Keep A Stiff Upper....Back

As I have written about before, personal injury is something that I have seen from both sides.

The injury I received is something I still struggle with today. I have leftover muscle spasms in my shoulder and back that has caused me distress over the years and has gotten much worse with age.

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Specifically, if I overuse my left shoulder or left arm (something that is done more quickly than you would imagine as a writer), my rhomboid muscles will spasm and stiffen up, and no more moving for me until ice, heat, a muscle relaxer, and rest are applied.  So, I can literally tell when I have been working too long because I won't be able to turn my neck.

It's a thing.

According to the Summit Medical Group: 

"WHAT IS A RHOMBOID STRAIN OR SPASM?

The rhomboid muscles in your upper back connect the inner edges of your shoulder blades to your spine. A rhomboid strain is a stretch or tear of these muscles. A rhomboid spasm is a sudden tightening of the muscle that you cannot control.

WHAT IS THE CAUSE?

A rhomboid muscle strain or spasm is usually caused by overuse of your shoulder and arm. This can happen from:

Overhead activities, like serving a tennis ball or reaching to put objects on a high shelf, rowing, carrying a heavy backpack (especially if you carry it over just one shoulder), and poor posture (especially while you are using a computer for a long time).

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS?

A strain causes pain in the upper back between your shoulder blade and your spine. A spasm feels like a knot or tightness in the muscle. You may have pain when you move your shoulders or when you breathe."

It's lots of fun.

This, of course, exacerbated the whiplash that I received in my accident. Even with the excellent health care and knowledge that I did have, it is something that will stay with me forever. 

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 According to The Hunter Law Group, P.A.:

"Permanent injuries, significant disfigurement or scarring, and enduring loss of important bodily functions all qualify as cause for legal action in the event of an automobile accident. Family members can also sue on a victim’s behalf in cases of death.

Compensation can also include economic damages, such as reduced future income, loss of appraised value to real property, and construction repairs." 

Considering that at the time and now, I absolutely do make my living sitting for long stretches of time in front of a computer which can trigger my rhomboid muscles to spasm, I was incredibly lucky to be able to have as much help as I did, legally and medically.

I can only imagine how bad off I would be if I hadn't.

Have you suffered a personal injury? What have you done to overcome it and do you still suffer because of it? Tell me about it in the comments below!