I've got an appointment on the 17th, so I'll see if it pans out. I would imagine that a neurologist may be easier to communicate with than most, since ... It's been hell getting it, since most folks look at a 20-something year old guy saying he has movement problems and chronic pain like he's crazy or seeking drugs. I'll gladly share any insight I may be able to glean, though, when the time comes.
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The Recoil and Noise from the rifle is actually one of the more beneficial aspects. It's a sensory blast that requires discipline to work with in a relaxed, controlled fashion. I also find that the recoil is great exercise for my right side (my shooting side). Of course, proper safety equipment like earplugs and an optional recoil pad are absolutely essential... But they only limit the intensity, not eliminate it. There's a particular kind of mind/body awareness that comes into play when you're supporting a rifle and aiming down the sights; It can point out weakness and instability in the body that one may not have noticed before. There's good reason for teaching basic awareness meditation in US Army sniper training... And they certainly do.
Also of particular importance in marksmanship is breath, posture, and muscle tension... In order to shoot with accuracy and consistency, the shooter must be in perfect union with his rifle. The rifle must be held properly in its sling, and the body must support the rifle in perfect form, and at perfect aim with no tension whatsoever... It can be quite a challenge to learn for some. This is called "
Natural Point of Aim" in Marksmanship, and there's a lot of information out there on it; from the esoteric to the rudimentary.
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You know... One thing I always found odd is that we share many symptoms and approaches, but when it comes to the real movement of tension we seem to use opposite methods: Although I could sit and move tension around in waves and patterns for hours (and used to at the start), I rarely if ever do any more. Now I sit and allow the tension and energy to ripple around unimpeded. Then, when I perceive an opportunity to free a locked up area or assist in the motions, I use massage and muscle control to physically alter the structure of my body through flexing and cracking.... Basically, I wait until an atrophied or isolated muscle group is vulnerable, and then move straight through the obstacle in a cascade of cracks, crunches and wild sensation. It hurts like hell, but it's
not a negative or worrying pain... It's just the pain of the tissue being worked free of their musculoskeletal prison.
Playing with waves or letting them slowly flow and work things free takes WAY too long, and it's the time it takes this process to unfold that really kills me. I'll do all the work it takes and endure whatever pain there may be in order to get through this ASAP... It's the constant exhaustion that slowly takes its toll on my mind, so who knows how long it'll be until my judgement is severely compromised... One day closer to my first real night of long sought-after sleep is one less opportunity to lose my marbles before I can get better. And I need that sleep YESTERDAY!
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In regard to the pants thing, It wasn't really a suggestion... Rather, it was an example of how making a small change in my lifestyle made a huge impact on my healing. I simply had never known how much my belt line had messed up my hips, until I started using suspenders and my hips responded.
I wear heavy, high wasted work pants and often carry tools in them; so they tend to put pressure on my hips at the beltline.... But I imagine that most Americans don't do this every day so it may not be useful as a literal suggestion. But maybe you could abstract it into something relevant to your life? Maybe some sock suspenders might help your arches, who knows! :lol: