Could a Banana Help My Painful Shoulder Cramp?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around a participant's painful shoulder cramp, exploring potential remedies and causes. The conversation includes suggestions for immediate relief, possible underlying issues, and personal experiences related to similar pain.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Meta-discussion

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests that a banana might help due to potassium levels, while another agrees that it is harmless to try.
  • Multiple participants recommend getting a massage and applying heat to the affected area.
  • There is uncertainty about whether the pain is due to a muscle cramp or a more serious issue like a tear or ligament damage, with suggestions to be cautious about stretching if it is the latter.
  • Some participants mention the importance of seeing a health professional if the pain persists.
  • One participant shares their experience with similar pain and notes that it often resolves on its own.
  • Another participant discusses the potential for swelling and the need to differentiate between ice and heat treatments based on that observation.
  • Several participants share personal anecdotes about dealing with similar shoulder pain, including the effectiveness of stretching and the impact of sleeping positions.
  • Humor is present in the conversation, with light-hearted exchanges about remedies and personal experiences.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the potential benefits of heat application and massage, but there is no consensus on the exact nature of the pain or the best course of action. Multiple competing views remain regarding the underlying cause and appropriate treatment methods.

Contextual Notes

Some participants express uncertainty about the specific nature of the pain, whether it is a muscle cramp or something more serious, and the discussion includes various suggestions that depend on individual experiences and assumptions.

Who May Find This Useful

Individuals experiencing similar shoulder pain or muscle cramps, as well as those interested in informal discussions about home remedies and personal experiences related to muscle discomfort.

  • #31
one time I turned to look over my shoulder and got stuck. I couldn't turn my head because every time I tried I got an exploding, burning pain in my neck. I spent two days with my chin on my shoulder. unable to look forward. It sucked
 
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  • #32
You should have sex. You'll forget about your pains and woes. I'm sure some of us could help you with that too.
 
  • #33
Mk said:
You should have sex. You'll forget about your pains and woes. I'm sure some of us could help you with that too.
Wow. Rico Suave. :smile:
 
  • #34
tribdog said:
one time I turned to look over my shoulder and got stuck. I couldn't turn my head because every time I tried I got an exploding, burning pain in my neck. I spent two days with my chin on my shoulder. unable to look forward. It sucked
Ouch! I sympathize! Must have been hell walking around like that. Did you have to walk sideways?

Mk said:
You should have sex. You'll forget about your pains and woes. I'm sure some of us could help you with that too.
I'm.. I'm.. at a loss for words. :redface:
 
  • #35
p.s. Jeff, the hot/cold treatment seemed to give me some relief, although the treatment was almost worse than the ailment! I thought for a moment maybe you made that up just as a practical joke!
 
  • #36
hypnagogue said:
Wow. Rico Suave. :smile:
I thought the same thing. This guy's some kind of serious lady killer.
 
  • #37
Math, I have some vicadin left over from when I had my tooth pulled. I just wish they'd get those star trek transporters invented so I could beam it to you.
 
  • #38
Math Is Hard said:
Ouch! I sympathize! Must have been hell walking around like that. Did you have to walk sideways?
I sort of do anyway.
 
  • #39
Are you feeling better yet tonight? If it's not getting better, see a doctor tomorrow (sorry, I'm teaching med students this semester, so am prone to thinking of things like referred pain from more serious problems, which it probably isn't, but I can't help from coming to mind). I did wake up with some horrid crick in my neck once like that...I was a teen at the time, and just moving my head the slightest sent shooting pains through my neck, and raising my arm to brush my hair nearly brought me to tears. I don't know what I did, but it was excruciating (never before or since then have I experience something so painful), but then it was just gone again when I woke up the next day. Hopefully, whatever you've done to yourself goes away as quickly too.

Low potassium levels can cause muscle cramping, but usually you'll first experience that in the legs. Nothing wrong with eating a banana anyway, but if your potassium levels were so low as to be causing muscle cramping, a banana isn't going to be enough to correct it...and it would be good reason to see a doctor to check that out. Unless you are on some crazy diet that might be depriving you of nutrients, you'd want to know why your potassium was too low (it is a side effect of some high blood pressure medications, if you're on any...if so, it would be wise to get that checked; the doctor can give you potassium supplements or possibly change your prescription if that's the problem).
 
  • #40
tribdog said:
I sort of do anyway.
You should have been
a pair of ragged claws
scuttling across the floors of silent seas.
 
  • #41
don't be such a pain in the neck, Moonbear.
Actually I just had my blood pressure checked. I've always been down at the bottom of the scale. very low, but healthy low. I registered high this time. it was something like 130 over 80 or 90. Am I going to die?
 
  • #42
Moonbear said:
Nothing wrong with eating a banana anyway...
Careful what you advise. We're talking about the woman who nearly took her eye out with a piece of paper. No telling what damage she could do with a banana.
 
  • #43
Foreign rectal objects can be a problem.
 
  • #44
Mk said:
Foreign rectal objects can be a problem.
Spoken like a true foreign rectal object.
 
  • #45
That reminds me... is Talk Like A Pirate Day only once a year? That doesn't seem nearly often enough. Maybe there should be a whole series of Talk Like A [...] days.

Talk Like A Carny Day
Talk Like A Leprechaun Day
Talk Like A Politician Day
Talk Like A Mime Day
Talk Like A Wino Day
Talk Like A Television Evangelist Day
Talk Like A British Guy Who Wears An Ascot With His Silk Robe While Smoking His Pipe Day

Just an idea.
 
  • #46
zoobyshoe said:
Careful what you advise. We're talking about the woman who nearly took her eye out with a piece of paper. No telling what damage she could do with a banana.
:smile: I never thought of a banana as dangerous before...well, maybe if we let tribdog near it...and as long as she was eating it and not...:blushing: Never mind.
 
  • #47
Here I was with pedestrian comic visions of her slipping on the peel...now I wish I hadn't said anything.
 
  • #48
I was thinking more along the lines of poking herself in the eye with it. does the p in pf stand for perversions?
 
  • #49
I seem to be fine today. It only feel a little bit of soreness if I have to look waaayy over my shoulder. It's funny how sleeping in a weird position can cause that much of a problem.
 
  • #50
Math Is Hard said:
I seem to be fine today. It only feel a little bit of soreness if I have to look waaayy over my shoulder. It's funny how sleeping in a weird position can cause that much of a problem.
Glad to hear that you're feeling better today.
 
  • #51
Math Is Hard said:
I seem to be fine today. It only feel a little bit of soreness if I have to look waaayy over my shoulder. It's funny how sleeping in a weird position can cause that much of a problem.
Glad to hear it. When this happens to me it tends to linger painfully for a couple weeks. I also have no idea how it gets triggered. All I know is I wake up in pain. Hope yours is completely gone soon.
 
  • #52
Thanks, y'all. I blame the cat. She was hogging the bed and I was trying to sleep around her. It's my own fault for giving her all those table scraps.
http://z.about.com/d/urbanlegends/1/0/R/8/large_cat1.jpg
 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • #53
Math Is Hard said:
Thanks, y'all. I blame the cat. She was hogging the bed and I was trying to sleep around her. It's my own fault for giving her all those table scraps.
http://z.about.com/d/urbanlegends/1/0/R/8/large_cat1.jpg
[/URL]
My God, Math. The way you just heft that beast up! You're as strong as a zoobie!
 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • #54
Wow, MIH, what ate your cat?
 
  • #55
I think that might actually be a small zooby that I'm hefting. Look at those big ol' feet!
 

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