I see patients frequently in my office who work high stress jobs all day, on the computer, on deadlines, demanding bosses, carting the kids all over after school, after work; who come in with pain in the back of their shoulders, or neck. I have also seen patients come in with pain in their knee after standing a long day at a conference they really did not want to be at. What these both have in common is that the pain is real. The tenderness in the muscles, soft tissues, and joint are definitely there, but after a thorough examination there is not really a specific anatomic structure that we can define as the source of the pain.
We live in a very high stress environment these last few years and I think it is important to remember that our bodies have an amazing ability to tell us that the stress level is getting too high in ways other than what would one normally see such as chest pain, heart attack, and ulcers. In orthopedics, the body does talk to us when stress levels get too high. It is always a good idea to have an orthopedic condition checked out by a capable practitioner, but I think it is also important to check in on your own “life pulse”; to check in with yourself about what is going on in your personal life, your work life, your relationship, when the pain started, when it gets better (vacation is always a good barometer). Many reduce stress through exercise, basic walking is probably the best and safest, meditation and yoga (but be careful of the child’s pose and downward dog). But if you hurt, these activities may not be comfortable or possible. So, consider reading or just spending some quiet time with the cellphone, texting, and TV all turned off. Just enjoy this beautiful area we live in on the bay area. Look at the scenery around you, breathe, and relax.
It is easy for me just to go out in my garden and look at the beautiful flowers and landscape. I have worked hard to create, although like most people, it only usually last 5 or 10 minutes until I start looking at the tree that needs to be pruned or weeds that need to be pulled. But I try to make the time.
Have you ever heard the term “I feel like I have the weight to the world on my shoulders”, or “so and so is the pain in the neck”, or “I do not feel like I can take another step”. These phrases would definitely show up in our body when stress gets too high. The purpose of my blog today is really to remind us all of the value of taking 15 minutes daily to just stop with the texting, turn off the phone, turn off the TV and just find a comfortable place to sit, lie, run, or move to wherever you body finds a restful place.
-Lesley J. Anderson, MD