I have a HUGE knot in my back! HElp?
Question:
I also have been taking really hot showers and make sure most of the water pressure is on the knot.
It's swolen and I am planning to go to the docter. Is there anything else I should be doing?
Should I ice it?
Please any ideas!?
Answers:
What kind of knot? Where is it? Is it painful?
It may be just a cyst, or calcium spur. Most any kind of knot I can think of will would not necessarily stop you from swimming, unless it is causing you some sort of pain, or a fever of any kind.
Try a hot shower, then immediately rub icy hot on it, and a deep massage.
Anyway, I hope you find a solution and good luck city finals!!
Get a heat pad and when you're sitting down or lying down, have that on the area where the knot is. After that then you can have someone work on it when it's looser.
Massages might not always work, so if you can find a Chiropractor, that'd be much better and quicker.
It could only be a cyst. In this case it's not serious. You can decide to keep or remove it.
s4m
Use heat before you swim, and ice after activity. If there is a knot in the muscle, applying heat exclusively can lead to more inflammation and tightening of the muscles. This will lead to a generalized stiffness in the area. If massage did not do the trick (and sometimes it takes more than just one), I would consult with a good chiropractor. If you visit your MD or DO, they will give you muscle relaxers and possibly pain killers. They will do nothing for the know in your back. You cannot fix a physical problem with chemicals. It's like trying to fix a flat tire by putting something in your gas tank. A chiropractor will evaluate you to determine if the knot is from an irritated nerve, posture distortion, overuse, or even an electrolyte imbalance. I see a lot of swimmers in my practice, so talk to your teammates and find out who they go to. Good luck.
Professional massage therapists should be able to help more. I also use a chiropractor.
Info on muscles - The Trigger Point Therapy Workbook by Davies.
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