Just wondering how you guys deal with gradual disability over time. I mean i'm stil young and i can't do anything. not even exercise. Guys my age say "we're going to work out" or whatever. I can't even do that anymore.

The only thing i can do now is Poser/DAZ stuff. If i didn't have that i guess reading.

My knees don't work, my thumb ligaments got damaged recently from too much office paperwork, my ankle bone has been popping for 6 months out feeling like it popps out, and i had a chest injury long time ago(chest pull) but just last week after waking up from sleep my chest hurts alot and i know it's that old injury. seems like it got worse.

I haven't been able to move much for 3 days already. it hurts like getting stabbed in the center of the chest.　i'm using 4 pillows to raise my torso to like 30 degrees and that has allowed me to sleep thankfully.

But anyways, doing exercise is really hard now. can't do pushups or situps/crunches( you need chest) and then the only thing that i can do alittle is jumping lightly in place or like jumping jacks except that when i do that my ankle pops out. so i don't know what to do.

I think Poser/DAZ and working on making stories/movies will  help my life cause now i can't do much else.

It's like therapy, physically and emotionally. I lost it all, i mean i used to do martial arts and i can't do that anymore so it's depressing so i'll do art and graphics for therapy.

Anyone else use art/3D graphics for therapy? I think i heard some of you also have injuries/disabilities like me. How do you deal?

Hey Joster>>>> I have been disabled for 10 years...Only found the 3d programs during the last 5 years....What a difference it has made in my life...Every day I look forward to just checking all the forms, talking to new people (from all around the world).  Yes, it was very rough at first but now thanks to all these great people and the chance to create my own worlds (in 3d) I feel great again...Even though Im on 14 meds and 3 anti-depressents and waiting out prosate cancer every 6 months...Id much rather be this way than the other solution...And see, you made a new friend already..Just keep your mind exersized...

Richard

P.S.

Have you been checked for sleepapnia?

Thanks 3eighty. i feel for you. you are a great person

my things have come gradual as opposed to suddenly. so i've felt the loss of all kinds of things. from running to not being able to.. from pushups everyday, to not being able to...It's like everyyear since 2000, i get a body part damaged badly.. not just a bruise.

now i even have to put my left thumb pressed against my index finger whenever i type because it hurts really bad if i dont do that.

sleepapnia is "sleep disorder characterized by abnormal pauses in breathing or instances of abnormally low breathing, during sleep." right?

well i dont have that. my chest pain is in the tendon/ligament/muslce. cause i had a really bad pull years ago when i tried to do some backward stretch.

I'm gonna do many many stories using 3D graphics. At least i want to accomplish something in life. and art is great

you do what you can and try to find something that makes you happy. 3d and art is good but make sure you dont spend all your free time in a chair. Go for a walk if you can

If you have good health insurance you should get a doctor to look at your injuries and see if anything can be done to improve them or at least make sure they dont get worse.

With getting fit sometimes you have to start very small, like a 20 foot walk, and 2-5 pound weights to get started and work your way up.  I tried a gym once and they started me on 200 pound bench press, I didnt even move the weight off the stand :) Plan on at least a year to gradually get fitter. Check your weight and get a nutrition plan in place.  

I'm 62 years old.

Ten years ago, I carried nearly 400 pounds on my 6'2" frame. It nearly killed me. I started a turnaround through dieting, and lost 125 pounds. That put my weight at a point where I could begin to work out. Over a period of 2 years, I got to where I could lift about any reasonable weight I wanted to. (Bench was about 260 at the top.)

Two years ago, my knees completely failed. I was chair bound for 6 months waiting for a double knee replacement. I had that a year ago, and have spent the past 12 months rehabing from that.

Yes, Poser has been a Godsend in terms of filling the hours where I was able to do little else. But I have not let it become a substitute for living my life.

Disability simply means that you have to find new ways of doing things. Much of it is simply the old chestnut about "thinking out of the box." I'm fortunate that my disabilities have all had solutions in the end. I suggest that you see a good orthopedic specialist. You'd be surprised what they can do these days!

Also, speaking from personal experience, I think you might find value in consulting a good chiropractor (or physical therepist if you have prejudices against chioropractors) to see what is going on with your back and muscle system.

The very worst thing you can do is lay down and say "I can't do anything." You arive there after you've tried to do all of the interventions to prevent that outcome. That is my real message to you. You are not "disabled" until everything that can be done for you is done, and it sounds to me that you are just at the start of that trial, not at the end.

I wish you the very, very best in your journey. If you ever want someone to talk to about all of this, drop me an email. I'm told I'm a pretty good listener.

All best, my friend!

Quote - Just wondering how you guys deal with gradual disability over time. I mean i'm still young and I can't do anything. Not even exercise. Guys my age say "we're going to work out" or whatever. I can't even do that anymore.

The body you are talking about suffers all sorts of trauma , however you are not just the body.

My personnel proof was after a Judo competition I had a heart attack, guess what the pain was so dreadful I could not stay in the body. I am not jocking.

I am on my third heart bypass operation, still go swimming .

I took up meditation, the process of going inside, techniques of controlling pain.

I am hoping to work on an animation to show techniques of meditation soon.

Hope you get to see it.

Quote - With getting fit sometimes you have to start very small, like a 20 foot walk, and 2-5 pound weights to get started and work your way up.  I tried a gym once and they started me on 200 pound bench press, I didnt even move the weight off the stand :) Plan on at least a year to gradually get fitter. Check your weight and get a nutrition plan in place.  

Dude! Nobody new to exercise should start out at 200 pounds! Especially with weights. Start off low and go as high as you feel comfortable. Most people have no problem lifting their own body weight.  Also, always have a spotter.

http://www.healthboards.com/boards/index.php

You seem to have a lot of health issues and many questions relating to them.

You would probably benefit more from a site such as the one in the link above. It's completely health related.

There are many professionals such as doctors, nurses, dentists etc, who post there answering people's questions.  Plus there are many people who are or have gone through the same things as you have, so you can get the benefit of their first hand experiences.

One thing to keep in mind is to read the rules carefully! Very carefully!  There are no second chances there. If you break the rules, it's instant perma ban.  Some of the more important ones to keep in mind are:

1.  Never reveal your true identity or where you live;

1. Never post your email address or any way for anyone from there to try and contact you.

2. Never ask anyone for their email address or ways to contact them;

3. If you are a medical professional, keep it to yourself. You are not allowed to give out the type of work that you do, especially if it's in the medical profession.  It's a liability thing.

I used to frequent there a great deal answering questions. Not so much anymore.  But based on my first hand experience having been a regular there at one time, you would fit right in because I've seen many similar style questions there.

The forums are broken up into health related categories in order.

Keep in mind that it's not a site for diagnosing issues.  It's more for getting information and emotional support from people who are going through the same thing.  If you have health problems, you still need to go to see a doctor.

@Basicwiz:

Right on brother! Too many people just quit and give up.

I had a car wreck at 17, back injury. By the time I was 20 I had the old back locking up constently. Arthritis. I cut hair for a living, stand on concrete floor. In my youth I worked 12 hr days 6 day weeks in that shape. 10 years ago my hips started to become inflamed, this with the back made life very difficult, but I kept working. 3 years ago I find out that my hips no longer have much cartlidge, they are bone on bone in places and in the winter will pop partally out of socket just rolling over in the bed. Guess what, I still work cutting hair standing on those concrete floors. Arthritis has crept into my shoulders and feet now as well.

In the spring I put out a 2 acre garden to raise most of what I eat, mostly just for the exercise. I found that hilling potatoes in the spring has a more benefical effect on my back than any therapy I have every had. Getting the extra weight off that I gained in the winter also is a great help.

Worst thing you can do is give up, hell if we were horses they would have shot us by now.

I used to excercise a lot such as bodybuilding and powerlifting but when I turned 23 I was diagnosed as epileptic and so had to stop everything, including working for a living.

The epilepsy was caused by a tumor in the left temporal lobe of my brain. The tumor was removed but sadly did not cure the epilepsy 100% resulting in myself unable to even earn through working because of insurance levels (I am considered to high risk).

As a result I looked for an alternate way to fill my day which made me look back at my love for music and art resulting in my present state of filling my days with the piano/computer music and real world art and 3d etc.

It just stops me from going nuts and gives me a challenge and also it makes me very happy when a project is succesful.

I'm sure a competent vet could put you to sleep. ;)

Attached Link: The Python's advice!

Quote - I'm sure a competent vet could put you to sleep. ;)

Probably the best alternative for me but then they would be arguing as to wether or not it would be worth the money involved LOL.

JosterD what kind of medical condition are you suffering on right now? Does it have a name?

Unless it's what you do for a living, this stuff can pass the time... and make you a total wreck if you don't try to balance it. Sitting for interminable hours is not what a human was meant to do. Been there, and the effects are not pretty.

I started out with a dislocation in my back (as in 2 vertebrae got stuck together), then arthritis set in, and we have a bit of bone density loss... the back just hurts all the time. Honestly, the best thing I've done in years was to get a pair of Sketcher-clone shoes. After less than a month, my back isn't locked up at the end of a work day.

Keep moving forward! Even if it's slow, even if it's not very far, just keep moving. Your circulatory system,  your respiratory system, your skeleton, muscles, and brain will all thank you. And, for heaven's sake, find a doctor who can figure out what's going on,and come up with a plan.

Quote - Keep moving forward! Even if it's slow, even if it's not very far, just keep moving.

I couldn't agree more.  You will decline faster if you don't try to keep moving.   The old cliche "move it or lose it" is what's kept me going through 15 years of worsening chronic pain disorders.  All the disks in my neck are shot and I have severe fibromyalgia. But I was able to keep working until  2 years ago when my ankles gave out ( too many years working on hard floors). 

Art has always been my "sanity break". Now that I'm transitioning from traditional media to 3d and 2d computer graphics, it also gives me new challenges and new ways to take my mind off the pain.  But I also push myself to stay as physically active as possible.  I walk 3 miles 5 times a week and I still do the housework and other chores. Yes it hurts crazy.  But I know it'll hurt more if I don't.

So I urge you not to give up.  Start slowly and do what you can to stay active mentally and physically. By al means do your art. But do other things too.   Take a class, do volunteer work.  Keeping busy is the best medicine there is for the mind and body. 

You might also want to try therapeutic massage. It's been a lifesaver for me.

i started getting some weird chest muscle pain and cramps 1.5 weeks ago. I wake up at night and my chest feels like it's gonna tear up it's really weird. and then also during the day, i feel sore and cramps in the chest so I cant' move much. 

I tried to think that i was getting better because during the day, the pains eventually diminish alittle. So i bought my RAM to add to my computer.. hehe but i have these aweful chest muscle sensations at night and i don't know if i'm gonna even be able to enjoy what i bought. that sucks if i have to end up going to the doctor . That means i spent RAM for nothing.

But if you don't go to the doctor, someone may end up inheriting your new RAM.

It could be anything from esophogeal spasms, to arthritis, a fractured rib, panic attacks, pancreatitus, neural malfunction, blood clots, gall stones, mineral deficiency, heart problems, ulcers... and those are just the common ones. And you won't know unless a trained professional looks at it with specialized tests. Most medical problems are best nipped in the bud... less damage, less bother, less cost.

Find a doctor, make an appointment, and keep it, ok?

wow ...
If you're not now, start taking a good fish oil...liquid or gel...
Helps a lot with inflammation, which you probably have.
http://www.fishoilbenefit.net/

You want exercise..start slowly with Tai Chi .... its movement..smooth and easy...get some stretch, some flexibility. Don't overdue at the beginning...go slow and easy. walk for sure if you can.

Chest pain probably inhibits, but breathing exercises if you can.  Why try to do pushups and crunches ...damn...you need healing not ripping.

I somewhat know about those chest muscle pains..just went through a some kind of pull. and believe me, it hurt real bad. coudn't even breathe..I had to take short quick little gasps so my chest wouldn't expand. thought it was a heart attack at first...nothing.

anyway...hang in there...another thing that might help is to go to some alternative medicine ...like one of those holistic healer dudes with the herbs and needles. You may be very shocked at the results. allso stone massage is very good on the muscles...and could be a bonus if the masseus is a beautiful female...or however you go.

Quote - I'm sure a competent vet could put you to sleep. ;)

Sam.... :glare:

I'm planning to go to the doctor today. what should i insist they do? because many times my problems are rare and doctors don't know about them, so they will just say "i don't know...just go home and rest and see how it goes".

In which i realize i just wasted80 dollars. Yes that's how much it cost for drs here. And yes that's what they've told me many times. Even with the ones you make appointments you still pay that much. I'm going without appointment but i realized last time i went to an appointment with my General dr.. that it was 100 dollras!! so it's the same thing as the nonappoinment medical centers

I'm going to get my chest checked and my thumb. But i wonder if it's even worth it to check or insist for more.. because that means Xrays, and who knows what else. And i don't have the money.( yeah some of us don't have insurance)

If any doctor seems disinterested in what's presented, ask for a referral to a specialist... a rheumatologist, osteopath, or whatever you can think of. Somewhere out there is a physician who will be curious enough to get to the bottom of what's going on. And you might mention, you have been home, and you have been resting.

Having no insurance stinks, but how can you put a price on your well-being? Worry about what you body is trying to tell you first.  Ever see the show Mystery Diagnosis?

A big issue in the US and Canada... disabled by something weird like benign myalgic encephalomyelitis, chronic fatigue immune dysfunction syndrome, chronic infectious mononucleosis, epidemic myalgic encephalomyelitis, epidemic neuromyasthenia, myalgic encephalomyelitis, myalgic encephalitis, myalgic encephalopathy, post-viral fatigue syndrome, nucleus encephalopathy, irritable bowel syndrome, atypical progressive multiple sclerosis, hereditary enzyme base neurotoxicity, chronic nociceptive or neuropathic pain and for all I know major depression and good luck drawing any kind of social security disability support after decades of paying into the fund! The social safety net is some long suffering relative's couch in the basement! Heard some damn doctor on the radio last week saying there are only two kinds of patients who seek treatment for pain, drug addicts and drug addicts with a sore back. Just trying to get an anti-inflammatory prescription for pain leads to a total self-righteous freak out from a doctor who most likely buy his own dope and oxycontin from the teenagers standing around in the parking lot of the medical building! Oy!

I empathise with you about your health issues and pain issues. I have a number of health issues myself.  I spend most of my time fighting and arguing with doctor's to try to get them to treat various conditions, and usually get nowhere (been trying to get decent treatment for my back for 7 years, all they ever want to do is physical therapy which only makes it worse). Aside from that my activities are dictated entirely by my daily pain level. Some days I can't even bare to sit in front of the computer for any period of time because of my back. Other days it is just too hard to focus through all the pain to really acomplish anything meaningful.  Many days it negatively affects my mood and makes me very irritable and touchy.  I have lost the ability to do many things I enjoy as a result of various health problems. I understand how frustrating it can be when individuals who don't understand what health conditions you have think excersize is a cure all too.

It sounds like you are in a situation where your condition hasn't been fully diagnosed though.  That will make it even harder to get treatment.  X-rays might not show what is going on, you might need an MRI or catscan.  The real problem is finding someone who will consider doing those knowing you don't have the insurance that will pay for it (those are thousands of dollars).  It is a shame that so many doctors and medical centers who have taken oaths to help the sick or unwell quickly lose interest when they know you don't have deep pockets.  Check with your local community help centers, try to find out if there are medical advocates, or community outreach programs that can help steer you through the medical loopholes to getting diagnosed and treated.  You might also be able to get helpful information on assistance programs from the local medical board.

 If it's any consolation, the doctors where I live are mostly useless quacks (I swear this county gets the dregs of the medical community), as even having been diagnosed and knowing that certain treatments are nescessary, most of the time they tell me to just go home and take it easy too.  I had to fight for 4 years before finally getting an MRI on my back and getting that diagnosed. Around here if you dare to disagree with a doctor and try to get a second opinion, they blackball you with seriously negative comments in your medical records too, making it impossible to find treatment eventually.

The best advice I can try to give is to not let it embitter and frustrate you as it has me. It is very hard to climb back out of deep anger, depression, frustration, and bitterness once you are firmly rooted in it. I wish you better luck than I've had.

I was very active - tennis every day - then went into atrial fribulation (heart rate about 180 and the beats all wrong). I was in the hospital about once a week for several months getting the shock paddles to my chest. Doctors finally were able to get some control of it with lots and lots of meds but subsequently I became a physical wreck, very sedintary, gained fifty pounds and had lots of the symptoms you describe. I could not sleep and ached everywhere. Finally, (about 5 years ago) I got tired of it and against my doctor's advice, I bought a stationary bicycle and, starting at 5 munites a day, increasing it each day by one minute, I rode every day. Within a few months I was doing twenty-five miles a day at a very strong resistance and a furious pace. I lost fifty pounds. I have not taken medication in years and my heart does not skip a beat. Walk up to your sickness and slap it in the face.

Thanks all. You are nice.

Well so i went to the dr today. I explained to her my pains and she seemed to kinda brushed it off  saying " i guarantee you is not..." in response to my "i feel sprained".

Anyways for my chest pain she said she thinks i have COSTOCHONDRITIS. She just told me there's nothing you can do but take pain meds.I tried telling her about the fact that i had an old injury in the chest and that i think maybe it's related in some way..but she kept brushing that off saying "i guarantee you an old injury like that is healed by now"

And meanwhile I interrupted her saying "So how about the fact that ever since i got that old injury, everytime i do fast punches or pushups(which i don't do anymore) i get extreme pain in the site that was injured 10 years ago"..and she kept saying it was not related.

Then i was going to tell her about my thumb and ankle but she said Hey hey hey we can only do one condition per visit, else i'm gonna charge you more. So i just told her about the chest and came out with a 67 dollar charge. It wouldve been 120 plus if i told her about the other stuff

And by the way she was a PA. isn't that Physicians Assistant? Probably not that experienced. anyways, she helped me a bit i guess.

Interestingly after i came back home..i hadn't had pain and then when i put down my lunch box in the table..i did it kind of fast and OUUUUUUCH terrible stabbing in the middle of the chest.

only one condition per visit? That's a new one.

By the way this is a picture of Costochondritis, and i indicated where mine hurts like stabbing sharp pain upon sudden movement or when sleeping and i wake up with pain. Nice picture i found. :)

Interesting. According to the definition i found

"Check yourself for indications. The first as already mentioned is pain localized in a certain area over the sternum that hurts immensely upon being touched"

But in my case, i can touch and touch and no pain from touching. mmmmm.....C*rap. It just had to be that my dumb conditions are not textbook so who knows what i have. i'm not really sure if it's Costochondritis because it doesn't hurt upon touch.

I hate my self. All the things i have are never textbook. they're a bunch of mysterious pains which means the only way to findout is to do bunch of tests

Anyone who says "I guarantee it's not related" simply doesn't want to think. Mail sorter syndrome. Any medical professional who makes a diagnosis without tests to back it up, should polish up their crystal ball and take it on the road. Unfortunately, as with most professions, a large percentage of people are just pulling in a paycheck, and aren't that interested in their job. You've got to find one of those rare gems who really likes what they do.

Drug addicts and drug addicts with back pain?!! Really? And I wonder who created a good chunk of those addicts? Maybe doctors who throw pills at people instead of trying to fix what's wrong? I mean, why go through all the bother of thinking, when you can squeeze in more patients you don't care about by just writing prescriptions? And 90% of those prescriptions don't do anything Advil or Tylenol can't do. Oh, and let's charge by the ailment? Where did that come from, car mechanics?

Next suggestion: while waiting for renders, research online. You can start with what the bored person suggested, and see what other people have experienced. Find out what others have done for that condition, and what was mis-diagnosed as that. See if there are any anti-inflammatory diets or activities that help. See if anyone mentions a doctor who actually knows something is in your area.

When I first injured my back, I ran into one of those. She looked at me, thought 'middle aged woman... back strain" and threw Vicodan at me. I knew that wasn't right, because I don't go to doctors unless something is dire, and I hadn't been able to sit up for 3 days.  Next stop chiropractor, who got the bones un-stuck, at least. BTW, Vicodan does absolutely nothing for back pain, it just makes you drooling stupid.

Don't blame yourself. People are not machines, and none of us are hard-wired the same way. You're unique. Do the research, and try to find someone who understands what you're saying.

Quote -  BTW, Vicodan does absolutely nothing for back pain, it just makes you drooling stupid.

Couldn't agree more. When they prescribed it for me it never worked from day one. They just kept upping the dosage.  They briefly prescribed Percocet, which worked beutifully, then decided they were never going to prescribe it again because I must be an addict just looking for pills.  Doesn't stop them from wanting to push vicodin on me though.  I don't get why they even tried to find a medicine that worked if they were just going to pull crap and not prescribe any in the end.  My personal favorite is when they want to prescribe psychological medications for the "nerve damage" in my back... anti-depresents and mood stabilizers don't help herniated disks!

Doctors...bah...

Hi Joster, this isn't so much as an injury, but I have Diabetes type 1 and it causes health problems, I've had Diabetes since I was 4 and I'm 21 now...

When I was 14 I tore my ligement in my right leg which just so happens to be the same leg I broke when I was 3... so throw a torn ligement on top of severe arthritus from that broken leg.. EXTREME pain every day! urg... I try to go for walks to strengthen my leg but lately it hurts really bad... See when my leg broke it broke in 3 places and disconnected from my hip... it's back in place now because of me wearing a body cast for a year, but god I was 3, in a body cast, no fun... Anyways, the point is now I pay for the broken leg AND the torn ligement...

Compared to the bad back pain, leg pain and severe headaches, I really would choose Diabetes over all of them, Diabetes is actually the easiest part of my life so far, lol...

BIG point is... I use Poser as therapy too :D Hang in there it will be okay! And btw reading your message made me cry... Us Poserizers love ya!!! Remember that!

Owee, Kandy! Just reading your post makes my back seem not so bad.

Ok, anti-inflammatory diets seem to point to salads, salmon, and olive oil as starting points. Couldn't hurt, because they're certainly healthy. hmmm... maybe not living on coffee, cigarettes, and doritos would be a good idea for me? ;)

Meditation seems to help a lot of people, too, although I've found it fairly impossible. It should relax muscles that have cramped up....

Just things that might help while trying to figure out what's going on.

I happen to have chronic hypochondria.

and you didn't listen to what i said...

get your ass out of the doctor and go to an alternative medicine type dude or dudess...

they will help you way before one of the pill pushers that there are around now. They don't want to think. and if you haven't figured it out yet, they're not helping you are they? Or you wouldn't be in here pissing and moaning about it. So get your tired butt to someone that will actually help.

sometimes harshness will wake some people up. worth a try.

you probably would be better off going to an Indian witch doctor than who you've seen so far. And don;t forget the fish oil. Diet can cause a lot of stuff that would simply blow your mind as well.

From the photo your provided, I'd say you definitely need to eat more.

And if anyone has Vicodan they don't want, send it to me.

Didn't you just get a promotion at work that was making you nervous? Stress can trigger a wide range of ailments. Taking into consideration your ribs, ankles, and thumb, it sounds like joint or connective tissue related. Auto-immune malfunctions can manifest like this. You might want to research some of those?

Having worked in a profession that embraced alternative medicines, I'm very wary of them, especially herbal remedies. They're profit-driven, and go with whatever the latest fad is... until the FDA steps in, and then they move on to the next one. Not to say traditionally trained healers or nutritionists inspire confidence, or that a holistic approach isn't effective.

Doing online research still seems the most promising avenue. In the meantime, eating a healthy diet, getting enough rest (no all-nighters in Poser), and staying active, and maybe even giving meditation a go, certainly couldn't hurt. You might also want to keep a journal of when symptoms appear, and what's going on in your life when they do.

A little thank you, also. I bought a veggie tray instead of junk food today, and Perrier instead of Coca-Cola. (Forgot the salmon, though.)

L.A. is a lousy place to exist, even with insurance, but tebop's symptoms should be easy to diagnose by some sports medicine M.D.  (check MBC website for any probs first). they've got a standard procedure to narrow it down, even with the vaguest description from the patient.  costs $,$$$ approx. to diagnose it.  maybe it's worth it.  that's why we have jobs - to pay for insurance and med bills.

Quote:- "my thumb ligaments got damaged recently from too much office paperwork"

yes, you have to be careful with paperwork, that can happen. I bet there are people who have ended up in a wheelchair after such an injury.  

Well a lot of tendon injuries do seem to just settle with rest and avoiding the activity that brought it on, but you know, if you ignore that first warning pain, and just keep on bravely filing away, without regard to your health for the sake of your employer, well maybe it could progress???

The worst thing is no one can actually explain why these things just don't heal up and go away.  Afterall there really is no physical reason why, once you stop the activity that was causing the problem that it wouldn't just heal up.  Even a broken bone heals after a time.

It's hard not to be able to do the things you used to like to do so much eg work. 

Funnily enough, using a mouse for poser and using a keyboard never seems to cause as much of a problem to people as the workplace.  Must be the airconditioning perhaps.

I do hope it settles for you soon Joster.  It must be so distressing.

In the mean time, happy posering.

"I haven't been able to move much for 3 days already. it hurts like getting stabbed in the center of the chest.　i'm using 4 pillows to raise my torso to like 30 degrees and that has allowed me to sleep thankfully."

Working out, including proper warm up and stretching, helps alleviate the pain.  Try yoga.
Other things to do include not using your arms to support your weight when sitting or laying. 

I have the same pain as the OP.  The doctor said the heart was fine so I could keep exercising.  The only time, in the beginning, it stopped hurting was during exercise.

Nolan Ryan once said people have to learn the difference between hurting and being hurt.  If a person is hurt then the injury has to be allowed to heal.  But if it's just hurting from a condition that isn't causing damage, work to alleviate it and work to move with it.

It's either that or become crippled.

Hi JosterD and all those whom use Poser art to help with pain.

I have found that regular excersize in a heated swimming pool, such as deep water running/walking. This has been the best I can do. I am recovering from five surgeries, these include spinal fusion, knee and Ankle reconstructions.

I am told I have an incurable chronic pain condition, and will never work again. I term Chronic pain, as pain you get for doing nothing, it hurts to sit down, stand up, shit and spit and thats it.

I have had to get of the morphine drugs, push myself to get in and out of the swimming pool, don't talk about pain. Not believe what doctors say is 100% correct and find things to live for and enjoy.

Your in control so take hold of your life and make it the best life.

God bless you in your efforts and mental health. Rowlando

Hi guys. I'm happy today. Finally got a thorough checkup.

I went to a chiropractor. He took an xray of my total body including from front and side and back.

It was sooo interesting. We found out my ribs are popped out and my spine has scoliosis and my neck spine goes forward, doesn't have a normal curve.

So we going to work on that. Wow.. this is the first time i saw my total body spine and bones, it's messy but i'm glad he found out at last.

Today at work i had extreme pain i just had to leave and i told the boss. The chiro was sueprnice and spent time with me and even gave me a christmas special fee, . After took xray and did his research and taught me about my problem, he gave me an adjustment and i feel better. 

i'll get more treatments and also he told me to walk for exercise.

Yeah it's kind of true that doctors don't always help. Nobody believed me and no body did anything but told me to take meds. That wasn't helping so today i decided to go to the chiro.  In fact, prior to going, i was calling ORTHOPEDICS Dr's and General MD's to ask them who can treat my chest problem, and guess what??? they just said they don't treat chest.. and told me to go elsewhere. that sucked.. so i got pissed off.

Thanks all. I feel betteer, and hopefully i'll get better from now on.

Well... ouch! Dislocated ribs hurt like the dickens. Chiropractic can make you feel better faster in a lot of cases, but treatments can be never-ending for others. Good you found one who took xrays, so you know what you're dealing with, and that's half the battle. Sort of makes you want to send a copy of the xrays to the osteopath with an "I told you so" note, doesn't it? ;)

It's not your imagination, and there are things that will make you feel better!

No slouching in front of monitors or tv's, ok? And, since core strength is so important for your back, want to join me in taking up belly dancing?