I remember an old Jack Handy joke that went something like, ‘Wouldn't it be funny if the cure for cancer was something like put a croissant on a tractor?’
Yes, Mr Handy, yes it would.
I tried something similar this morning when I realised I was getting a migraine. The pixels came on as I was driving home from the city, having dropped Jane to work. No warning. It was just my turn.
I necked a couple of painkillers when I got home. Just Nurofen. I saved the strong ones in case the headache decided to get really gnarly. And I gave up on the idea of the full day’s work I had planned. I knew there wasn't much point sitting in front of the screen.
Instead, I cleaned my office and changed my working setup to a standing desk. I've been having some issues with lower back pain in the last couple of months, and it doesn't help that I’m a terrible slumper when I sit down to write at my desk. I have a standing desk set up, of course.
I've had one for years.
But I do love a good slump and I just find myself mindlessly defaulting to melting clock mode as soon as my arse hits my office chair.
It me.
I haven't done a complete office cleanup since Covid. There was still a bunch of stuff left over from when I was sharing the space with Jane, including her terrible office chair, which I’ve always hated because it wrecked my entry hallway as I was trying to get it in.
Of course, once you start these things, it's hard to stop. So I dismantled the chair, as well. It took about 2 1/2 hours all up, with a slightly grinding headache, always hanging around, threatening to get worse. When it was done, I decided I’d have some barbecue leftovers for lunch and break my workweek drinking rule by washing it down with a beer. I’ve found that a single beer often takes the serrated edge off a migraine. Don't know why, and it's not as powerful as putting a croissant on a tractor, but it worked for me today. Just about to see if I can get any actual work done this afternoon.
Fwiw, my current job involves hours of sitting in a vehicle, which caused me back pain. Then I was told that if I lie in bed on my back, bring my knees up, and lift my torso at least 20 times, it would help. I now do that daily and no more back pain
I went through a torrid time last year of migraines - after a 20 year haitus, they returned with a vengance, ending up with a couple a week.
Spent a bunch of folding stuff on a specialist physio, who spent three months working on releasing various muscles that - it turns out - were causing these fucking things. Add in some stretches and stuff and.. it's now been over 9 months (touch wood) since my last migraine.
(And, as a lovely side-effect, my neck hasn't felt this good in years)
I've had similar treatment for headaches, not migraines, and the two were different for me, but in any case, I had an osteopath who released the muscles through my neck and shoulders by basically having me lie on his hands, and whatever micromanipulation he was doing did the job. I could feel his fingers shifting every so often, but other than that, nothing, except the day after I'd feel so sore.
I think it's based on the idea that a fascia covers your whole body, so if one muscle is out of whack, it pulls on the fascia and creates 'pain' elsewhere, so for headaches, it's pulling across your scalp.
JB, do you think wine would be a clinical substitute for beer?
Yeah Bowen therapy works on releasing the fascia and getting it to reset and re-hydrate itself. It's usually very gentle and non invasive (can be done through your clothes), but you can feel like you've been hit by a truck the next day, and then feel like a million bucks the day after that once the body's processed everything.
Could we skip the charlatans and knuckle bone throwers and just neck a bottle of wine. I haven't tried this as a cure all yet but it seems to have some scientific backing.
I used to get migraines for years. Found out I was born with cataracts so light is amplified for me (always had crazy good night vision) and staring at a computer screen was fuckin me up. Got some blue light filters added to my glasses and it cleared that shit right up! Also sunnies help a lot when outside.
Update. Managed some screenwriting. It's easier than novel writing when you're a bit fucked.
Fwiw, my current job involves hours of sitting in a vehicle, which caused me back pain. Then I was told that if I lie in bed on my back, bring my knees up, and lift my torso at least 20 times, it would help. I now do that daily and no more back pain
I’m going to try this
I’ve noticed that a cold brew helps with several ailments. It’s truly a miracle medicine.
This strikes me as a win for an otherwise bad day.
I went through a torrid time last year of migraines - after a 20 year haitus, they returned with a vengance, ending up with a couple a week.
Spent a bunch of folding stuff on a specialist physio, who spent three months working on releasing various muscles that - it turns out - were causing these fucking things. Add in some stretches and stuff and.. it's now been over 9 months (touch wood) since my last migraine.
(And, as a lovely side-effect, my neck hasn't felt this good in years)
I’m going to need the name of this miracle worker.
The headache and pain management crew, on Stanley St @ East Brisbane.
https://www.hpmcentre.com.au/
I saw John, but I'm sure any of them would be just as effective.
Grazie
I've had similar treatment for headaches, not migraines, and the two were different for me, but in any case, I had an osteopath who released the muscles through my neck and shoulders by basically having me lie on his hands, and whatever micromanipulation he was doing did the job. I could feel his fingers shifting every so often, but other than that, nothing, except the day after I'd feel so sore.
I think it's based on the idea that a fascia covers your whole body, so if one muscle is out of whack, it pulls on the fascia and creates 'pain' elsewhere, so for headaches, it's pulling across your scalp.
JB, do you think wine would be a clinical substitute for beer?
Ha, nah. Wine sometimes gives me the headache. But there is something about a single beer that really seems to take the edge of it.
Yeah Bowen therapy works on releasing the fascia and getting it to reset and re-hydrate itself. It's usually very gentle and non invasive (can be done through your clothes), but you can feel like you've been hit by a truck the next day, and then feel like a million bucks the day after that once the body's processed everything.
Could we skip the charlatans and knuckle bone throwers and just neck a bottle of wine. I haven't tried this as a cure all yet but it seems to have some scientific backing.
Forgive the easy kill:
To alcohol! The cause of, and answer to, all of life's problems.'
I used to get migraines for years. Found out I was born with cataracts so light is amplified for me (always had crazy good night vision) and staring at a computer screen was fuckin me up. Got some blue light filters added to my glasses and it cleared that shit right up! Also sunnies help a lot when outside.
I use blue light reading glasses at night. I should probably get some made up for my computer work during the day.
John, Would imagine most of your readers these days use ebooks. Nearly all of them now have blue light filters built in - Dave