Just a few short years ago, the first port of call for any medical problem would be your Doctor, with perhaps a glance into a medical encyclopaedia first. These days, before seeking professional help, it's common practice to try some 'self-help' first and trawl the internet to see how other people have tackled the same problem and if you've been missing anything in terms of medication or exercise techniques.
I suffered a trapped nerve in my neck around six months ago and went first to the Doctor who prescribed an anti-depressant (I'm not depressed, but they apparently relax the nerves). When that failed, I started with a private chiropractor. He detected some issues with my spine and over a period of some weeks, pushed and prodded me back into shape. The trapped nerve, however, persisted. I eventually wound up with an NHS physiotherapist and some weeks later, was given the all clear.
Two weeks ago, the exact same thing recurred. The pain at night is intense, so I searched the internet to try and find something that might help relieve the problem. That's when I found the Trigger Point Grid Foam Roller at Amazon. The price struck me as fairly high, but the reviews were so positive and I was so desperate for help, that I was willing to try anything if I thought it might offer me some relief. When I first opened the package, I will admit to being slightly underwhelmed. The product is basically a rigid plastic cylinder, wrapped in a foam grid and my initial reaction was that £35 seemed a lot of money for such a simple looking product. Not that it's unattractive – the product is all in black with the inside of the plastic tube coloured bright green. The foam outer is in the form of a grid, with raised areas and channels running between them. It is apparently the channels that allow more blood flow when exercising and thus speed up any recovery.
The first time I used it, I concentrated on the back and neck. I simply put the roller on the floor, laid on top of it and then rolled it underneath me, up and down my spine. The roller is very firm and at times, could actually be described as slightly painful, but the interesting thing was that I could feel and hear vertebrae 'clicking' back into place, which is exactly what any chiropractor would do. When I'd finished, my back was tingling all over, as if I'd had a really good massage. It was at this point that I knew I'd made the right purchase. At £35, the cost is exactly the same as a 15 minute session with my chiropractor and when viewed in that light, the price suddenly starts to look much more reasonable. I'm not suggesting for one minute that this product should replace sound medical advice, but in terms of self-help, I think it's outstanding.
I'm now using the roller every couple of days and although my trapped nerve hasn't quite disappeared, it is much better. My spine also feels much stronger and as someone who has suffered back pain in the past, I'm in no doubt that used regularly, this will help to keep my back in good order. I've also been using it on my shoulders, by lying on it slightly to one side and working the areas in the same way as the back, and also as a warm down after playing squash, by running my calves and thighs over the roller which definitely reduces stiffness the following day.
You don't need to be an athlete to use the Trigger Point Grid Foam Roller, but you do need some core strength to raise your body off the floor with the roller underneath your back and to then use your legs to power your body up and down the roller. Before buying, I'd suggest watching the YouTube videos that are available to determine that it's going to be suitable for you.
I'm hugely impressed with the Trigger Point Grid Foam Roller. It's one of those products that just does what it claims to do and also one you can't truly appreciate until you've tried it for a period of time. It feels extremely well made and I would expect it to last me for a number of years. Even with my full body weight on the roller, it feels incredibly strong and secure. I'm just so glad I found it. My chiropractor may feel differently.
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