Gentle soothing vibes to the Buffistas in pain. I can't even imagine. I rarely have any pain and I'm a big baby sissy head when I do. I wish there were clearer solutions and that you didn't have to try so many varieties of therapy to find relief. I'd shoulder a bit of it for you if I could.

Totally this. Although I'm a little afraid of the shouldering part, since see above re big baby sissy head.

So, in the end, I did come into my office today. I realized that I was only putting off lugging the enormous computer back, and who cares how much the cab costs, since I'm not paying for it anyway. Of course my boss didn't come in, since she lives in New Jersey and is flying out of Newark.

Good on Teddy being more like normal.

What happened, ita? If you said, I missed it.

Nothing happened, really. My shoulder/neck have tended to get tense with the migraines, but in the past couple weeks that pain has taken on a life of its own. My masseuse says she thinks it has to do with my trap muscles protecting my rotator cuffs, but who knows? I haven't hit anything in two weeks easy, so I'm not sure what the traps are protecting from.

I finally managed to make it to sleep and then had some wicked nightmares. Grr.

I'm kind of a sartorial mess today. Kept changing my mind about what I was gonna wear so ended up with the purple eyeliner instead of khaki (not really that noticeable, but I KNOW,) brown boots, green and brown plaidish skirt and a black sweater. Which just looks wrong with the boots, I think.

This is why I should stick to routine and not try to think in the morning.

And the skirt needs ironing.

I will take heed of your experience, sarameg, and carefully plan my outfit for today.

Okay, I won't. But I always like to think I will.

I've had the vicious cycle with headaches and neck/shoulder tension that last for days (albeit on a lesser scale). I wish I could tell you a surefire way to break that cycle. Finding a balance between resting the muscles to try to get them to relax and avoiding stiffness is a bitch.

My shoulder/neck have tended to get tense with the migraines, but in the past couple weeks that pain has taken on a life of its own. My masseuse says she thinks it has to do with my trap muscles protecting my rotator cuffs, but who knows?

ita, have you tried a TENS unit?

My pinched nerve (which mostly affects my neck) will also hurt my shoulder and give me headaches. Ice does not help it, at all. Heat helps a little, the collar helps more so (even sleeping with it, when I can bear it). I also go braless when I can (not in public, not at 40, oh no) and wear the shoulder straps a little looser than I ought, when I can't.

Whatever is going on ita, I hope you find the key, soon. You passed "enough" about a year ago.

I also go braless when I can (not in public, not at 40, oh no)

Oh man, I was in a meeting last week with a woman in her 20s (I'm guessing) who was braless, and who REALLY SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN. Those puppies were literally at her waist.

sometimes you see larger women with those little strappy tank tops and you just want to say "honey, no. The shelf bra is for A and possibly B cups. You passed that long ago"