may not be able to tell them apart from a rare but very serious reaction related to a lack of blood flow to the heart, brain, or other parts of the body. Therefore, seek immediate medical attention if we notice any of these unlikely side effects:
Relpax may rarely cause a very serious condition called serotonin syndrome. The risk increases when Relpax is taken with certain other drugs such as other " triptans " used to treat migraine headaches ( e. g. , sumatriptan, zolmitriptan ) , certain antidepressants including SSRIs ( e. g. , citalopram, fluoxetine, paroxetine ) and NSRIs ( e. g. , duloxetine, venlafaxine ) , or a certain drug to treat obesity ( sibutramine ) . Before taking Relpax, tell your doctor if we take any of these medications. Serotonin syndrome may be more likely when we start or increase dose of any of these medications. Seek immediate medical attention if we develop some of the following symptoms:
A very serious allergic reaction to Relpax is rare. However, seek immediate medical attention if we notice any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, including:
This isn't a complete list of possible side effects. If we notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist. Relpax: precautions See also How to Use section.
Before taking Relpax, tell your doctor or pharmacist if we are allergic to it; or to other " triptan " migraine drugs ( e. g. , sumatriptan ) ; or if you have any other allergies.
Relpax shouldn't be used if we have certain medical conditions. Before using this medicine, consult your doctor or pharmacist if we have:
Before using Relpax, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of:
Before using Relpax, tell your doctor or pharmacist if we have any condition that increases your risk of heart disease, including:
If we are at high risk for heart disease, your doctor may want to check your heart before prescribing Relpax.
Relpax may make you dizzy or drowsy. Use caution while driving, using machinery, or doing any other activity that requires alertness. Limit alcoholic beverages.
Caution is advised when using Relpax in elderly because they may be more sensitive to its side effects, especially high blood pressure.
During pregnancy, Relpax should be used only when clearly needed. Discuss risks and benefits with your doctor.
Relpax passes into breast milk. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding. Relpax: interactions See also Side Effects section.
Your doctor or pharmacist may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for them. Don't start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with your doctor or pharmacist first.
Relpax should not be used with following medication because a very serious interaction may occur while use Relpax:
Because very serious interactions may occur while use Relpax, Relpax shouldn't be used within 72 hours of drugs affecting liver enzymes that remove Relpax from your body ( e. g. , nefazodone, azole antifungals such as ketoconazole, itraconazole, macrolide antibiotics such as clarithromycin, erythromycin, troleandomycin, protease inhibitors such as nelfinavir, ritonavir ) .
Relpax should not be used within 24 hours of the following medications because very serious interactions may occur:
If we are currently using any of above medications, tell your doctor or pharmacist before starting Relpax.
Before using Relpax, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all prescription and nonprescription products we may use, especially of:
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if we also take drugs that cause drowsiness such as: certain antihistamines ( e. g. , diphenhydramine ) , anti-seizure drugs ( e. g. , carbamazepine ) , medicine for sleep or anxiety ( e. g. , alprazolam, diazepam, zolpidem ) , muscle relaxants, narcotic pain relievers ( e. g. , codeine ) , psychiatric medicines ( e. g. , chlorpromazine, risperidone, amitriptyline, trazodone ) .
Check the labels on all your medicines ( e. g. , cough-and-cold products ) because they may contain ingredients that cause drowsiness. Ask your pharmacist about using those products safely.
This document doesn't contain all possible interactions. Therefore, before using Relpax, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all the products you use. Keep a list of all your medications with you, and share list with your doctor and pharmacist. Relpax: overdose If overdose of Relpax is suspected, contact your local poison control center or emergency room immediately. US residents can call the US National Poison Hotline at 1-800-222-1222. Canada residents can call a provincial poison control center. Relpax: notes Don't share Relpax with others.
Laboratory and/or medical tests ( e. g. , EKG ) may be performed periodically to monitor your progress or check for side effects. Consult your doctor for more details. Relpax: missed dose Not applicable. Relpax: storage Store Relpax at room temperature at 77 degrees F ( 25 degrees C ) away from light and moisture. Brief storage between 59-86 degrees F ( 15-30 degrees C ) is permitted. Do not store Relpax in the bathroom. Keep all medicines away from children and pets.
Properly discard Relpax when it is expired or no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company for more details about how to safely discard your product.
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