Aches and pains

Joined: 01 Feb 2008 Posts: 497

How do you all handle the aches and pains of working at Lowe's? I go through spurts where I'm pain-free and then suddenly my muscles are tight. Any suggestions? What works for you to relieve sore achy muscles?

Joined: 18 Jul 2008 Posts: 143 Location: Region 1

A fifth of Jack Daniels hidden at the customer service desk.

Joined: 01 Feb 2008 Posts: 497

Thanks for the levity but I am serious about finding out what works for most of you.

Joined: 18 Jul 2008 Posts: 143 Location: Region 1

Aleve, or just plain aspirin. If you take Aleve, I suggest not just when your muscles hurt or begin to hurt, but you should begin a regimen of Aleve 2x a day so that it remains at a constant level in your system. Works great for me.

Joined: 19 Oct 2003 Posts: 2801

2 Days off works for me! Thumbs Up

Joined: 18 Jul 2008 Posts: 143 Location: Region 1

Joined: 15 May 2005 Posts: 82 Location: Georgia

Joined: 24 Feb 2009 Posts: 7

For me, I find one of those $200 "Special Massages" at the local Asian Massage Parlor does the trick. Rock on!

Joined: 01 Feb 2008 Posts: 497

Oldyeller, I'm just wondering why the former tl position person and the specialist are allowed to remain in appliances if they can't do the job functions? Isn't that a coveted job in your store? So while you're on the op working your butt off these other two gympie people are earning spiffs?

Joined: 15 May 2005 Posts: 82 Location: Georgia

Joined: 13 Mar 2005 Posts: 464

Sorry I don't have a better answer for you but I just deal with it mostly.

Last year I had to have surgery on my left shoulder, thought it was a torn rotator cuff but luckily for me it was just impingement of the shoulder and adhesive encapsulitis. I was out of work for a month for recovery and while I was out I ended up in the hospital due to a bleeding ulcer in my stomach.

So, now due to the ulcer problem, there are some over-the-counter medications that I can not take and I still have problems with my shoulder, especially on days when we have a lot of freight or I do a lot of heavy lifting and moving (which is just about every day of the week Wink

).

Good, comfortable shoes are a must, at least that will help your feet, ankles, and legs. Some sort of topical heat rub for sore, aching muscles certainly helps. As I can't take any NSAIDS (Nonsteroidal Antiinflammatory Drugs) there are only a few over-the-counter pain-relievers that I can take and they really don't work all that well, so as I said before I just usually try my best to deal with it but that is very, very hard to do all of the time.

Good luck!!!

Joined: 01 Feb 2008 Posts: 497

Thanks True. I too can't take NSAIDS. You know so many people just say take some Aleve or Motrin. Well, I can't take them at all. Doesn't matter if I eat with them or not. I've done everything with over the counter stuff that I can take. The Tylenol just doesn't cut it. I can't take asprin because it upsets my stomach almost as much as the NSAIDS. I'm going to try a muscle/joint pain relieving patch today. Just to see what's up. If that works wonderful. If not I'm afraid that ice packs and heat packs just aren't feasable while on the clock. Breaks don't lend themselves to being able to lay down with an ice pack on your back.

I try to remain active or as active as possible because if I sit still too long I just get too stiff. I don't know if it is because I'm getting older or if I just am noticing it more now. Stretching is the thing that works the best for me when I'm in lots of back pain. I just have a hard time when I am down on the floor and can't get back up. I need to work on that too.

Joined: 03 Mar 2009 Posts: 2

skibunny, it sounds like you need a massage. a nice hour long relaxing pain releaving massage.

Joined: 19 Oct 2003 Posts: 2801

Joined: 07 Apr 2005 Posts: 216 Location: California

I just thought it was a little funny that a ad banner for the Laser Spine Institute with a "Start Living Pain Free" slogan keeps appearing at the bottom of this thread...