Question
Thank you for your quick reply. Yes, I would appreciate a reccomendation from you, that would be great.
These muscles spasms mainly occur while I'm sitting at my desk at work. Aren't they relaxed if I'm sitting? The spasms get so bad, and I try so hard to relax them, but nothing seems to help except for muscle relaxants (perscription).
Thanks
Kristy
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Followup To

Question -
I beleive that I have injured my external abdominal oblique muscle on my right side. I
have been experiencing pain on my right flank for about 6 months now. I feel it on my
lower ribs, on the right side of my belly button, sometimes down near my hip bone,
extending right my lower ribs into my back (just below the hip bone but below the
ribcage) on my back. I have had an MRI done, but everything was normal. However, my
doctor said that injuries such as this do not always show up on an MRI. Is that correct?
Also, how far does the external abdominal oblique muscle extend into the back?
I am wondering why this injury is taking so long to heal. It has been 6-7 months now. Is
that normal? I'm wondering if I keep reinjuring it in some way, but I do not exercise much
at all anymore due to this, I only walk. Sometimes at a moderate to brisk pace though. I
notice the pain is worse when I sit at my desk. Perhaps this is prolonging it from healing?
I also notice the pain increase on an empty stomach while trying to remove a bowel as well.
Since this injury, I've been having severe muscle tightness in my back, on both sides while
I'm sitting, or standing for long periods at a time. I'm unsure how to stop this from happening
and I'm also unsure as to how to heal this injury. The external oblique muscles are in constant
use all the time. And I'm raising my right arm to reach for my headset, telephone, and to type
for work. A few days ago, I moved my telephone and headset to the left side of my desk, but I
am still needing to raise my right hand to use my mouse, and to type. Could this be hurting it
more? What can I do to heal this injury? How much time does it take to normally
heal? Thank you.

Answer -
Dear Kris,

Pain does not necessarily (or with muscles) usually indicate an injury, but a state of contraction.  The painful sensation is usually muscle fatigue.  Restricted movement is typical.

A clue to correct assessment of a condition is how long it takes for the pain to resolve.  Muscles heal quickly; long-term pain indicates muscle spasm, not injury.

You need to improve your control of those muscles and their movements to the degree of being able to relax them.  Almost as soon as you attain relaxation of that area, the pain will fade out and normal functioning, return.

A somatic education program is precisely what you need for that kind of problem; you learn to feel and control those muscles more normally.

Please see the articles and resources at somatics.com/page4.htm.

If you wish, I will make a recommendation.

with regard,
Lawrence Gold


Answer
The problem is that muscles don't relax when in resting positions unless your brain conditioning permits them to.

For the muscles involved, my first recommendation is Outgrowing the Myth of Aging, an audio program on CD.  For a preview audition, send blank email to [email protected].  My second recommendation would be Free Yourself from Back Pain, a more extensive program.  Preview audition:  email [email protected]

To order, use the link found in the preview email message.

with regard,
Lawrence Gold