It's a little-known fact that pain can be caused by the simple choices we make every day. From the shoes we wear to the technological gadgets that we play with, each can cause pain given time.
For example, most men carry a wallet with them. I know that I have had a wallet since the age of 12 and I have always carried it in the back left-hand pocket of my pants. When I was younger it didn't really bother me because it was mostly empty. However, as I got older, my wallet got fatter. No, it didn't get fatter with cash. Unfortunately, I kept stacks of receipts, notes and business cards in it.
Over time, this created an imbalance in my pelvis from years of sitting on a wallet. This led to shooting pains down my leg because it compressed and irritated my sciatic nerve day after day until the pain became quite severe. Soon I needed medical help and I need to make changes in the way I carried my cash and personal receipts.
Ladies, you aren't exempt from this repetitive strain either. I've seen some of you carry huge bags and purses and if you stop to think of it, you might realize that you have been carrying your purse on the same shoulder year after year since those childhood days when you started to play "dress up" with your mother's clothes. Before you know it you begin to have aches and pain in your shoulders or between your shoulder blades. For some women this type of repetitive strain can cause tension headaches, too.
Yes, massage therapy, stretching, and regular exercise can help reduce your pain. However, if the repetitive actions aren't modified, the pain will return. So, the simple solution for men carrying wallets is to simply remove the wallet when you're seated or learned to carry your items in the front pocket or in your jacket. For women, alternating which side you carry your bag and possibly lightening the weight of its contents can help, too.
Lastly, I want to leave you with a word of caution. You should seek your doctors advice about pain immediately if you have chest pain, or severe headache combined with a stiff neck. These could be signs of a heart attack, stroke, or severe thrombosis. Also, any chronic pain (pain lasting more than a week) should also be evaluated by your doctor; especially if it is accompanied by weakness or numbness.
