12 Comments
Jun 22, 2023Liked by Paul Ingraham

Way late on this one, but two very similar stories to these: for some years I had hip pain, often bad enough to disturb sleep, that felt like it was in the joint. Took part in a charity run and had to stop after 50 yards because my hip was getting more and more painful with each step - along with an odd sensation of "ratcheting" tighter. That sensation made me think of muscle/ligament/tendon, so I limped home and did lots of massage on your "perfect spots" on my hip and also lower back - about half an hour straight away and then on and off all the rest of the afternoon (I got stiff every time I sat down). Went to bed expecting to have to do it again the next day, but woke up basically pain free. But the really amazing thing was that I realised some weeks later that the long standing hip pain was just gone - and it's never come back. More recently I had an intense inner knee pain, that disappeared after massaging a (shockingly tender) line down the outside of my thigh - also as advised by you, so I have much to thank you for!

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Oct 20, 2022Liked by Paul Ingraham

I'd say my pain is pretty effin crampy.

hEDS dx helps me make sense of this—ligaments are loose, so muscles overexert themselves to stabilize what's inherently loose.

The finger pain for me, I figure fingers are a good place for oxalates to try to lodge. Not sure why they like to hit the phalanges.

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Aug 10, 2022Liked by Paul Ingraham

Hi Paul, spasms and cramps are my nicknames. The way you describe your stupid life sounds almost exactly like my stupid life. I must have about 25 weird symptoms, not kidding.

I wonder what you think about this - I’ve had this fibromyalgia, CFS, disregulated nervous system whatever problem for 8 stupid years. I’m sure there is something I haven’t tried but I’d be surprised.

But, but….about 4 months ago I started working with a woman who does several modalities, but mostly tp stuff with balls unlike my giant basket full. I was at the point of being unable to walk more than 3 houses down the street and now I can most of the day! The fatigue keeps me from that but there is no pain. Her thing is that one has to start at the bottom and work up in a certain sequence. She says I can release my STUPID shoulders , or anything else all day but they all keep coming back because stuff below is tight, etc. I’m up to my lower back and I haven’t found one muscle that didn’t need work. Whadda think?

I’ve been following you for years and my heart goes out to you.

With hope,

Jody Eastman

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Aug 10, 2022Liked by Paul Ingraham

Yes! In my own 'Try Everything' journey after my back injury, I found your book 'Pain Science,' in which you recommend finding a massage therapist who uses the 'big red book.' I kept putting it off, saying out loud to anyone who would listen to me complain, that I had a broken back, not a sore muscle and not amount of rubbing would fix that. But I was able to find an orthopedic massage therapist, who had trained as a physical therapist. She wanted to see my x-rays and MRI's and then proceeded to 'unknot' everything on my body. Unbelievably, I saw her three times a week (!) for over three months. The relief was microscopic on a daily level, but a cumulative miracle. I continue to see her to this day, ten years later, and she keeps me upright and walking without pain. Keep with it!

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interesting! which part of your hip were you massaging? I wonder if it was TFL / ITB connection or more in the gluteal region? Hope the pain stays away :-)

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