Chronic Pain Support Group
Physicians and professionalsdefine pain as chronic if it lasts longer than three to six months and is persistent. It's distinct from acute pain that is a direct result of injury or trauma. This support group is dedicated to those suffering from chronic pain. Discuss treatments that have worked for you, find advice for your specific experience, and find support. You're not...
Okay, so I just spent half an hour writing a really long post with everything I could think of, complete with info and links. Then I went to post it and it got deleted. :/ So, I will do this again except a shorter version without the links because I don't have enough time. Some of them may be self explanatory but I'll put them on here anyway.
Shower chairs - I just got one and it is awesome for those days when I hurt so bad that I dread taking a shower
New pillows/a body pillow - Getting something that supports your back can help more than you think. I would mention a certain kind but there are so many ones to pick from.
Nair- Sometimes, I would have problems shaving because my skin would be so sore that it was exruciating. I just got Nair for sensitive skin and it has REALLY helped me out.
Patches/gels - (for one thing, I have tried pretty much all of these in existence and if you need advice or suggestions on what to buy, don't hesitate to ask me. SERIOUSLY lol)
Since my stomach is still messed up from Celiac disease, I can take all the pain pills in the world and not feel a thing. So, I never leave the house without being covered in patches and having a bag filled with gels and cremes.
My favorites:
Biofreeze
Zero freeze BenGay gel with vanishing scent ( the kind you can stick in the freezer
Voltaren Gel (prescription)
IcyHot XL back patches (they make them in several sizes and they are awesome)
Heat wraps ( you can put them on under your clothes and it is like having a hidden heating pad all day)
IcyHot sleeves for ankles, knees, and elbows
SalonPas (the work instantly)
Capsaicin patches - I am personally allergic and can't use them anymore, and you should make sure you aren't before you use them, but they do work well for pain.
That extendable wand with a magnet on the end - sorry, I have no idea what they are called, but it's great if you have trouble bending. You can just let it out and pick up any metal object like keys.
RumbleRoller - It's a little foam massage device you rub on you that helps myofascial pain. My neurosurgeon recommended one to me and it is amazing.
TENS unit (I know, a self explanatory one) - I bought one and it was a great investment. You can use it just about anywhere for any pain.
And i just wanted to share these links...
Foods to avoid when you have chronic pain
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2010/01/19/Foods-That-Chronic-Pain-Sufferers-Need-to-Avoid--.aspx
Relaxation techniques to help ease pain
http://www.spine-health.com/conditions/chronic-pain/11-chronic-pain-control-techniques
Some good yoga poses!
http://www.prevention.com/fitness/yoga/yoga-poses-relieve-aches-and-pains
^And I know pain management doctors can just feed you a bunch of bull about how exercising and doing yoga will cure your pain, and it gets really annoying because we all know it won't. But it has helped me. I'm doing yoga classes twice a week now.. Getting de-stressed really does help, especially with me because *some* of my pain is psychosomatic.
As for as an update for me, I'm sorry I've been gone so long. There has been a ton of family, friend, and boyfriend conflicts lately and I've just been trying to fix it all but I'm not sure I can. :/ Getting a CT scan to see if my face pain is being caused by another brain cyst or severe sinusitis. Hopefully the latter..
I hope everyone has been managing their pain okay. I think about you all on a daily basis. Have a great day
Shower chairs - I just got one and it is awesome for those days when I hurt so bad that I dread taking a shower
New pillows/a body pillow - Getting something that supports your back can help more than you think. I would mention a certain kind but there are so many ones to pick from.
Nair- Sometimes, I would have problems shaving because my skin would be so sore that it was exruciating. I just got Nair for sensitive skin and it has REALLY helped me out.
Patches/gels - (for one thing, I have tried pretty much all of these in existence and if you need advice or suggestions on what to buy, don't hesitate to ask me. SERIOUSLY lol)
Since my stomach is still messed up from Celiac disease, I can take all the pain pills in the world and not feel a thing. So, I never leave the house without being covered in patches and having a bag filled with gels and cremes.
My favorites:
Biofreeze
Zero freeze BenGay gel with vanishing scent ( the kind you can stick in the freezer
Voltaren Gel (prescription)
IcyHot XL back patches (they make them in several sizes and they are awesome)
Heat wraps ( you can put them on under your clothes and it is like having a hidden heating pad all day)
IcyHot sleeves for ankles, knees, and elbows
SalonPas (the work instantly)
Capsaicin patches - I am personally allergic and can't use them anymore, and you should make sure you aren't before you use them, but they do work well for pain.
That extendable wand with a magnet on the end - sorry, I have no idea what they are called, but it's great if you have trouble bending. You can just let it out and pick up any metal object like keys.
RumbleRoller - It's a little foam massage device you rub on you that helps myofascial pain. My neurosurgeon recommended one to me and it is amazing.
TENS unit (I know, a self explanatory one) - I bought one and it was a great investment. You can use it just about anywhere for any pain.
And i just wanted to share these links...
Foods to avoid when you have chronic pain
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2010/01/19/Foods-That-Chronic-Pain-Sufferers-Need-to-Avoid--.aspx
Relaxation techniques to help ease pain
http://www.spine-health.com/conditions/chronic-pain/11-chronic-pain-control-techniques
Some good yoga poses!
http://www.prevention.com/fitness/yoga/yoga-poses-relieve-aches-and-pains
^And I know pain management doctors can just feed you a bunch of bull about how exercising and doing yoga will cure your pain, and it gets really annoying because we all know it won't. But it has helped me. I'm doing yoga classes twice a week now.. Getting de-stressed really does help, especially with me because *some* of my pain is psychosomatic.
As for as an update for me, I'm sorry I've been gone so long. There has been a ton of family, friend, and boyfriend conflicts lately and I've just been trying to fix it all but I'm not sure I can. :/ Getting a CT scan to see if my face pain is being caused by another brain cyst or severe sinusitis. Hopefully the latter..
I hope everyone has been managing their pain okay. I think about you all on a daily basis. Have a great day
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I invited Bill to have dinner with me last Sunday. He wasn't willing to drive 7 hours to mid Michigan and teased me with his beautiful ribs!!! So, of course I ate alone and had cedar salmon
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check out that smoke ring. It tasted really good. I smothered it with Maulls BBQ sauce which is Local to St. Louis and one of the best I ever had.....
It's great to see you again. You have a great list of products to help chronic pain.
I have a shower chair and couldn't shower without it. Even though I can now stand longer because the RSD is better controlled, I still have problems with balance and fear a fall in the shower.
I've actually never tried the creams/patches you listed but I may give them a try.
As for exercise, I'm glad yoga is working for you. Unfortunately I can't do yoga because of lupus. For some reason,yoga exacerbates lupus and can cause flares. The best exercise I've found is swimming/PT in a warm water pool (therapy pool). It's great for fibro/back problems or knee problems.
I used to have a 'grabber' but somehow it got lost in one of our moves. I don't need one right now, but will get one if the need arises.
Sorry to hear about your problems at home and your medical issues. I hope things get back on track for you soon.
Sandy
I have read proper support with pillows makes a difference. I'll try a body pillow now.
I wonder about the foam roller, is it hard foam?
Thank you for sharing all your discoveries!!!!
anyway nice to see you again...hugs bill
assisted care just gave my father an extended shoe horn so he doesn't have to bend so far to get his shoes on and a "grabber."
good luck with the other issues. keep us posted when you can.
Thank you so much for all the great ideas!! I am def looking for ways to destress and make my life easier for sure:). Missed seeing you around! Will pray that the CT is just your sinuses. Hugs to you hun!! Take care of yourself and keep us posted on the CT.
Never heard of the rumbleRoller before....where do you get those?
Glad to hear yoga is helping you. It is so good if you can manage some sort of exercise.
Good luck on your test!! Keep us posted.
I have one of those grabber things, maybe called a gopher???
I think I read somewhere that bamboo tongs are good to help get socks on...
whats salonpas have in it?
I use Bengay ice from the freezer. I think it's more of a distraction though. It is cold! lol
I also place stools around the house to sit on to help do chores and help with my balance.
I use my micro-sock bag a lot. I like how it shapes to my body. I've made 2 of them.
Thanks for sharing your ideas,
Toni
Dixe4me - I have looked all over the place for one but the only pales I've been able to find it are on the actual website, and on Amazon and EBay.
Scriberheart - I have heard that those can be great for people that really struggle with extended movements. I know that they make ones specifically for socks and shoes like serenity mentioned. I had to use one similar to that when I had a tethered spinal cord before the release surgery because I couldn't bend, but thankfully I don't need one now.
irocket - stools must help! I just use one when cooking or moving around the kitchen. I've seen those bags but I haven't made my own, it looks like a good idea.
Thank you all for the good wishes. I'm just now getting to school because of pain this morning.. The brain scan is scheduled for 4 this afternoon. Maybe I'll get some good news! :)