Reddit mentions: The best occupied & physical therapy aids

Any TENS unit that’s at least two channels, like this one from Amazon.
It has four channels, will do everything you need it to and it’s very easy on the wallet.

I don’t recommended spending your money on themes you see on TV commercials like the Dr. Ho’s branded machines because you’re not really getting enough features for the cost, and I think their leads/electrode connections might be proprietary so they could be pricey to replace).

TENS leads are usually a standard pin or standard snap. The electrode are also fairly standardized and work essentially the same, the different shapes and sizes just provide different area coverage. I’ve never had reason so use anything but the 2”x2” squares that are most common. The electrodes themselves do lose their stickiness after a few uses but they still conduct the current just fine, I use plain paper medical tape to stick them on instead of buying new ones very often. I’ve also ordered electrodes in bulk from eBay and they worked just fine.

If you were ready to spend the extra money for a higher end machine and wanted any extra features like pre programmed current patterns or a rechargeable battery (or If your insurance covers it like mine did, but you may need to provide them with a doctor’s or physiotherapist’s written recommendation as a pain management therapy) there’s many good units that will last years and years. I recommend a StimTec Neo specifically as that’s the one I personally own and use everyday. I’ve never had an issue with it, and the pre-programmed patterns are fantastic. Mine was purchased through my physiotherapist’s office but you can definitely order it online. Here’s one place but it’s Canadian, I’m not sure where you’re located. You could definitely search around and find one that has the exact features you want it to have.

A few safety precautions I should mention: just like any electrical current, don’t put it over or around the heart area of your chest, or over your carotid, or on your forehead and give yourself an electrical lobotomy. If you have a pacemaker, ask your doctor make sure it’s safe for you to use one at all!

Hope that helped, and again feel free to ask any questions you have and I’ll do my best to answer them! :)

I just held a contest, "Help me with my Kindergarten friend", in which I explained my current situation and reached out for some help

Le Situation I am currently in my second year of teaching Kindergarten. This year, I have a student with Autism. Anything out of his comfort zone (which is most everything) he will not do. He will scream, yell, cry, and fight if you try to make him. If you do not physically hold him in a spot he will run (literally) around the classroom grabbing things off the shelves. When he is sitting he will loudly repeat things over and over that he finds funny. He is very handsome and loves to be hugged and complimented. He does enjoy being a helper. Overall, he does not like to be corralled and structure is VERY hard for him. I understand his unique situation and I want what is best for him. At the same time, he is impeding on the other student's learning.

dizzyvonblue helped me out by suggesting fidget toys

>I'm going to link you to the search results for fidget toys and things. These might help him stay focused,and keep him in his seat. They also have some pencil toppers that you might want to look at! I hope everything works out. And you are absolutely awesome for going above and beyond in trying to help him out.

So in short, I would use your gift card to help my student with Autism maintain focus to improve his learning. Thank you!

I don't really read music either. One of my goals but it hasn't been very important, I pick up things by ear fairly well.

First and foremost, get the best used guitar you can afford, preferably from a music store that knows what they're doing. Do not get a new cheap guitar. This is because cheap guitars have crappy action. The "action" is the space between the strings and fretboard. Quality instruments can be made to have very low action, which is easier on the fingers, while cheap instruments tend to warp and thus make it harder to press down on the strings. Also cheap instruments tend to go out of tune easier.

Next learn to play your favorite yet easy to play songs. You're more likely to keep up with it if you love the music you're playing. Get the chord books or tablature books for your favorite bands. There are a lot of "how to play this song" videos on YouTube.

Prepare for your fingers to hurt and bleed. This is normal. You'll build callouses eventually. Do warmups. Get a finger gripper like this to help strengthen your fingers.

If you get an electric guitar, don't worry about the whammy bar/tremolo/etc. Though a lot of electric guitars have them by default, the cheaper ones will knock your guitar out of tune if you don't know how it all works. Floyd Rose tremolos work fairly well but are a bitch to change strings. Beginners don't need them anyway.

Regardless of type, pick it up and play it with a strap or sit down with it. If it hits your arm in a funny spot, choose a different one.

Be careful of having your belt buckle exposed when you try guitars. They'll scratch the back of the guitar.

I have small hands too.

But unless your hands are so small and or frail that it's difficult for you to hold cups or turn doorknobs and such, you can play guitar just fine. (I'm not joking about small frail hands. My mom has trouble with basic activities now. I wouldn't suggest anyone with similar issues try picking up guitar.)

This is a good intro to hand stretches.
You can start there and see if that helps.

My next suggestion would be to practice basic finger exercises higher up the neck where the frets are closer together and there's less tension. You can play 7-8-9-10 going down and up the neck. Use all four of your fingers by following the one finger per fret rule. Play the 7th fret strictly with your index, the 8th strictly with your middle, the 9th strictly with your ring and the 10th strictly with your pinky. The pinky should be the trickiest. Don't overlook it though! And then move to 5-6-7-8. Be methodical about it. It's a tedious exercise but it does help!

Also a lot of your finger strength for guitar actually comes from your forearms! I've read that just regular arm stretches and basic arm exercises in general are healthy for strengthening your forearm. I've also been warned about doing exercises that only target your forearms though. Apparently targeting just the forearm is an easy way to injure yourself.

There's also those little grip hand workout mechanisms. You can try those if you want. Make sure to buy them in a really light tension though. You're trying to fret strings not go rock climbing. It does help build strength and dexterity if you use it correctly. But it's not better than just regular guitar hand exercises.

And if full sizes acoustic don't suit you. You can always try for a 3/4 size. I wouldn't recommend smaller than that.

Good luck!

I have a few that I like, some of which others have mentioned.

1. Bike Chain Fidget - Simple, tactile, initially cold to the touch. Can be fidgeted with one hand and discreetly. It's my current favorite.
   
   
2. Spinners - they've become pretty ubiquitous. I'm sure you've heard of them and probably even seen them around.
   
   
3. Fidget Cube - Get the legitimate, high-quality one from Antsy Labs, or get a cheap knock-off from Amazon or eBay. Someone also developed a 12-sided fidget dice thing that takes the fidget cube idea a step further. And a fidget pad which is a cross between a SNES controller and a fidget cube. (I'm still waiting for my cube from Antsy Labs.)
   
   
4. Tangle, Tangle Jr. - Good desk toy. Keeps both hands busy, but leaves you free to look and listen. There are several variants, including textured pieces and silicone-covered pieces. My wife, my daughter, and I each have our own.
   
   
5. Bead + String fidget - This one can be fun, but it's VERY distracting for everyone around you. The best thing about it is that you can make one from two beads and a string in a couple minutes. I've thought about making a string that is mostly beads each with a different surface texture, and instead of swinging it around you just fidget with it in your hand. I need to get around to making that...
   
   
6. Wooden Fidget Puzzle - Just picked this one up a couple days ago. It's small, it's interesting, it has lots of possible configurations. It's good when you need to listen but don't need your hands or your eyes free.

I think a Food processer is very important! You can use veggies in crazy ways if you can break them down. Even nuts can be used as a cookie base. It's a little more work but making homemade sauces can be so much healthy, especially if you can sneak in extra veggies!

Lets all sing Portion Control amen. And don't forget measuring cups and spoons, to control condiments, you could also just use the cups instead of the fancy portion measurer



I also recommend getting one of these under desk peddlers promise yourself you'll use it when watching T.V or doing reddit.

Pedometer a nifty affordable way to keep track of how much you are actually walking. I'm going to buy one just to make myself walk more!

Tape measure this is going to be surprisingly important. I've been trying to get back into shape since last September and I've only lost 15 pounds. I didn't keep track of my measurements, and I wish I had. My pants are almost falling off, but the proof of the numbers would be more of a morale booster. Easier to pass on the second helping of Chinease food if you KNOW you're making progress!

I wish you great luck! I think eating healthy is most important,but it feels so good, to just work the heck out,and be covered in sweat, and know you whooped that workouts ass! And another idea is to watch your department stores, I got my $200 stationary bike for $40 bucks,because it was a floor model,and was missing a little cover on one of the edges that touch the floor.

Do giftcards count? I really need this but it's over $25. A giftcard towards it would be greatly appreciated though.

I am in heaps of pain all the time, and I've heard those are amazing. It would be fantastic to have some relief.

If giftcards don't work though, count me out, as I don't need anything else. Thanks for the wonderful contest! :]

I'm sorry if any of these ideas are stupid or inappropriate . I'm just gonna give you a bunch lol.

• Ds
  You can get them pretty cheap, and it'd let him play video games in bed. And he can play some relaxing ones like harvest moon, pokemon, or animal crossing.
  Idk if he has the energy to do that though. Or if he likes video games. But emulated games on my phone have been a lifesaver for bordem and stuff.
  
  
• Heavy Blanket
  Most people with chronic fatigue have trouble with sleep and some with anxiety.
  I got my mom this for Christmas (she has chronic fatigue) She only was able to get 4 hours of sleep or something before (during the night-time) and would never feel rested. Now she sleeps alot better.
  
  -Plants
  Plants have shown to improve mood and stuff, so you could get him a low maintenance plant like a succulent. Idk if have the energy for it though...
  
  -Instant pot
  Can help him cook by himself? maybe? Again, idk what his energy level is... So idk if it'll be helpful.
  
  -Vegtable chopper and storage thingy
  if he can cook by himself, he won't have to tire himself out using a knife, and can store the veggies he easily preps for his meals.
  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01HC7BNJA
  
  -Googleplay/ Apple Store gift card
  So he can purchase games, apps, and stuff.
  
  -Lying down laptop stand?
  https://www.thisiswhyimbroke.com/lying-down-laptop-stand/
  
  -Gooseneck phone holder, so he doesn't have to hold his phone https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01M1JXNTT
  
  
• Saw this: https://www.amazon.com/Tens-Handheld-Electronic-Pulse-Massager/dp/B007TOJ948/ on a gift list... Its supposed to help with chronic fatigue and chronic pain. Idk about the science behind it though... so idk
  
  -These cool prism glasses that will let him read laying down and stuff? Idk how to explain it https://www.amazon.com/Skywill-Far-East-Industries-Spectacles/dp/B0006ZZCJI
  
  -Mop slippers??
  
  -Cool night light projector
  I see some ones that project ocean waves, or stars.
  
  That's all I can think of right now... I'll edit if I can think of anything else.

>Does any of this sound familiar?

YES. 100% yes this is incredibly familiar and reminds me of my experience before diagnosis. You shouldn't be in this much pain and you definitely shouldn't have to suffer in silence. Check out [this website] (https://www.vitalhealth.com/conditions-treated/pelvic-pain-conditions/endometriosis/) and look at all of the pelvic conditions listed. Based on what you wrote, you may have one or more of these conditions.

>Why doesn’t it bother me any other time?

It only bothers you at the time of your period because the endometrial tissue that has grown outside of your uterus is trying to "shed" like the lining of the uterus does during menstruation. However, it has nowhere to go since it's not in your uterus. This causes severe pain and sometimes bleeding and scarring on whatever the tissue touches- whether it be your uterus, colon, or bladder. This could explain your pain with peeing, especially. I have the exact same problem to this day- Azo occasionally gives me relief.

>Is there anything you do to curb the pain?

So. Many. Things. And despite everything I do, it sometimes still hurts. I made a list in r/endometriosis of my ultimate pain help list. I'll link it here.

In this post, I barely mentioned birth control as a strategy to help pain. If you aren't already on birth control, I highly recommend it. It can completely solve the problem for a lot of people, or at least rid you of the pain. There are many different types though, so talk to your doctor to find what's right for you.

In this post I also mention the Livia. Now, after research, I have discovered that it's the same as any other TENS unit, just more portable. If you don't want to shell out a crap ton of money for a portable one, Amazon has a great one for only $25 [here.] (https://www.amazon.com/HealthmateForever-Electronic-Arthritis-Inflammation-No-USD723178S/dp/B00O7CM12W/ref=sr_1_4_s_it?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1517610747&sr=1-4&keywords=tens+unit) You can also buy bigger electrodes to deal with the pain. You can find lots of those on amazon.

If you have looked at Vital Health and everything else and think this is you, I recommend going to a specialist if you can afford it. Surgery will be a waste if it isn't a wide excision surgery; that's why my first surgery didn't work and only worsened my pain. Most doctors just use a laser to get rid of what they see, but this is ineffective. Endometriosis is like an iceberg; you can only see a little bit on the outside, but there's a lot more hiding underneath the surface. That's why only a select few surgeons are qualified to do this procedure. You can find a list of surgeons that do this procedure on r/endometriosis and on Nancy's Nook Facebook group.

Lastly, know this: You are not crazy. It is not "just a period." In fact, endometriosis was listed as one of the top 20 most painful conditions according to the NIH. Many people will not be understanding, but you'll be shocked to find out that those who do understand REALLY understand and will help you through this entire journey. I promise you it WILL get better. You have a lot of options to pursue before you should ever even consider giving up. Come join r/endometriosis and we will help you throughout this entire journey. You can see many posts there from people going through the same thing you are.

I wish you the best with your journey! If you have any questions or concerns or if this information was too much at once and you need clarification, do not hesitate to pm me. :) You are so strong for suffering in silence this long, but you shouldn't have to suffer like that anymore. Stay strong! It will help a lot.

It depends on what you did in the meantime. I'm guessing it was a few years you climbed for the last time? And are you physically fit at the moment?

You might want to see how your body is holding up when you're back at climbing (I don't know how strong your tendons etc. are at this point) and don't overdo it in the beginning.

Depending on how you feel and how your climbing goes you can adjust from there. Imho a hangboard might be a good idea then if your tendons/fingers are up to it, but I wouldn't do it now. Too risk sensitive.

If you want to do something in the meantime you could train your fingers a bit more lightly. E.g. have a look at something like https://www.amazon.com/Handmaster-Plus-Physical-Therapy-Exerciser/dp/B00CTG3TQU and build it up slowly.

And a bit of cardio or weights in the gym won't hurt either to get your body back ready for climbing. Just don't overdo it and pay attention to your body :)

Have fun and good luck with your goals!

This is called plantar fasciitis, and I got rid of it in 4 days in the following way:

Training Muay Thai 6x/week, I developed it on my left foot and suffered from the pain for 3 weeks until I realized the problem and began treating it. I was getting irritated from not being able to train and the stabbing pain when I decided to tough it out and train anyway.

It comes about due to tight calf muscles and the plantar fascia ligament that runs accross the bottom of your foot compensating for the lack of mobility.

It's relatively easy to fix with the right therapy. Use this 3x a day to get an amazing stretch on your calves:
North American Healthcare Foot Rocker
http://amzn.com/B002PT52WK
Use a timer and alternate stretching each calf for 30sec until they have been stretched 3x each.

If you can get ahold of one of these, it'll speed up the process a lot:
Porcupine Massage Ball
http://amzn.com/B000KS9Z8K

What you do is sit on a chair and place your bare foot on top of it and roll it around until you feel a tender spot. Once you find it, press down real hard on it. It hurts, but in a good way. What this is doing is dispersing scar tissue that has built up around the inflamed ligament and it'll speed up healing like a motherfucker.

You might wanna get some sole inserts for your shoes with good arch support, and avoid wearing older shoes.

Before training, stretch your calves with the foot rocker. If you have liniment oil or any type of muscle rub, give your calves a really fast-speed rubdown to warm them up.

I also like to use bandage wrap on my feet for arch support, especially on my main pivot foot. I find that the slip on ones commonly used have little to no arch support.
I use the following method:
http://youtu.be/dGD0JChXM78
Not to mention the fact that I totally get a psychological boost because they make me feel like Sagat from Street Fighter. "Tiger!"

Stay strong, man. I hope this helps!

Okay, thanks for the tip! It would at least be something for me to do at my desk, and make me feel like I am doing something that will help me improve haha. Do you think that something like this or this would be more beneficial since it seems to be targeting the fingers more, or are they all exercising the same muscle? I'm not really a workout person, so my terms are probably all off haha.

In terms of strength and flexibility - you have several options:

- use certain hand exercisers like this ( https://www.amazon.com/DAddario-Varigrip-Adjustable-Hand-Exerciser/dp/B001OCGGEM ) or smth similar, it really helps to get a grip.

- play and play rhythm guitar songs over and over, and over time it will become easier

- try to learn chord based songs on acoustic guitar, with hard and nasty chords (after acoustic switching to electric guitar is live going to Bahamas for vacation)

For me a good inspiration is Django Reinhardt ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQhTpgicdx4 ), he only had two fingers working properly due to fire accident, and still he had became a well-known guitarist in blues / jazz scene. When i fail in guitar i take inspiration from his courage and continue trying.

I think you've found your practice focus. Using those fingers in new ways is the way through it, even outside of belgeri. Stretch routine? strength training? (Grip Master: https://www.amazon.com/GRIP-MASTER-Gripmaster-Exerciser-Black/dp/B000W4KVGC/ or bands: https://www.amazon.com/Airisland-Stretcher-Resistance-Exerciser-Strengthener/dp/B071JL6PYZ)

​

I don't have experience with this regarding belgeri (i'm now interested myself though), but I have used a grip master (with individual finger keys). I had the medium (red) which was too strong for middle and ring. If you go for it, Start with the lighter one -- but i've been reading that a set is best so you can progress.

I coach wheelchair basketball and we routinely have people with broken legs come to play. It's a great workout and many people who play are completely able-bodied or only minimally disabled. If you don't want to go the organized sports route, here are some ideas:

• Upper body strength training.
  
• If you live in a bigger city, you could probably find a handcycle to rent (many bike rental places rent them, they're expensive to buy). Use in place of cycling.
  
• For cardio, do boxing sitting down. You can download boxing programs online that offer great interval training.
  
• Buy a hand ergometer (or use one of those stationary bike pedals as an ergometer). I have something like this that I just use for my arms instead of my feet.
  

Well I used to not work out much at all, but I got so out of shape (obviously) So now I make sure I at least walk my granma's dog every day :) This would be nice to use while I do work on my computer! work out all day, twerk out all night.

Thanks for the contest!

Use one hand to hold the book/turn pages and fiddle with something in your other hand, works wonders for those impulses to get up and do other stuff. I usually spin two juggling balls around in my hand, though whatever satisfies your fidgeting will work-Silly putty is good, and I know people who use Tangle Therapy toys and really like them.

I used to use a gripmaster back in my climbing days, but now prefer this
http://www.amazon.com/Planet-Waves-Varigrip-Adjustable-Exerciser/dp/B001OCGGEM/

I find the adjust-ability of it to be very helpful.
Is it the same motion as playing guitar? No, but finger strength and endurance is still useful to you. I often use it with one hand while reading from my kindle with the other. Swap hands every 5 mins or so.

This bike pedal thingy is the main health related thing on my list (it's on my private list though). Your contest has certainly inspired me to look for more healthy things on amazon for inspiration though! Been working on getting into better shape for several months now and never hurts to keep doing a little more.

I find a tens unit works pretty damn good for soft tissue injuries. It’s not miracle cure but combined with ice, rest, compression it’s another tool. You can pick up a good one for home use at most big drug stores. I have this one and I’ve found it to be the most powerful of the few that I’ve owned. For someone who works with their body or is an athlete or just beats themselves up in other ways, it’s great to have around for minor injuries.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00SVPNZXU/ref=mp_s_a_1_3_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1520363254&sr=8-3&keywords=omron+tens+unit&dpPl=1&dpID=51ihj5wUqUL&ref=plSrch

I would write down ur different modes and scales and then buy the D’addario hand exerciser to improve your hand strength and use ur fingers the same way you would with ur scales, so it will help u memorize all them.

Here’s an Amazon link to the product: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B001OCGGEM/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1527557035&sr=8-4&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=guitar+finger+strengthener&dpPl=1&dpID=31TKcbhXr5L&ref=plSrch

Please do! I have the TENS 7000 from Amazon. $30. Comes with a carry case and 8 pads. They're square, 2" by 2". I also bought rectangle pads 2" by 4" and a butterfly wing pad. Honestly I just play around with them via trial and error. The basic premise is to put one (or more) pads on either side of the area that hurts. Your current will run from one pad to the other. When you place them on either side of what hurts, the current will run across that muscle area. Now you'll have nerves in there also, so depending on where the pad is and how strong your device is set, you can stimulate muscle contractions. I like to freak my sister out by putting a pad on the top of my hand and on the top of my wrist, which stimulates the median and or ulnar nerves and causes my fingers to twitch around like a fish out of water. She hates it, haha. But basically, once you turn it on, you'll get a feel for what is being stimulated. I usually end up adjusting the location of the pads a couple of times. I generally start on a continuous mode and keep it at the surface for a while and once I've adjusted to it, then if the area is particularly bothering me, I'll go to a burst mode which will do more of the contraction style.

I started out with the TENS 7000 which is entirely manual, which is nice, if somewhat daunting. A couple weeks ago I picked up another device which has 15 preset modes. I don't like that I don't have entire control over it, however it's advantage is that the preset modes combine different types of stimulus which is cool.

Here is the TENS 7000 and the HealthmateForever Preset Modes

For myself, to avoid distraction, I tend to make the morning my time for grinding out programming work. When I get deep into programming work I completely avoid social media / reddit / shows / games until I put in about an hour of work. Normally about 30 minutes to an hour in, I no longer want to do anything but program, so I don't worry too much about distractions. I always have pen and paper / post-it notes on hand for writing down ideas. Whenever I hit roadblocks in programming, I try to stop coding for a bit and will workout or go take a shower(if I've not had one that day). I tend to measure work time in the amount of podcasts I've listened to.

If your looking to get in shape now that you work from home, setup a standing desk. For convenience I leave all my workout equipment next to my desk. Use whatever workout equipment you will actually use, but I recommend a couple Kettlebells and a hand trainer. I find that kettlebells tend to be great for loosening up my back and the hand trainer prevents wrist strain. I use other stuff too if your interested.

If you have any diet problems, working from home is the perfect chance to start fixing them. Working from home also allows you to fix any sleep problems you might have too; 8 hours a night, every night, will make a big difference if your the type to stay up late and get up early.

Tomorrow is my birthday so that is what I am looking forward to most! I will be 23 years old! I also have a show on Friday with my new band which is both exciting and a little nervous! It is only a house acoustic show but it is with a bunch of people who have connections in the scene and if I perform well I might get offered bigger and bigger gigs! :)

This could help me strengthen my hands when I am not playing guitar.


oh and Catdog!

I have one, here are my thoughts:

If you like small spaces, it's nice to just chill in sometimes.

Air circulation inside is less than optimal. Breathing is fine, but the air gets stale. I work around this by having a fan blowing in my direction.

*It feels awesome and there are unlimited ways to use it. Some positions don't give lots of deep pressure, some do.

That list isn't exhaustive, but should give you an idea. They're relatively cheap, so I would recommend getting one, especially if you like your heavy blanket. This is the one I have: http://www.amazon.com/Abilitations-Dynamic-Movement-BodySox-X-Large/dp/B0042SR680/ref=pd_sim_328_3?ie=UTF8&dpID=31mJWDWTk%2BL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR160%2C160_&refRID=045EV56SZJKB28AJ2E0H

I was in Occupation Therapy for Carpal Tunnel (which I figure was from a combination of Lyme and the unavoidable repetitive motions of my former job) and it helped immensely. I went from barely being able to lift 2 pounds, to currently lifting full gallons of water, small hand dumbbells, laundry baskets, etc...pain free. Check out your insurance policy, some come with coverage for a certain number of sessions or a 60-day treatment period. I searched Amazon for some of the exercise tools that I used in OT to continue them at home and most were very reasonably priced. If I had to choose only one item to recommend, I highly suggest looking into baoding balls. This is the set I have (I intentionally chose a set that didn’t chime, however I’m sure that many people prefer the ones that do as they can be therapeutic/soothing), however there are many other sizes and weights depending on your hand size.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B077HYV5WC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_vSEzCb35WCXZ1

Also, if you haven’t tried CBD oil, while it can be pricey...I found it to be incredibly helpful especially at night, and often I fell asleep with zero or nearly zero pain.

I have superfeet for all of my shoes. I use 800 mg of tylenol twice a day ( dr's orders) . I stretch on stairs and I have this: http://www.amazon.com/North-American-Healthcare-Foot-Rocker/dp/B002PT52WK/ref=cm_cr_pr_pb_i

My favorite tool though - a frozen water bottle that I roll under my foot for half an hour every night when I get home from work. I also have some $15 a pair socks called Feetures - awesome support socks for running. I am almost ready to start again - I can feel them getting better.

oh god I had popping fests too, but luckily my face is clear so it wasn't bad there

but I have these little bumps on my arms and I'd spend hours picking, not realizing I was doing it

turns out, I have dermatillomania. I use a lot of fidget toys like this to keep my hands busy so I don't pick so much

TENS unit! I swear by it. I have awful cramps that cannot be appeased even with 800 mg of ibuprofen, but a TENS unit (cranked up) will bring me glorious relief. You'll have to put it on before work or in the bathroom, and you'll have the cords awkwardly hanging out, but trust me, it is worth it.

This is the one I have:

https://www.amazon.com/Omron-Electrotherapy-Max-Power-Relief/dp/B00SVPNZXU/ref=sr_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1498000943&sr=8-1&keywords=omron+tens

Not 100% certain if I am allowed to link, but just in case I have to remove the link - it is the one that is usually sitting for around $25-30 on Amazon with a 4.4 rating and over 7000 reviews. We have been very impressed and happy with it!

FDA cleared HealthmateForever YK15AB TENS unit Electronic Pulse Massager Tennis Elbow,Carpal Tunnel Syndrome,Arthritis, Bursitis,and other Inflammation Ailments Patent No.USD723178S https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00O7CM12W/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_GcrRAbWA1G4QE

The best way would probably be just to use the heavier switches until your fingers naturally get stronger. If you really want to build finger strength, they sell finger strength trainers for guitarists like this.

If you can, pick up a TENS machine from like Walmart or Meijer or something. I use mine for everything but I bought it specifically for my carpal tunnel and it really, REALLY helps.

I also use it for my headaches, which is against "The Rules" but fuck it.

So for carpal tunnel I'll use mine on my hands (especially on the flexor pollicis brevis area) and my arms. Sometimes I'll put a pad on my hand somewhere then one up my arm, which gives a good spread of relief.

I bought this one.

If you have really hairy arms, you might want to shave, though. I find that if it's touching long hair it hurts.

This is weird, but I've also found high powered vibrators (or general vibrating massagers lol) help a lot.

For those of you saying you could use one of these at work/home/whatever, they do make these kinds of things that you can just stick under your desk. It's not going to turn a potato into a steak but it's nice to get the blood flowing when you can't get up and walk around.

I ordered one off amazon for like $30: http://www.amazon.com/EVA-Medical-E101-Pedal-Exerciser/dp/B000MGG9UC

Just make sure to check the dimensions if you decide to pick one up. Mine is a little tall for my desk but if I scoot my chair back a bit it's fine.

I can't be certain, but it looks a lot like the stuff I use sometimes: 'Procreate' modelling putty. It's more for sculpting actual miniatures, but you can do some amazing sculpting on mini conversions.
Link: http://www.amazon.com/Kraftmark-Company-PROC-3-ProCreate-Putty/dp/B00DE4YU2S

I googled "procreate modelling putty" and found a bunch of good links, some comparing it to green stuff head-to-head.

http://www.amazon.com/Tangle-Creations-300-Therapy-by/dp/B000F8I5AE

THIS! This is great for playing with while watching a movie or studying or really anything where you have at least one hand free.

It sound like you need a warm up for finger dexterity. I have a set of boading balls that work well for this. Here's a video, although I'd recommend a set that is solid and doesn't have those annoying bells in it. Here is another option for exercise using a squishie ball and hair scrunchy.

And, since we're taught to draw from the shoulder here, these might help as well.

I feel ya brother. I'm in pretty much the same exact boat, but you are a few years ahead of me. I take Celebrex daily and I've being taking 10 to 40 mg of oxycodone (depending on the kind of day I'm having and the weather) for the last 10 years or so. When I was still only a couple years into it I struggled a bit with taking more than I should, but anytime I take more than my normal dose and go above my tolerance level I get insanely itchy, which is pretty much what has allowed me to regulate my usage so reliably and not develop a problem.

Ibuprofen works great for me too, but i usually only take it right after i factor up. Pot is great. Doesn't lessen pain like the oxy does, more makes it easier to tolerate. I don't care as much. Plus maybe an anti-inflammatory effect, idk. I live in mass where we've had medical for a while now, but my htc won't/ can't prescribe it. I've been smoking it since high school though so it's whatever. I wish i could give advice on where to get some but i don't really have any. Just ask people you think might smoke. They probably do. Ibuprofen works better for pain, but pot is still worth trying imho.

I've had three synovectomies now on three of my four target joints - ankles and elbows, with mixed results. The thing with the steroid injections is that you end up using your crappy join a lot more than you would without the injections so in the span of the year which is about all you will probably get out of it in terms of relief, you do more damage then you normally would, thereby shortening the life of your joint. I suspect that's why they are hesitant to give you them. One of my surgeons offered it as a short-term relief until I got a synovectomy, but I didn't end up trying it.

I got a tens unit a while back. Its good for when the pain is pretty bad and you aren't moving around a lot. It kind of hurts a bit itself but you just have to find the right placement for the pads till it doesn't sting too much. It kind of just blocks the pain signals in your nerves by giving them something else to hurt about but there's different settings and strengths and for how cheap it is it is definitely worth giving a shot.

The tens i have:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00K6LPSJG/ref=mp_s_a_1_7_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1517449950&sr=8-7&keywords=tens+unit&dpPl=1&dpID=41Uca0heL5L&ref=plSrch

This, definitely this!!! I generally use them in my calves to break them up when they get too rock hard to deal with or 2 on calf, one on heel one in arch to alleviate foot pain and get overall relief. It’s a lifesaver when you’re vacationing and walking a lot everyday.

I’ve used a few expensive models but this one is by far the best and the cheapest: FDA cleared HealthmateForever... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00O7CM12W?ref=yo_pop_ma_swf

I'm lucky enough to keep my guitar in my office so I get about 45 minutes of practice each day on my lunch break.

There's a great app called Functional Ear Trainer that is really helpful for training your ear to better identify intervals. I highly recommend it.

You could try one of those finger exercisers (like this one). I'm not certain how well they actually work, but I've seen a decent amount of people who like them.

It's already been said, but you can never go wrong with listening to music. Try exploring bands and genres you don't normally listen to.

Lots of other ideas here.

I have this and it is great. I used to have a more expensive unit and I can say that this one is just as good and the price is fantastic.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00O7CM12W/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00K504UUG/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I bought one of these when I started playing guitar and it helped a lot.

D'Addario Varigrip Hand Exerciser-Improve Dexterity and Strength in Fingers, Hands, Forearms- Adjust Tension Per Finger- Simulated Strings Help Develop Calluses- Comfortable Conditioning https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001OCGGEM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_7UhtDbN2GB11E

My mother in law has this: http://www.amazon.com/Drive-Medical-Exerciser-Attractive-Silver/dp/B002VWK09Q/ref=sr_1_1?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1341472060&sr=1-1&keywords=under+desk+pedal

Or, at least it looks just like this. I've used it playing around and it worked fine! It has a knob to adjust the how hard it is to peddle.... this is where it isn't exactly a fine piece of machinery... it gets loose very easily. The nice thing is, it doesn't matter. If you have it set for no resistance at all, you're still moving your legs and keeping active.

They are easy to use while on the couch.

I don't like onesies; I prefer the feeling of a waistband.

I'll second the Tangle and add Downbeats earplugs. Kinetic sand is cool. I can't find the one I have but sensory chews like this or this are great.

No song recommendations, persay, but I can't recommend getting a hand exerciser enough. I got one two weeks ago and have been using it absentmindedly at my work desk, or as a way to actively fidget during meetings. I have already noticed a HUGE improvement in the dexterity of my pinky finger (and others of course).

Here's the one I got. Very affordable, and you can adjust the resistance, as well as build calluses (using the string molds under the rubber grip)

https://www.amazon.com/DAddario-Varigrip-Adjustable-Hand-Exerciser/dp/B001OCGGEM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1492652330&sr=8-1&keywords=daddario+finger+exerciser

Be prepared for sore fingers, peeling and possibly blisters. I also recommend getting a D'Addario finger exerciser (primarily for your fretting hand). When I got one, within a week I noticed my fretting skills on my ring finger and pinky vastly improved.

I concur with everyone else as far as learning a couple core songs and get into that groove. After some time, you will start hitting the pocket on them.

Strongly recommend getting Rocksmith 2014 as well. It really helps quite a bit for beginners. You can get it for gaming consoles and PC but the PC handles the audio much better without the issues of lag like the console do.

Here is a the link for the finger exerciser.
https://www.amazon.com/DAddario-Varigrip-Adjustable-Hand-Exerciser/dp/B001OCGGEM

I have chronic wrist pain from pretty bad injuries (2 broken wrists and many many bad sprains). The only thing that helps/eliminates the pain is keeping them strong (think grip strength).

These help for sure:

Get an adjustable one so you can increase the resistance as you get strong --> https://www.amazon.com/Kootek-Hand-Grip-Strengthener-Adjustable/dp/B01FFS1W3U/ref=sr_1_5?s=sports-and-fitness&ie=UTF8&qid=1525718490&sr=1-5&keywords=grip+strength+trainer

This putty was suggested by my physiotherapist after break #2 --> https://www.amazon.com/Premium-Quality-Therapy-Putty-Exercise/dp/B01BLYNWIU/ref=sr_1_3_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1525718589&sr=8-3&keywords=wrist+putty

Keep them at your desk or somewhere handy so you remember to use them!

What I found worked best for me is things like deadlifts and pull-ups, which require a lot of grip strength.

You should probably be stretching out those calf muscles before you go running. I've seen two podiatrists and a PT and all of them say that I have really tight calf muscles and need to stretch them out. One even recommended a brace you wear at night that pulls your foot in towards your leg to keep it stretched. As a result I use a foot rocker and the stick before I run or swim. I also have a foam roller but don't use that on my calf muscles as it doesn't penetrate as deep as the stick. You may also want to look into more arch support if you have flat arches and inner shin pain. And finally I started doing strength routines before and after running. Go check out strengthrunning.com there are lots and lots of helpful articles on there. I do these lunges listed here and a lot of the post workouts too on the following pages.

Yay!

Also, I just remembered that I'm also fond of hand therapy putty. It comes in one container that has 4 levels of firmness. I keep snack sized zip lock baggies in different places with balls of each color/firmness. It's neat because I can squish it, but also stretch it when I am extra anxious.

FlintRehab Premium Quality Therapy Putty (4 Pack, 3-oz Each) for Hand Exercise Rehab. Fidgeting, and Stress Relief https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01BLYNWIU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apap_I8EM7BnQ6K41E

That depends on if you want to use both, or if you just want the outer one for the look/bulk.

Personally, I like to run a single slit down the entire length of the diaper, then put a couple of Abena stuffers inside it (one in front, one in back). This gives you a lot of flow-through, and the stuffers both add bulk/capacity and help keep the gel in. When taking it off, to avoid having the gel/crystals go everywhere, I only undo the top tapes, then pull down both diapers at once. Other methods I've seen suggested are numerous, shorter vertical slits, or making diagonal cuts in alternating directions.

One that seems to come highly recommended (although I haven't tried it myself) is using a pinwheel to make lots of tiny holes quickly, which is supposed to give lots of flow-through without any risk of spillage; if you're in the US you can get one for under $6, delivered.

Also, regardless of which method you use, it's best to stay away from the edges when making cuts/holes, since that's a recipe for leaks.

I use this one. I haven't used the "string" part too much, but I love the variable tension on each finger. It's made playing guitar a bit easier since I can single out my pinky more.

You have the exact same worst points I have so heres what works for me:

Rolled up blanket under neck while sleeping, make sure your shoulders don't roll forward, it creates those knots and leads to what is called a muskulo-skeletal migrain. Be careful how you position your head and neck throughout your daily tasks. and then there is this:
http://www.amazon.com/Tens-Handheld-Electronic-Pulse-Massager/dp/B007TOJ948/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1406267293&sr=8-1&keywords=tens+unit
It is a LIFESAVER for muscle pain.

For the knees, do you brace? See an orthopedic to check out your ankle and knee alignment. We are like cars, we have to get that checked from time to time ;)

If you have any other questions feel free. I have learned alot since being diagnosed over a decade ago, and though we are all different, those are my big problems too. There is hope!

As someone who had to come off all birth control and hormones to come back to my kill-an-elephant-cramps every month there are two things that helped immediately:


Women's multivitamin

TENS unit

The multivitamin helps keep your vital vitamins and minerals at a good level when periods tend to use them up quickly.

I also bought this TENS unit for when cramps and pain come surging during shark week. Small, easy to use, cheap, a powerful lil life saver as I work on my feet for 8 hours bending and lifting.

As everybody has said so far — practice will resolve this. It took me a couple months to get G & E chords down ever time.

Also, get a finger specific hand exerciser to build up you’re grip. I use this one:

D'Addario Varigrip Adjustable Hand Exerciser https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001OCGGEM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_rEn0AbWZ69SVJ

https://www.amazon.com/Premium-Quality-Therapy-Putty-Exercise/dp/B01BLYNWIU/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?keywords=theraputty+for+hand&qid=1574548807&sprefix=theraput&sr=8-3


https://patienteducation.osumc.edu/Documents/thra-put.pdf

This should do the trick! Also make sure your scapula is stabilized, that can effect hand coordination more than you might realize.

Also strengthen your forearm.


https://prohealthsys.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/MM-SS-Wrist-Hand.pdf

And STRETCH after every strengthening session!! Tightness = weakness

Interesting. Personally, I don't have a problem with any regular bends on my 17w G string (except on frets 1, 2, and 3) and I play on a 28.6" neck, so the tension is higher. I just went to my guitar and tried just to double check that I wasn't talking out of my ass. If you really want to get into playing with a wound third string, perhaps pick up a finger strengthener like this. If not, then don't sweat it

Ofcourse. Also night one of these. Gripmaster Hand Exerciser Green, XX-Light Tension (1.5-Pounds per Finger) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002HOOGWU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_oB8gzb0E5RATK

Good luck. Hopefully you can ease some of your pain.

I recently bought a portable TENS unit from Amazon for $27 - it's been an amazing purchase so far and really helps with my bone and joint issues.

Here's a link if you want to give it a try: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00O7CM12W/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_RmOFxbHST306X

Could just be repetitive motion injury. I have had that before, but it goes away after a while. Do activities that will strengthen your wrist and move your tendons around. Something like the power ball might help out. You can even use it at work.

If you pick when you're anxious I would strongly recommend a fidget toy, like tangle toys or the fidget cube.

I started using one of these and it helped me immensely because I could fidget with that instead of picking my nails.

They are pretty cheap so it's a great place to start even if it might not work for you

Sure. I have been using the following:

One of these on my cocks (cannot fit the second around my balls as shown):

Electro Penis Rings for TENS Unit Devices, Estim Electrosex Toys Electro Penis Loop Sex Products Electric Massager Accessories (1 pair) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B078Q848JF?ref=yo_pop_ma_swf

Something like this (not exactly what I use but you get my drift) around the base of my cocks and balls like a cock ring as shown...electrode contact under my sac (not using urethral insert...not my thing)

https://www.boyzshop.com/estim-cock-and-ball-strap-and-urethral-insert_5104.html

Sometimes add in a couple small TENS pads, one on each of my balls

This TENS device

FDA cleared HealthmateForever YK15AB TENS unit Electronic Pulse Massager Tennis Elbow,Carpal Tunnel Syndrome,Arthritis, Bursitis,and other Inflammation Ailments Patent No.USD723178S https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00O7CM12W?ref=yo_pop_ma_swf

I find that overall my glans tingles with increased sensitivity for hours after use. Have had a couple of hands-free orgasms since I have started playing with estim. Have been having difficulty coming during sex with wife but last night I had no issue! ;-)

Mine usually start in my upper back and go up to my neck and then cause a headache from the muscle tightness. I've used a tens unit and a neck/shoulder massager from Amazon. I don't know how to reddit so I can't post the link... if I figure it out I will edit. Research tens units before you use them because they can cause nerve damage if used too long or you use it too often. Those have the things that have worked for me. Also yoga with Adriene (because my tension is in my shoulders and neck region) good luck mate. Hope you find some relief soon.

It's a two part epoxy that says it's for sculpting minis, but I have used it as gap fill for years and it is great. I also used it to sculpt hair on a few minis after shaving their hats off. You can vary the resin and hardener ratio for something that looks more organic or more mechanical. Hardens in about an hour or two, faster if I put it next to the heater. One package has lasted me 10 years of filling gaps in joints mostly. I also started to use it under the feet of models that don't have a ton of flat surface area to hold them to their bases.

https://www.amazon.com/Kraftmark-Company-PROC-3-ProCreate-Putty/dp/B00DE4YU2S/

I love my TENS unit! It's electro shock therapy and my pain management specialist got me hooked. It's honestly better than my medication at times and it shouldn't be bad for your little bun on board. Disclaimer: i'm neither pregnant nor have I done any research about pregnancy and TENS units so you'd want to err on the safe side, but it's at least worth looking into. Mine's been a life saver.

This is the one I have. I've tried several, both more expensive, and less eastern-medicine-y, and for whatever reason, this one gives me life.

https://www.amazon.com/HealthmateForever-Electronic-Arthritis-Inflammation-No-USD723178S/dp/B00O7CM12W/ref=pd_lpo_121_bs_t_2?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=3CZSFB47VKE4EE00XQ6

Maybe look into TENS units? Looks like mixed opinions on google if you can or cannot use it during pregnancy. I would think that near your neck would be okay? Obviously check with your doctor.

Something like this:
https://smile.amazon.com/HealthmateForever-Electronic-Arthritis-Inflammation-No-USD723178S/dp/B00O7CM12W/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1526781390&sr=1-1-spons&keywords=tens+unit&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071JL6PYZ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_xaKVCbBRD0XNQ

This makes extension stronger basically glorified rubber band except it doesn’t slide all over the place as your fingers move.

http://www.amazon.com/Lifetime-HealthmateForever-Electrotherapy-Electronic-Management/dp/B00O7CM12W/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1450155928&sr=8-2&keywords=healthmateforever

This is my favorite one, long battery life, and good power, plus 8 hook ups

I actually really like the new Depends Protections. They are really soft and don't chafe my legs. Plus, they make a great doubler if you cut holes in them using a wartenburg pinwheel. Get one here http://www.amazon.com/North-Coast-Medical-Wartenburg-Stainless/dp/B0052ZW010/ref=as_sl_pc_qf_sp_asin_til?tag=simpthetrutfi-20&linkCode=w00&linkId=CUNSIUD4Y2KUMPEU&creativeASIN=B0052ZW010

I bought ones like these. I have the 60-80lb ones, almost wish I had gotten heavier, but these will work. I like them.

Frequent stand up and walk around breaks are good. The new fitbits and stuff can remind you to get up and work as well. I rock climb so my back tends to be a lot stronger than most programmers.

However, I took a break when my finger was a bit injured and after moving a ton of furniture I tweaked my back the following day- resulting in a painful and boring (painfully boring?) two days.

I generally utilize these things http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CTG3TQU every now and then as well. Climbing (and programming 12 hours a day) can actually cause carpal tunnel, so it's doubly important for me to get my fingers strengthened.

One other thing I would suggest is to get a little peddler for under your desk, like this: http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B002VWK09Q/ref=pd_aw_sim_sg_8?pi=SL500_SS115.

You aren't going to get a real workout, but just keeping your legs moving when you are stuck at your desk for 12 hours will help your circulation and make you feel less like a lump.

I was having trouble with grip strength in my left hand for traveling rings. I thought it was a problem with my left grip (ie. the gymnastics grip thing with dowel that protects your hands) for the longest time, like maybe it wasn't tight enough or something.. but then I realized no, my hand/forearm is just weaker on the left side than the right.

​

I had one of those rubber donut grip strength things (like this) in the house, so I just kept it by my desk and picked it up and squeezed it every now and then throughout the day for a few weeks. It worked :)

I got this one from Amazon. It has decent reviews and a lot of options. I've only used it a few times, but it was very nice.

Get a fidget toy! The medication does help with it for sure, but I also use one of these (Tangle Toy). It is quiet, you can do it under a desk, not distracting others, and it provides tactile stimulation.

Look around on Amazon they also have therapy putty and many other similar items.

Shredneck, possibly may work for you.

Maybe one of these as well: www.amazon.com/DAddario-Varigrip-Adjustable-Hand-Exerciser/dp/B001OCGGEM - D'Addario Varigrip Adjustable Hand Exerciser

https://www.amazon.com/DAddario-Exerciser-Improve-Dexterity-Comfortable-Conditioning/dp/B001OCGGEM

You can use this thing if you're at work or away from your bass and can't practice. But practice is best.

looks like this one would fit you then. Maybe....

https://www.amazon.com/Abilitations-Dynamic-Movement-BodySox-X-Large/dp/B0042SR680/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1496514900&sr=8-1&keywords=adult+body+sock

Have you tried using a foot rocker? It's a great way to stretch your calves, and it worked well for my achilles issues.

Also, do you do any strength training? Adding some calf workouts (once the pain has subsided) could also prevent the injury from reoccurring.

I thought I read saxophonist in a different comment. Sorry about that! Regardless this is the sort of thing I'm talking about!

Have fun!

Would something like this work? https://www.amazon.com/HealthmateForever-Handheld-Electrotherapy-Electronic-Management/dp/B00O7CM12W

​

Or something else on amazon?

Procreate: http://amazon.com/dp/B00DE4YU2S

Procreate cures differently depending on the mix ratio (there is a chart in the packaging). It is what most customizers use for long hair. It is pricey, but worth it for when you need something flexible.

I highly recommend a TENS unit. It's used in physical therapy and really helped my SI joint/hip pain. This is the one I use and it's great because it has so many attachments you can really get the hip from all sides.

I have adjustable clutch and brake levers. Not sure about the latter though.

I used to play bass, maybe that's why. Get one of these into your workout procedure...

https://www.amazon.com/DAddario-Varigrip-Adjustable-Hand-Exerciser/dp/B001OCGGEM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1494037776&sr=8-1&keywords=guitar+strength+trainer

Used to use something like this all the time.

balls of steel?
here you go champ:
https://www.amazon.com/Top-Stainless-Baoding-Non-Chiming-Exercise/dp/B077HYV5WC/ref=sr_1_6_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1535884935&sr=8-6&keywords=steel+balls

Ginger, teleport, vignette, play timed sessions and stop BEFORE you feel “funny” and do this every day, get a tms kit on amazon and run it below your palm while you play : amazon, use the natural locomotion app on steam, take breaks, ginger tea, Benadryl

link

I generally only use it as it flares up. The muscle contraction works like a pump to help with blood flow and promote healing.

No, I would not recommend it as a preventative measure. A better preventative measure would be constant posture work, specifically the lower traps, proper mobility and rest. The bicep tendon flares up due to the shoulder being out of alignment, so simply using a stim machine on it would be to ignore the structural issues that lead to it in the first place.

Silly putty, fidget spinner/cube, hand grip exerciser (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002HOOGWU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_78oXzbPQ9A11P)

D'Addario Varigrip Adjustable Hand Exerciser https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001OCGGEM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_npQszb34KPQ3R

I have, this one. It worked well for me.

At US$150 It's definitely more expensive than a simpler model like this one at US$24, but the extra cost goes to making it quiet, which is a must if you're using it in cubicle land.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00O7CM12W tens

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01M58WHGU butt-trode

I do hope I get some info on this soon, or when I try it I may

Tens

Up

I found one of the foot rockers at Goodwill. I use it when I wake up and go to bed. I’m still healling, but I think it’s helping.
foot rocker

there I just saved you $200

I bought this one:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007TOJ948/ref=psdc_11312453011_t3_B00LOUW1WU

Most mornings my neck/nerve thing is agitated so I do about 15-30 minutes with it on and my neck feels good to go for the rest of the day basically.

It's essentially a massage but being given by electrical impulses. So you can literally feel your muscles tensing and relaxing to the electrical voltages being applied.

For 25$ it really is a gamechanger.

Use this thing EVERY day and you will end up with monster hand/wrist/forearm strength in a few months:

http://www.amazon.com/Dynaflex-Sports-Plus-Wrist-Exerciser/dp/B000LRE01M/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1407519747&sr=8-2&keywords=dynaflex

I have abnormally strong hands from years of various martial arts and that thing kicks my ass when I try to push it hard.

Can you use something like this or this?

try something like this when you start to feel it flaring up

Have you considered picking up a hobby like knitting? /r/knitting has several stories of people using knitting to wean themselves off of other things to do with hands.

Alternately, carry around a hand puzzle thing.

Something like this might help you; put it on a table and pedal quickly with your arms.

http://www.amazon.com/Drive-Medical-Exerciser-Attractive-Silver/dp/B002VWK09Q/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1377041762&sr=8-2&keywords=hand+pedals

Maybe try and get something like this.

These Baoding balls work for me. It draws my attention to my hands and is rhythmic and soothing.

My kid is the same age with the same mental ability but she isn’t blind here are some things that she likes and I think can work when being blind

tangle , there are many versions that feels different.

Koosh balls , my kid has one on the zipper of her favorite hoodie.

You might want to check around for rubber or silicone grippers

they're a lot of fun, they range in difficulty. I found them in sport stores at ~7-15€, and recently even in a pharmacy for 4€ (~5$).

This might help
I broke my right arm just below the shoulder and of course I'm right handed and have spasticity on that side. This definitely helped strengthen it and you could work on doing it in motions to a metronome or a song.

If you're having pain after just walking, seeing a doctor should be your first priority. After that, a bike (stationary or "real") may be a good option for a non-impact alternative. If a bike is too spendy (check yardsales) you could try something like this.

I use these: Handmaster Plus 3 Piece Physical Therapy Hand Exerciser (Colours May Vary) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CTG3TQU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_95N2BbHQEXTCK

Does the same thing but also works out the closing action in a less intensive way.

Magnesium supplements helped me a lot with muscle tension. My electrolytes get out of whack.

Also a TENS unit helps when I'm just completely knotted up and can't get to a massage therapist. It basically massages your muscles by subjecting them to mild electric shock. My husband thinks I'm nuts but I like how it feels.

I got this one from Amazon.

Normally I'd say practicing those scales is the best finger exercise that money can buy, but if you're having trouble playing the notes cleanly with the 4th finger, it kinda defeats the purpose.

Your case might be the rare time I'd recommend one of those grip training devices.

Guitar Gripper

If you want any use out of the second layer, then yes cut slits / holes / etc in the first one.

Here's the pinwheel tool /u/PaddedCthulhu was talking about

Btw, in case anyone hasn't heard of these, they are great for (my) pain and especially recent injuries.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00O7CM12W/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Maybe a tens unit? FDA cleared HealthmateForever YK15AB TENS unit Electronic Pulse Massager Tennis Elbow,Carpal Tunnel Syndrome,Arthritis, Bursitis,and other Inflammation Ailments Patent No.USD723178S https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00O7CM12W/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_zlqFAb26TXP3A

that's where mine was. I bought those grip things that go on your fingers and it fixed me up and has not bothered me in a long time

https://smile.amazon.com/Airisland-Stretcher-Resistance-Exerciser-Strengthener/dp/B071JL6PYZ/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1509543262&sr=8-5&keywords=finger+strengthener

5

I recommend this awesome tens unit. I ordered it awhile back and it really helps take the edge off my pain and my husband's sore back. I think everyone should have one and this baby is a bargain for its features. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00O7CM12W/ref=cm_sw_r_other_awd_RWCQwbEVN4SBC

you can just get something like this instead of a full bike.

It's not a shitty idea but unless you're pedaling really hard it's not really that much exertion/exercise.

Are we talking about the same thing? Mine is is a remote control with pads you stick onto yourself. Electronic Pulse

GO PROOOOO

I have this one! https://www.amazon.com/HealthmateForever-Connector-Portable-Handheld-Healthmateforever/dp/B00K6LPSJG/ref=sr_1_4_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1474719459&sr=8-4&keywords=healthmate+forever

https://www.amazon.com/Lifetime-HealthmateForever-Electrotherapy-Electronic-Management/dp/B00O7CM12W/ref=sr_1_2_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1469210905&sr=8-2&keywords=tens

https://www.amazon.com/Tens-Unit-Machine-Management-Rehabilitation/dp/B00NCRE4GO/ref=sr_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1469210905&sr=8-1&keywords=tens

Why doesn't this exist? Does it exist? I'm going to go Google it.

EDIT: Would you use this?

Dynaflex?

They make little peddlers (like this one) that she could use while still sitting on the side of the bed.

It takes awhile and takes a lot of practice to build your fingers and arms. Your teacher is probably not concerned at the moment, because you are still learning your strings and notes. As the songs become more complicated and you are moving across the strings more, it will pointed out more.

As for the tiredness, I'd try a handgrip exerciser.

Tens unit: Billabong de los hombres Wave... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00O7CM12W?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

Bee pollen: Stakich BEE POLLEN GRANULES 1 lb... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001LQXU8Q?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

These are nice

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001OCGGEM/?tag=051-20

https://www.amazon.com/DAddario-Varigrip-Adjustable-Hand-Exerciser/dp/B001OCGGEM

Here is the one I have. Has a callous builder/maintainer too:
http://www.amazon.com/Planet-Waves-Varigrip-Adjustable-Exerciser/dp/B001OCGGEM/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1421865333&sr=8-6&keywords=finger+strength

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071JL6PYZ/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=finger+bands&psc=1&qid=1571742854&sr=8-3

This is what he means

Nicotine replacement - Sprays, patches or mints and buy a Tangle to keep your hands busy. Worked for me.

http://www.amazon.com/Tangle-Creations-300-Therapy-by/dp/B000F8I5AE/ref=cm_lmf_tit_26_rsrsrs0

The standalone pedals are probably the cheapest and most logical purchase.

http://www.amazon.com/Drive-Medical-Exerciser-Attractive-Silver/dp/B002VWK09Q

http://www.amazon.com/Planet-Waves-Varigrip-Adjustable-Exerciser/dp/B001OCGGEM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1375732909&sr=8-1&keywords=varigrip

Buy in the UK

I get this occasionally and it is always form related, usually about a few miles into a run. Slow down, evaluate what your feet are actually doing and adjust accordingly. For me that generally means pointing my toes out so I distribute the weight on the ball of my foot differently when I land.

As far as stretches go, use stairs or a ledge to do heel drops or buy one of these

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00O7CM12W/ref=ya_aw_oh_bia_dp?ie=UTF8&psc=1 I also have a portable tens unit called omron that I keep in my purse https://www.target.com/p/omron-electrotherapy-tens-pain-relief-device/-/A-14898718?ref=tgt_adv_XS000000&AFID=google_pla_df&CPNG=PLA_Health+Beauty+Shopping&adgroup=SC_Health+Beauty&LID=700000001170770pgs&network=g&device=m&location=9014904&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIuay_0Y7d1wIVULjACh1JDw9PEAQYAiABEgJvWfD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

This helped me: http://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B001OCGGEM

I've had this one for 5 years: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007TOJ948/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

According to the reviews on Amazon, not too great. There's another one on there for about the same price that has much higher reviews. Hold on, I have it on my wishlist. Here

You may want to crosspost this to /r/CompulsiveSkinPicking or /r/calmhands - there's a lot of really helpful people in those groups.

But if you don't want to do that, my biggest suggestion is getting some fidget toys. These have helped me and a number of my friends who I've given them to who have skin or cuticle picking problems. My hands are really small so I actually prefer the Tangle Jr., however. Between using that and getting rid of the skin problems through advice from here, I've almost eliminated my CSP on my face (still have problems with my scalp, but Rome wasn't built in a day etc.)

I have one and I love it! I recommend that you don’t pick one that’s marketed to women for periods, but instead choose one for generic pain.
I have this one and there’s a $2 off coupon for it on Amazon

I have been dealing with achilles issues for the past year or so. For me, the stretches in the link you posted didn't help much, but a foot rocker did. You also need to rest for a while. It sucks, but resting and stretching are essential. If these don't work, I would go to your doctor to make sure you don't have a major tear in the achilles.

TENs machine is a crap-shoot, sometimes it helps, others not so much. There is a decent TENs unit on Amazon for <$30

I finished a Prednisone course last week, and I am just this moment having to use it again, the back pain is flaring up. I have several discs that are 'obliterated', complicated by diabetic neuropathy and DDS.

tl;dr - be smart, gets lots of opinions, read up, listen to your body, don't let the problems compound, don't let silly small issues distract you.

Honestly, I find that plantar fasciitis is a rather mysterious injury. So many people have all this authoritive sounding advice, but from what I've gathered, causes and solutions vary quite a bit.

What seems universally applicable, though, is that you need to stretch. All the time. I use a Foot Rocker that I stand on at work all day long. I have a standing desk (well, I and three other coworkers each have this thing on top of a regular desk and use it for my monitors, keyboard and mouse), and I stand on the foot rocker as much as possible, one foot on top of it, the other underneath pulling up to stretch until I can really feel it.

I keep a Lacrosse ball in the freezer, then stand on it to break up any knotted tissue or whatever the heck it does.

I've used KT tape, but I'm not entirely convinced that it's effective (the tape isn't all too cheap, if you get into it, you'd want to buy in bulk somewhere). However, I do feel that when I run without it, the pain flares up quite a bit. Not while running, afterwards (or next day).

The foot specialist I saw got me a night splint, but I found it to be utter crap. It's cumbersome, it's not effective, and half the time I wake up in the morning without wearing, because I likely tore it off in my sleep (because it's really uncomfortable).

I'd imagine (I haven't used it) that this thing works better, because it actually pulls your toes up in the front and really stretches your plantar fascia.

One of the girls I run with said they make a sock to wear at night, so I bought it. It's called the Strassburg Sock, and I actually really like it. I've used it on and off for the last 2 or so months, and it does help.

The last month I've run in custom orthotics (they scan in your feet and create custom moulds), and they seem to help as well. I tried reading up on how and why, and although I can't find the link right now, interestingly enough, an article mentioned that in a high percentage of cases it works, but we don't exactly know why. I'm a software engineer. I want to know and address root causes, not applying band-aid after band-aid down the pipeline that incorrectly and often less effectively patches or just masks the problem. But I guess "we just don't really know", which explains all those elusively vague answers that I'm getting in my own research.

Do plenty of research, read up on stuff. You'll see all kinds of advice. Some is good, some is irrelevant. You'll hear everything from "just dont run for a while" to "you might need surgery for bone spurs and/or months of recovery."

I've had plantar fasciitis twice:

1. I only started running last year. Religiously. Kicked it off with a 5K race at 28:00 min and was quite unhappy with that. Ran my ass off, battled finding the right shoe so I could run more than 4 miles without blistering up, but eventually my wide, high arch, pronounced heel found something that worked. Discovered forefoot running (it's amazing, like running on springs!), overdid it on the first go, and bam, plantar fasciitis, right foot. It was insanely bad. Super swollen, I thought I shattered my heel. I took two weeks off, and continued to take small breaks, but essentially ran through it after that. It was gone after 2-1/2 months. Mostly because it was just a simple inflammation; I overdid it, the plantar fascia was damaged from overstressing it, I let it heal, done. case closed. I ran the same 5K event a year later and had a time of 20:43 min.
   
2. I added P90X and weights this year (January). In mid-March or so, I got plantar fasciitis in my left foot. But it didn't just hit me. It slowly faded in over a week or three. I've been battling it ever since and actually run very little compared to what I normally put in. The doctor mentioned it's (in part) because I have a high arch, and my foot doesn't 'roll off' as easily. Kind of makes sense I guess, I'm not very flexible anyway, my muscles and ligaments are like piano strings. Anyway, so after that consultation with the recommendation that I don't run I did the only logical thing: I ran a half marathon and made a conscious effort to roll off more on the outside of my feet. It worked kind of, because it didn't flare up nearly as much as I thought it would/should (I ran 13.8 miles, normally I can feel it after a 5K), on the other hand, the next day my patella tendon hurt. Runner's knee, maybe? FML. The pain slowly faded away. Stretching and putting weight on my foot no longer hurts, but pushing right into the hot spot with my thumb is still noticable. I do, however, have a Spartan Beast coming up in October, and I needed to step it up. So, last ditch effort (ha) and i'm just running through all these silly ailments.
   
   The main thing is to listen to your body. Don't just blindly ignore problems, but don't feel like you can't do anything either. Plantar fasciitis is an inflammation. Generally that also means that you've probably torn some kind of tissue, there, so that needs to heal, but the question is still why you did that? There are all kinds of schools of thought on that out there. From tight calf muscles to neck problems (yes, really, similar to how a tail bone injury could affect shoulder pain, seems weird, but the body does seem to want to balance things out one way or another).

I find something like this helps a lot with my pain, however temporarily.

https://www.amazon.com/HealthmateForever-Electronic-Arthritis-Inflammation-No-USD723178S/dp/B00O7CM12W/ref=sr_1_10_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1479415617&sr=8-10&keywords=electric+shock

If you don’t have it already get a stim: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00O7CM12W/ref=mp_s_a_1_3_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1526325843&sr=8-3&keywords=stim&dpPl=1&dpID=414kaFW0s%2BL&ref=plSrch . It’s been an absolute god send for shoulders, neck, ankle... I’m a broken person.

I can relate to this! I probably have more weird coping mechanisms than I am aware of, but one that I didn’t expect to work the way it did was to use a TENS unit at night - Somehow the electronic zaps to my muscles are effective in quieting my brain and relaxing me. It even makes me fall asleep a lot of times, which is revolutionary for me because literally no medication I’ve ever tried causes me to fall asleep (and I’ve tried 15+ types of meds for this). I have a very stubborn and deeply rooted sleep refusal problem when it is nighttime.

If you don’t know what a TENS is and want to check it out, this link is to the device I use.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00O7CM12W/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_c_api_5cnDAbJ5QXKRV

have you tried a recumbent bike? or what about one of those "pedal bike" sets that's basically pedals on a frame that you can set in front of a chair?
The latter is something that you could set however you find comfortable, or could use as a "handbike" alternatively - meaning you could hold the pedals with your hands with the thing sitting on a table and "pedal" it with your upper body.

What about therabands? you can purchase those online as well, and loop around a doorknob, pillar, etc for a tie point, or make a loop and do various exercises where you need a loop of elastic for resistance.

You can also use soup cans, a small bag of rice, and things like that for light weights to do exercises with. You'll of course want to make sure you medically can do so, but there are a lot of decent youtube videos done by physical therapists with exercises for different issues like sciatica etc, for various stretches etc. make sure a doctor says you can do these, or you've been through therapy and know that you can do them, you can hurt yourself without being sure you are physically okay do do the exercises

you can try /r/loseit for weight loss ideas... but the only thing I can say is that calories input have to drop for weight loss to work. I've kept 40lbs off... but it's a fight. I backslide a few pounds from time to time... but fight to get rid of them again....I try to aim for 1500 calories a day... and I'm realistic....I'm not going to be able to completely avoid junk food, so I don't... I aim to be honest with myself that I want it, and just count it towards that limit... and to not give up trying to limit the junk to small amounts!

If you want someone to just chat with for encouragement, you're welcome to message me. I'm still fighting with the scale too!

[not a bad deal] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00O7CM12W/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1)

I got mine on Amazon. They aren't great, mostly meant for the old and infirm. But it does burn an extra calorie or so a minute. And I was working 12 hour days. So I probably biked 3-6 hours a day. So 180-360 calories. Even felt it the next day.

the idea was "When I worked at Wal-Mart all I did was walk. for 9 hours a day, and I lost weight eating crap. How can I replicate that slow pace at a desk job."

I will say this: It required a strange sitting position for me, other wise I would have used it more often.

I've got the same concern/question. I've always wondered about these things: One and Two - this one looks a little weird.


Obviously you wouldn't burn a TON... but what does loseit think about 'em? I'm stuck at my desk at work for 8 (if I'm lucky), 10 (usually), and sometimes 12+ hrs a day, and most of the time my sweatpants and couch are WAY more appealing than the gym. I know I'm not going to be successful without working out, I'm just looking for alternatives/options for those really shitty weeks that I really don't have a spare second to breath, let alone a few hours for working out.

One of these- you would stick the patch on the dead spot and crank the current until the muscles fire.

Yeah, that's how it works. There's a part of you holding on to all the fear, anxiety, rage, sadness or whatever so that the rest of you can function, but that part needs time in the body to express and release those emotions. Meditation will help you tap into that alter, and help calm it down a bit, but also possibly get in contact with it and offer alternatives to cutting. Get creative. What is it about cutting that alter finds therapeutic? Most cutters I know are in emotional pain, and like to cut because it gives them a sense of control over when/how that pain can manifest, so for each cut there's also a release of pent-up emotion at the same time. Sometimes it can even be a sexual feeling, if the abuse was sexual, that's where a lot of BDSM play originates from. So try to figure out what that alter gets from cutting, and then get really creative to let it keep getting that but in safe ways.

For example, here's a crazy idea that just might work: Get a TENS unit (http://amzn.to/2FudNZY), basically it's a therapeutic electric shock machine used to relieve pain in muscles, but when used by a cutter they can turn the intensity to maximum and when they have control of the on/off switch, get a similar sensation to cutting with the right pulse pattern but no damage. You can even get a pinwheel attachment so you can simulate the action and the pain response of cutting without any damage: (http://amzn.to/2CHqi1h).

Good luck to you!

Also if you don’t have a tens unit already you should absolutely get one!!! My doctor says commercially available ones are safe to use (check with yours maybe anyway) and they are cheap!

This is the one I have
FDA cleared OTC HealthmateForever YK15AB TENS unit with 4 outputs, apply 8 pads at the same time, 15 modes Handheld Electrotherapy device | Electronic Pulse Massager for Electrotherapy Pain Management -- Pain Relief Therapy : Chosen by Sufferers of Tennis Elbow, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Arthritis, Bursitis, Tendonitis, Plantar Fasciitis, Sciatica, Back Pain, Fibromyalgia, Shin Splints, Neuropathy and other Inflammation Ailments Patent No. USD723178S https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00O7CM12W/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_B1wGDb2GF95KC

Oof. You really know how to get pain across in writing I'll give you that. Neck pain can absolutely come from stress and posture. You say light exercise and stretching don't help but if it is a muscle/nerve/joint weakness perhaps light isn't enough to build any significant muscle.


When my mom had severe neck pain I couldn't help her out as much as I wanted. but I bought her one of these and it really helped her. She'd put it on 30 minutes to an hour a day and got rid of her knot in a few weeks.

The most concerning thing would be the teeth grinding though. It's absolutely awful for your teeth, can cause headaches, chronic facial pain, and possible neck pain. It's that bad for you. Try a nightly mouth guard if you can.

Have had sciatica off an on for close to two decades.
where is your pain?

my pain points are in the right outer hip and right butt. when it shoots the pain goes across my lower back and sometimes can feel pain in my lower abdomen. When I walk down stairs or put weight on my right leg it feels like I'm going collapse as there's no strength. standing out of bed or leaning over 1/2 way is pain. additional symptoms are extreme tightness in my right calve and hamstring.

Haven't got it officially diagnosed, but have had my back X-rayed the day after a massive attack. No visible problems in the disc, other than normal arthritis for my age. Last two years it has come on around November, after the long summer. Summers I tend to do a lot of bike riding down the beach (20 mile bike rides). My theory is my legs (thighs & hamstrings) along with calves become too tight from being overworked. they pull on butt cause my lower back to become weak. combined with an office job sitting in a chair that pinches sciatic nerve that shots to the outer hip. it's a multiple combo problem that takes usually about 3 months+ to unwind.

things that I try to do to relieve the pain:

1 - yoga

2 - massages. if can't get a masseuse regularly try getting a Tens device on Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00O7CM12W/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

3 - ibuprofen. I haven't got into prescription pain meds, I hate how they make me feel depressed. Aleve can be tough on your stomach. it makes me shit blood so I stick with Ibuprofen

4 - this has been the most effective of nearly everything. Get an old T-shirt. fold it vertically to about 5 inches wide. roll it into a ball. wrap it in tape. lay on the floor. stuff the rolled up t-shirt under you butt. lay there for at least a 1/2 hr. can watch tv doing it. some people say doing it with tennis balls, but that's not dense enough to get the blood flowing. or golf balls people say, but those don't cover enough surface area. Move the ball around occasionally. getting to the outer hip is tough but can be done.

5 - foam rollers. they can work somewhat but the t-shirt ball is more effective on a deep massage. i have this one and like it over the smooth surface type of rollers as the little nobs can get to tight muscle knots https://www.gaiam.com/products/05-61793_2

6 - acupuncture. I did it 2 years ago about 2 months into the pain & tightness. two sessions and I really didn't see any improvement. but then 2 months later I had the most insane shooting nerve experience up S1/S2 nerve. It literally dropped me to the floor. Don't know if was directly from the acupuncture session, but it was scarier than shit. the shooting nerve literally cracked my back right in the pelvis.

7 - core exercises. your lower body is overworked. need to balance out the body with core strength. most effective for me is while doing yoga.

since you've already had a doctor visit, get him to write you a PT prescription. I haven't tried a chiropractor yet. been thinking about it as have a couple decent recommendations.