Pain Management

I maintain a rigorous workout schedule three times a week at the gym, and I see a chiropracter once or twice a month. I used to suffer from migraines and tension headaches regularly, but now only get them about once or twice a year.

 

Imitrex is my best friend. Thankfully, because of my lifestyle changes, I rarely have to take it. It works almost all the time when I take it, though.

 

I do not know if this would help your migraines or not. I have a friend, a Chinese woman, who is prone to terrible migraines. Someone told her to drink a cup of very strong coffee as soon as she feels the pain developing. When she does this the migraine goes away. It is worth a try.

I know about that type of pain. I injured my left big toe in high school. Gradually over the years it developed arthritis and in the early years of this decade it caused me constant pain. One night, in 2006, at a prayer meeting at the seminary in Prague I mentioned this problem. Immediately several students gathered around me, laid their hands on my head and prayed. By the time I reached my room the pain was almost gone, and by the next morning there was no nagging pain. I still have pain if the joint is moved too far ... but the constant pain has not returned.

I do hope your husband can find relief from this pain.

 

I have to be careful when I buy shoes and be sure there is no pressure in that joint. I always look for a shoe with a large toe box and sides that rise straight up before going over the foot. For me I have found that SOS shoes and New Balance often fit this design. I am sure there are other good shoes as well.

SOS says they are the only shoe manufacturer left that completely manufactures all their shoes within the States.

 

I use different methods for different things.

For migraines, prevention works best. My prevention is mainly diet controlled. When that fails, I take a Darvocet. It is the ONLY thing that will stave it off. If I wait too long, it becomes full blown.

I also have daily chronic pain from peripheral neuropathy, arthritis in my spine, and cysts in my spine that can become irritated, swell, and compress surrounding nerves. I am now on a twice daily controlled substance for the neuropathy. I am prescribed a three times daily different controlled substance for back pain, but don't typically take it three times a day. Sometimes I may go a week without it, and at other times I make double the dose.

I occasionally drop it all to make sure I'm not addicted. I've been told not to worry about it, but it's a concern so I'll go for a few days or a week on nothing just to make sure I can do it.

Problem is, it's illegal to drive on these. I am blessed with a husband who takes me wherever I need to go and doesn't complain. We have a good arrangement worked out for dealing with my work schedule and him doing what he needs to do as far as making sure I and the kids all get to where we need to go, when we need to go. With seven in the family, it's definitely a full time job for him!

I started out trying all natural stuff, but my pain levels got too high. I'm not against medical marijuana, but not only is it not legal in my new state, but I've found that it acts as a stumbling block to other Christians, so I don't bother. I strongly believe it should be legalized in the medical community. It is cheap, effective, and safer than a lot of the chemicals they have me taking.

 

My back hurts almost all the time.... which I can usually ignore when sitting or resting but it increases with standing and walking.

But for general pain.....
If head ache.... I try to figure out what may be causing it, like if my nose is stuffy.... maybe my sinuses are inflamed and swollen: What can I do naturally to stop it before going to OTC (over the counter medications) or getting a prescription? I may start with a normal salene solution of 1/2 tsp salt to 8 oz of warm water and douche my nose: If that doesn't work I may increase the salt to water slightly.... it burns passages mildly.... but may reduce the swelling while cleaning out the pathogens or irritants.

If I've eaten something particularly heavy then I try to position myself in relaxed surroundings, maybe sip a cup of hot tea.... and let nature complete it digestive processes. In a work setting one may be too busy to 'give in' so asprin or tylenol works..... but I now try to avoid tylenol since I can take aspirin w/o problem.

Used to get stomach cramps at various times and it seemed nothing would work (not aspirin, not tylenol, not darvocet which I had access to dental office samples). I couldn't connect it to any cause, and the doctor couldn't find any reason... unless I wanted to go extensive tests..... I didn't think it so consistant or etreme to warrant that. i became aware of one thing I tend to do when experiencing or anticipating pain..... I hold my breath. Some thing I read triggered the possibility of endorphin release to oxygenation and movement. Realizing that in me my natural response of holding my breath or shallow breathing may be contributing to the worsening..... I changed to breathing deeply, abdominally, and regularly and found my cramps would stop in about 30 minutes without any med.

I don't like needle sticks, nor pain, but have given blood, had iv's, and had tissue frozen off w/o local anesthetic. In these cases, I catch myself tensing up in anticipation and holding my breath. Because I tend to do this, I mentally "watch myself" and change my breathing so this doesn"t happen......and it makes a lot of difference. Ireally don't know if the breathing makes a difference for me or if it is my mind becomes focused on the breathing and not the pain... but it helps. (A good stick to donate blood will stop when I tense or feel pain.... or hold my breath... not a good thing.... so I have to will my body to relax and give in and breath naturally)

An alcoholic drink does seem to relax the tension in my back muscles when the pain continues into sitting or rest..... but it is a seldom thing I resort to ....... mostly because of my concern about the judgement of others regarding my Lord if they see me buy a drink.

For some other minor pains.... finding what works.... warm soaks, warm or cold compresses..... same even for head aches... works for me.

However..... I do believe migraines and other severe and disabling pains are a regular part of some people's experience..... and not having been there.... i cannot begin to imagine how difficult life and enjoyment might be for you at such times. Thankfully there are medications which will work in most cases if the doctors will precribe them. Unfortunately, some do lose their effectiveness over time because the body adapts and raises the threshold where these meds start to work... a problem little understood or dealt with by many doctors who are held by prescribing standards and recommendations to inflexible demands.

We all hear enough to know there are hazards dealing with drugs/medication/strong drink ........ so no judgement here. Just empathy and understanding and love's caution to use wisdom.

 

Because of my back condition (grade III spondyloisthesis), I am on a regimen of pain meds, prescription NSAIDS, and muscle relaxers. My wife is the "dispensary." I don't even know where the meds are. That helps with any tolerance/addiction issues.

I also do chiropractic, as well as 2-3x yearly nerve ablations, epidural facet blocks, and steroid injections.

2-3 more steroid injections, and I'm thinking of trying out for the Yankees.

 

Over-the-counter pills don't do much, but prescription paon meds are too expensive and too strong for sensitive stomach. I take the store brand pain pills from Walmart. They're $4 for 100--1/3 the cost of the name brand pills that don't work any better.