Tendon/ligament take a long time to heal, if you decide to heal this through your own means, do your very best not to cause any stress in that region, the slightest damage will further prolong it's heal rate significantly. The reason for this is because of the type of tissue ligaments are made out of, they get very little blood supply, which means very little nutrients and oxygen flowing (oxygen is very important to healing). Assuming the damage was extensive, I don't mean that you should take it easy for a few weeks, a few months is probably more appropriate.

If you want to make sure that your ligament heals properly, or if you injure it again and are concerned about scar tissue building up, the best option is to go to a Physical Therapist. If you have health insurance, see what physical therapists will accept it, or go to your doctor and have him/her recommend who is best to go to.

Trust me on this, ligament/tendon injuries are not something you want to take lightly. It is said, and true, that it is better off that you break bones (have far better blood supply), before spraining ligament/tendons.

Being hunched over the computer for significant amount of time can and probably will lead to extensive cervical lordosis(neck elongated forward) and or thoracic kyphosis (hunched mid back), which is poor posture for your spine, and the hunched shoulders will lead to gradual tightening of the chest muscles.

I personally recommend going to a P.T. even if it turns out to be bull, make sure that it healed the "proper" way, and then start your own regiment of light stretches and exercises to prevent this from happening in the future.

You're right about the rest. After only a few days I am already feeling much better. Avoided performing the "maneuver" and most other forms of exercise. I think that part is the most difficult for me, since I'm usually very active, especially during the weekends.

Thanks again for your feedback.

Once you're healed, you may want to consider strengthening your back and core muscles to help your posture.

Yoga or pillates can help a lot. They work muscles that can help keep you upright-- not to mention body position and posture is a huge part of yoga, so no matter what you'll be a little more aware of how you are sitting or standing.

You can also pair any yoga or pillates with mild weight training to strengthen your back muscles.

You're absolutely right. Yoga is excellent for this kind of stuff. I noticed that since I started exercising my back, it has been much easier to maintain an upright posture... if I remember. hehe...

Thanks for the reminder btw
I was slouching like a programmer.

It's hard not to slouch!
Even as I was typing I noticed how awful my posture is too, but it's getting better since I've started working out again.

I seem to have graduated from the typical posture of a programmer (eye squint and all) to this lazy, semi-slanted-in-my-chair kind of slouch.

It's a start!

Yup, hope things are going good for you.

Just remember though, absence of pain does not equal full recovery. On a microscopic level, your tendon/ligament will probably still have micro tears which will take longer to heal that how you are feeling.

Feeling much better, thanks guys... tho the slouching continues

You have that right...all I have is legiment/tondon issues... I have a connective tissue disorder and I would have to agree 100% with that statement.

I am glad to hear you are feeling better danielv I know how irretating it can be. I sound like a rice crispies advert with all the "Snap, Crackle & Pop" that goes on when I stretch

LOL. You're right! it did in fact sound like a couple of giant rice cripsies

Ouch, a connective tissue disorder doesn't sound like fun. What is that called (out of curiosity)?

Thank you all again. I haven't stretched since, and will do my best to avoid it for as long as possible.

Oh - also today is day 6 of not smoking. Feels very good, like actually breathing!

Daniel

Hi Daniel

Glad to hear about the smoking! Keep it up! I tried quiting, but my colleges complained I was too tempermental without it

The connective tissue disorder is Marfan's Syndrome

Keep Well