I'm hoping to reconstruct the great list of suggestions, tips and helps we had before.
All the old basic stuff and any new things you can add.
If you found a good product or tool tell about it & maybe add a link that shows it.
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For self triggerpoint work -
there are many tools out there, I used the pressure pointer and tennis balls. They have a nice chart for upperbody sx & TrPs.
link- http://www.pressurepointer.com/

Acupressure for RSI - http://altmedicine.about.com/library...ressure+points

Get rid of the heavy shoulder bag or purse - use lots of pockets, fanny pack or a backsaver type of small backpack/purse.

from - http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/fact/thr_r...topcategory=Ar
[Ulnar nerve pain-
* Avoid frequent use of the arm with the elbow bent. If you use a computer frequently, make sure that your chair is not too low. Do not rest the elbow on the armrest.

* Avoid leaning on the elbow or putting pressure on the inside of the arm. For example, do not drive with the arm resting on the open window.

* Keep the elbow straight at night when you are sleeping. This can be done by wrapping a towel around the straight elbow, wearing an elbow pad backwards, or using a special brace.]

To see what kind of products & tools are out there- some have info and articles too.
main home page links

http://optp.com/
http://www.promedproducts.com/
http://www.therapyzone.com/
http://www.ptproductsonline.com/

I should add that we need pre and post op surgery tips here too.

I think this will be great to have it all in one place- we can add to it as we think of things.
We can link it into our useful sticky too.

Dimarie's post = supportive "sling"
http://forums.braintalk2.org/showthread.php?t=3252

I would like to add a link to as the basic funamentals of TOS and some of the areas involved as well as some pictures of muscles and involved areas

http://www.nismat.org/ptcor/thoracic_outlet/

Hope this may be of help to some... Mark-n-Goober

Hello! For me, a few things that have helped:

-An adjustable bed...I am getting to the point of being unable to sleep on either side, and having my head raised and putting pillows behind my arms helps so much.

-A strap sewn into my clothing to use for arm support, although I think I'm going to look into the "ergo shoulder support" that Di posted about. It doesn't put any pressure on the neck or shoulder at all.

-I started using a home shop program that my local grocery store offers. For $9.95 I can shop online and they will deliver my groceries right to my very own kitchen! Grocery shopping has been a nightmare for me for years...this has been such a blessing. We also have a Sam's Club that you can shop online with; they will compile all the groceries in carts, and all you have to do is pick them up. I think they have a mail service, also, but you have to pay shipping and that obviously wouldn't work too well for perishables. This is a really nice option for a place like Sam's, since almost everything comes in large, heavy packages.

-I received a lot of good advice last year on the old board for remodeling...the things I have found the most helpful have been slide out drawers in my kitchen cupboards, single handle faucets, lever door handles, and crank-style windows in place of sliders or double-hung. We still ended up with a sliding door (my husband likes them!) that I wish we had traded out for swinging doors...it can be pretty hard to slide sometimes. We may replace it one of these days. Still trying to figure out where to put the hot tub

I'm sure I'll think of more, but can't type anymore. I have several pages of self-care tips that were archived on the old board...I can copy them here somewhere, but would someone please tell me where you want them?

Thanks!

Donna

* another tip about sam's *

they will help you load your car too. i do my weekly ordering online for all the clubs supplies, plus stuff for home. they are always very helpful. now if i could just get them to follow me home...

these tips are great. i hope others will come and see this. ( spinal injurry....)

Curious I have a few places that I go,and they carry items out to my van for me, though being a guy, I feel quite embarrased to have it done. Also having my wife carrying stuff for me, I feel very ashamed. With the last job I had, I pulled hoses around that weighed in excess of 200lbs with no problem and now....... I also hate driving at one time I drove Tractor Trailer over the road and to do 700 miles in a day was no problem, now I do about 15 and feel like I did 700! I think most places will give you a hand if you ask them!!

i'm sorry mark.

being a wife of a very proud and strong man i understand. it's hard to change roles. orin my case ask for help with the things i have always done. ( yes...i was a very strong woman, having worked out for 20 years)

i bought garbage cans on wheels. use a hand truck when movong things around in the garage. i even have a small grocery carrier on wheels to help me bring them in the house.

Mark, I know what you mean...a lot of the carry out clerks around here are older women. It is embarrassing to follow them out (they're old enough to be MY mom, and I'm a grandma!) and watch them load your groceries, when you don't "look" sick. Plus, I've had my children (back when I was still going to the grocery store) yell, "No, Mom, don't do that!" when I was reaching for something heavy or on a high shelf. I knew they were protecting me (from myself ), but to the casual observer, all they knew was I had mouthy, obnoxious children! My husband does the same...won't let me open doors or pick things up (thankfully!), etc...I have to fight the feeling of being "useless", but for the most part I am thankful that they understand and care.

Donna

Donna - on your pages of info -
You can add them here if you want, or make a new thread and place a link to it here or in the useful sticky.

I can also relate the having to have stores and store employees help with carrying and loading the cart and/or the car....

In a few circumstances I have had the employees act a bit rude when I ask for help since I don't look sick. I look like a 'healthy' 30-something, so I used to get store employees that would roll their eyes at each other or act a bit rude to me when I asked for help.

But now I don't have that problem at all anymore.... because when I go shopping I put on one of my wrist braces, or my shoulder stabilizer, or something visible.

This does 2 things for me -

1. it's helps me to remember to be cautious and helps me remember to ask for help... it's very hard to lift anything heavy when I have a wrist or shoulder brace on.

2. it gives the store employees a visual. They get to see why I need help, and so they become more than happy to offer help or to give help when I ask.