dealing with chronic pain - ThinnerTimes - Gastric Bypass Forum, Lap Band Forum, and Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy Forum

poet_kelly · 06-23-2009, 01:34 PM

I have been dealing with back pain for a while now. For about three months, actually, but only this past week has it been really bad. It was about a 4 or 5 on a scale of 1 to 10, and I could cope with that. Then a week ago it got significantly worse, and now it's a 7 or 8 most of the time. And that's taking pain medication. It gives me trouble sleeping. It makes it hard to do the stuff I have to do every day. I know I'm not the only one dealing with pain issues. So for those of you who have chronic pain, how do you deal with it? 'Cause I'm not dealing so well right now.

Kelly

Dawnelle · 06-24-2009, 01:05 AM

This sounds crazy bit, I ignore it and self hypnosis. I have chronic back pain and have Reflux sympathetic distrophy in my left ankle and leg, I also have lived in severe pain since childhood so I am real good at IGNORING it. Sorry wish I could help

Josephine · 06-24-2009, 01:42 AM

We don't deal with it. We just do our best everyday I guess. Here are my tips.

1) Always take your medication on time. Letting it build up to unbearable is when I tend to cry and panic and feel like my throat is closing up.
2) Consider dropping the pain pills. After 3 years of oxycontin, I've been off of them for about 5 weeks now and I feel I can deal better with just the leg and lower back pain much easier than trying to deal with that PLUS the daily cravings and aches from my body cause it wanted more pain medication.
3) Staying away from the computer for a couple days straight ALWAYS helps my pain levels.
4) 10-15 min walk.
5) Hot cup of berry tea.
6) Bubble bath. Relaxation really helps your body.
7) Self hypnosis techniques.
8) I keep weed around for emergencies. It works and it brings relaxation and calmness without dependency or addiction issues.
9) Nature... I like to play with my pets or sit by the water and feed bread to the ducks. I'll just sit out there in the grass, enjoying the sun and being TRULY grateful for all I've been given... the pain just fades into the background. I'm not talking about being "grateful" for your family and friends and house and car and job. I'm talking about FINALLY seeing the world in all its splendor and being G R A T E F U L for all of it. It's hard to get to the place I'm talking about unless you know where you're going, but a good way to practise getting there is to think of something you do a few times a day... stick your hands in your pocket... brush your teeth.. something like that.. everytime you do that activity.. think of 2 or 3 things you're grateful for.. and not the same things all the time.. That might help you get a bit closer to where you want to be.
10) THIS ONE IS THE MOST IMPORTANT TOOL I HAVE. My mind! The power of positive thinking is PHENOMENAL in helping to deal with the chronic pain. I'd say since discovering this tool 10 weeks ago, my life has changed dramatically in more areas than just the pain. I just relax, like laying on my bed on my back.. stretch out long... and repeat in my mind, "I am happy, healthy, and healed. I am happy, healthy, and healed." I always do this with the biggest smile on my face. You gotta fake that at first but it's a CRUCIAL step. Now imagine yourself healthy.. running around.. hiking.. Picture yourself healed. Picture yourself at your goal weight.. without pain. Do this not as if you are dreaming up some fantasy but more like this is your reality. You are not GOING TO BE healthy.. you ARE HEALTHY HAPPY AND HEALED! If you do this 2 or 3 times a day.. I GUARANTEE YOU that your pain will reduce greatly. It -really- works. REALLY. I'd say my pain has gone from a 10 on a 1-10 scale to about a 2 or 3 on a good day.
11) Don't think about pain, don't talk about pain, don't focus on the pain. You're only giving energy to it which is nonsense because you are HAPPY HEALTHY AND HEALED!

Most important thing to remember is that all we are is what we think and feel. Change what you're thinking about and how you're feeling and you can change your entire life.

NikkiJoT · 06-24-2009, 09:22 AM

My chronic pain is in the upper back/neck/shoulders region - not sure about yours - is it muscle or ??

My pain level is just like yours. Usually a 4-5 level, but has decided the week of surgery to jump to a 7-8. I have muscle relaxers to take, but try to avoid them because I can't sip 64 oz of water if I'm laid out in bed the whole day!!

I have been icing and heating 2-3 times a day and putting icy hot on to get some relief. I am going to try the thermacare heat wrap today to see if it's helpful. A hot shower and stretching has helped as well. Do you have a spouse or someone who can massage the area for you?

I have not been to the chiropractor for a month and the doc said i had to wait a month after surgery, so i should be in some good pain for another couple weeks! So I'm with ya!!!

poet_kelly · 06-24-2009, 09:25 AM

Mine is in my lower back. I had an MRI last week and they said I have a compressed disc. Sometimes I have muscle spasms, the rest of the time it just hurts. If I sit for very long, it feels like it is putting too much pressure on my back. It's a sharp pain when I move. Sometimes it goes down my legs to about my knees. I'm actually feeling a little better this morning, so maybe it's going back to usual ache.

Kelly

NikkiJoT · 06-24-2009, 09:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by poet_kelly

Mine is in my lower back. I had an MRI last week and they said I have a compressed disc. Sometimes I have muscle spasms, the rest of the time it just hurts. If I sit for very long, it feels like it is putting too much pressure on my back. It's a sharp pain when I move. Sometimes it goes down my legs to about my knees. I'm actually feeling a little better this morning, so maybe it's going back to usual ache.

Kelly

Well, let's hope so!! That is a tough one....I hope you start to feel better and better, though!! Hang in there!!!

Lana · 06-24-2009, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by poet_kelly

Mine is in my lower back. I had an MRI last week and they said I have a compressed disc. Sometimes I have muscle spasms, the rest of the time it just hurts. If I sit for very long, it feels like it is putting too much pressure on my back. It's a sharp pain when I move. Sometimes it goes down my legs to about my knees. I'm actually feeling a little better this morning, so maybe it's going back to usual ache.

Kelly

Sounds like sciatica to me. That's when you have disc problems and the pain does run down your leg. (I think sciatica runs down the right leg, not sure though). Sometimes it even goes down to the toes. My husband had the same problem. He had trouble with 2 discs. He had surgery and never had the pain again. You should talk to the doctor who did your MRI (orthopedic doctor?) and see if certain exercises might lessen the pain. I know it hurts, but if he says there are then you have to fight through the pain and do them. Sitting and/or standing and/or walking for any length of time is painful.

Somedays its wose than others. I sympathize with you. Try speaking with your doctor.

I hope you're feeling a little better at least!

JustJoy · 06-24-2009, 08:54 PM

Sciatica happens when the Sciatic nerve is compressed or pinched. The pain can run down the buttocks, the backs of either or both legs, the bottom of the foot to the toes.

Nerve damage happens when the Sciatic nerve is pinched for too long, the pain never goes away or improves after that. The best one can hope for is adequate pain management and a certain amount of will power to just ignore it or gut it out.