{"id":867,"date":"2019-08-16T04:42:20","date_gmt":"2019-08-16T09:42:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lindagorchels.com\/blogs\/?p=867"},"modified":"2019-08-13T16:56:29","modified_gmt":"2019-08-13T21:56:29","slug":"life-is-a-pain-in-the-gluteus-maximus","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lindagorchels.com\/blogs\/life-is-a-pain-in-the-gluteus-maximus\/","title":{"rendered":"Life is a Pain in the Gluteus Maximus"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Or a pain in the back, or the shoulder, or the head\u2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s face it. Pain happens. We all experience it, whether\nit be physical, emotional or spiritual. Every day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The question is, how do you deal with it?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Well-being isn\u2019t the absence of aches and pains. Rather it\u2019s an effort to effectively cope. And to acknowledge that there are options beyond reaching for the nearest painkiller or drug. Here are some alternatives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Get moving, but do it with care<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As you get into your thirties, forties and beyond, physical\nflexibility changes. Muscles and ligaments are tighter, joints are stiffer. That\u2019s\nwhy it\u2019s even more important to keep blood circulating. Staying active is key. Strengthening\nand loosening joint muscles takes the pressure off the bones and joints,\nlessening pain. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While I consider yoga as a go-to for flexibility, weight\ntraining can also be helpful. However, soreness\nmay occur<\/a> if exercise is improperly done. Start by warming up the muscles. Progress\nreasonably, adding appropriate weights and maintaining good form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Regardless of the activity you engage in, don\u2019t forget to stretch after\nexercising<\/a>. It\u2019s a priority. Period. Include quadriceps, hamstrings, glutes,\nchest, triceps and shoulders, and core and back. Stretching warm muscles can\nimprove flexibility, reducing the potential for knots, trigger points, and injury.\nWhile studies are inconclusive whether cool-down stretching can reduce muscle\nsoreness, it doesn\u2019t hurt. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pay attention to the source of aches and pains<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When you have pain, try to identify the root cause. Is your\nknee pain the result of overextending as you squat, incorrect lifting posture,\nor organic aging? Is your headache caused by stress, a food trigger, or a neck\ncramp? Do your feet hurt from improperly fitting shoes, a running injury, or\nwearing high-heeled shoes? Diagnosing the cause is the first step to healing.\nUntil you address the origin of the pain, it will keep coming back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here’s a very specific example, but it\u2019s top of the mind for\nme. I do a lot of writing and may spend too much time sitting at my computer.\nOver the past few months, I experienced increasing pain down the back of my\nleg. I assumed it was sciatica (a condition associated with bulging or\nherniated discs in the back). I tried heat and ice remedies. I considered\nacupuncture and chiropractic options.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But then I realized I had no back pain\u2014just the proverbial\npain-in-the-butt (or more precisely, in the piriformis muscle in the buttock). The\nspasming of this muscle puts pressure on the sciatic nerve, mimicking the pain\nof sciatica. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I found many sources of information about piriformis\nsyndrome<\/a>. While I had always been doing the recommended stretches as part\nof yoga, I didn\u2019t notice the hard mass in the piriformis muscle that was\ncausing the pain. I began to use a foam roller on the knot and experienced a\nlessening of the spasm. This happened only because I paid attention to the fact\nthat the pain came from a muscle rather than from my back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Make choices to avoid future pain<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Take your diet for example. You can choose to eat foods that\nare healthy or unhealthy (or somewhere in-between). You already know the drill.\n Sugary items contribute to diabetes and\nobesity. Too much salt can raise blood pressure. Leafy, green vegetables (think\nkale and arugula) are good sources of calcium. Fresh is better than processed.\nBut knowing without following through is not enough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Perhaps you can trick your mind into making better choices?\nTrain your brain to feel guilty about bad food choices. Remind yourself about\nthe negative consequences of improper eating. Teach yourself about healthy\nfoods and their contribution to your well-being. Don\u2019t store unwholesome items\nin your house. Avoid dieting that results in inconsistent eating habits. Drink\nmore water, especially with food to increase absorption so it doesn\u2019t just pass\nthrough you. Keep healthy options at your desk or within reach when you expect\nstressful weeks. Be mindful of what and how much you\u2019re eating. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Words matter<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Photo by meo from Pexels<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Whether you are talking to yourself or to others, words matter. Negative self-talk about your aches and pains reinforces the discomfort you feel. Telling others about your miseries not only pushes them away, it also conditions you to think in pessimistic terms. Rather than harping on \u201cwhat could go wrong,\u201d consider \u201cwhat could go right?\u201d What you say\u2014aloud or in silence–brainwashes your mind and your behavior. Embrace an attitude that aches are temporary and can make you stronger. Divert your gloominess by focusing on gratitude<\/a>. Your well-being depends on it. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Or a pain in the back, or the shoulder, or the head\u2026. Let\u2019s face it. Pain happens. We all experience it, whether it be physical, emotional or spiritual. Every day. The question is, how do you deal with it? Well-being… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[14],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-867","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-health-and-well-being"],"yoast_head":"\nLife is a Pain in the Gluteus Maximus - Linda Gorchels blogs<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Well-being isn\u2019t the absence of aches and pains. But here are options beyond reaching for the nearest painkiller or drug. 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