Binding Problems
Binding can cause serious health problems, including migraines, trapped nerves in the back, and costochondritis
I have been diagnosed with the first two as a result of binding, and a friend with the third. This isn’t “binding damages” scaremongering – it’s just a note that it’s not always good for you and can lead to diagnosable health problems
I’ve not been lucky with binding, I’ve had a catalogue of painful symptoms, and eventually my boyfriend dragged me to a private physiotherapist. He worked with the following problems that I have been experiencing:
*Persistent headaches only marginally relieved by painkillers
*Feeling of hypersensitivity on the scalp
*Ache in the dorsal area and cervical area
The headaches have persisted over months, on and off and have been accompanied by severe pain down one side of my neck, and in my face and eye. They come and go, somewhat alleviated by the removal of my binder. Painkillers, of various strengths have done little, only removing the pain enough to allow me to sleep, which has helped rather more than the painkillers did! This has been because sleep was an extended period without my binder in which my back could relax.
The feeling of hypersensitivity on my scalp led to me feeling unable to touch the top of my head, because it has been so painful, and it has been somewhat soft to the touch. The physiotherapist identified this as being due to the binding increasing pressure in my head, which was (I suspect) the cause of blinding migraines I’ve experienced on occasion. I’m waiting to find out if migraine medications will actually work for these, but if, as I believe, it is the binding, they probably won’t. (Update: they work a little but the migraines only occur when I’ve been binding too much)
The ache in the dorsal and cervical areas are caused by the binder pressing on my back and neck, making everything hurt, simple really!
The physio recommended anti inflammatory medication, but very little was effective – it turned out that binding had caused a trapped nerve in my back somewhere, which was what was causing all the pain! He is writing a letter to the doctors at Charing Cross to detail the problems I’ve experienced as a result of binding, so hopefully that will speed up the process of me having access to top surgery. Meanwhile, he did manage to do some wonderful work on my back nonetheless, and also helped me with some exercises that might help! Since the video isn’t captioned, and not everyone can see youtube videos anyway, I shall explain them, but also put up videos that might help.
The first is a simple calf stretch. Stand with your legs one pointing forward and the other backwards. Bend the front knee and feel the stretch along your calf. This needs to be done five or so times a day to be really effective. Do it on both legs equally. By relieving tension in your calves, you relieve it as far as your back. Try and do these before putting your binder on, and after taking your binder off, as well as during the day, while binding.
The second is a back stretch, that is rather more complex to explain. Kneel on the floor with your hands clasped above your head and your back as straight as possible, then lean forwards at the hips until your hands are touching the floor. Hold this for about ten seconds. Having tried that, go back to kneeling, and shift your hips to either the left or the right, and go down again. You should feel the stretch down one side of your back. Repeat moving your hips to the other way, and do the same stretch again, holding both sides for another ten seconds. The video should make all this clearer! Try and do these before putting your binder on, after taking your binder off, and midday whilst wearing it. They tend to help stretch the dorsal muscles, which help with the pain there, anyway!