Due to a variety of injuries and subsequent surgeries, I suffer from chronic pain. I have tried nearly every approach to pain management over the past nine years, but only recently have found total relief. [That is not totally accurate, I still have pain, but for the most part it is minute and/or controllable with exercise. I would like to take this time to assist others with what I have learned. While this may not work for you, I do want you to NOT GIVE UP! There is no reason why you should live in constant pain; there are plenty of medications and treatments available.

I have learned a great deal about pain and hopefully, some of what I have learned will now help others. The first thing that I learned was that pain can become a vicious circle. Things that you once took for granted are now beyond your reach. Not being able to do something, specifically something you truthfully enjoyed, will induce depression. Depression, no matter what any ‘professional’ declares, makes pain worse; the more pain the more depression, the more depression, the more pain. You spiral downward, making it nearly impossible to ever again feel even remotely normal.

You may find an identical problem with pain relief, whether it be merely a good day or an upgrade in pain medication that suddenly seems to take away your pain. When you feel good, you begin doing things that you have not been able to do for quite sometime, causing yourself more pain, which sends you back into depression.

For those suffering chronic pain, this is something you know all too well, the question is what to do about it; how can you become pain free, or at least have enough pain relief so that you can function normally? The most important thing for you to do is make up your mind that you want to be pain free and that you will do anything to achieve freedom from pain! It takes commitment, a total commitment because it takes more than pain relieving drugs to get and keep you pain free.

The most important thing you can do is keep a pain journal. Write down everything you do, from where you sleep, to whether or not you were awakened by pain. Don’t leave anything out, write down any information on what you do, how you sit, when your pain level increases or decreases. By the end of thirty days, you will begin to realize what you can or cannot do, and what you can do to change that aspect of your life.

I prefer pain management, total care; because it seems to help in other areas of your life as well. If you cannot afford to see a psychiatrist or psychiatric social worker, make sure your pain care manager at least prescribes something for your depression, this is not an overnight help, but within two to three weeks, you will begin to notice a difference in your pain level and your overall well being. Ask to see a physical therapist, if you have a spinal specialist in your area, I would definitely recommend seeing that type of physical therapist. If your pain has been totally debilitating, ask your physician to put you on a duragesic patch; start at the lowest level work your way up. This can be taken with other drugs, but be careful, most physicians have a tendency to add anti-inflammatory drugs from the NSAID family; these may create more problems for you.

My husband does suffer migraines. He has them on an average of 25 days per month. He has used several pain relievers, both over-the-counter and prescription. He has also used a variety of preventative medications; he has very little relief. He does get relief from the newer migraine medications such as Axert and Imitrex, but he complains that using them so frequently makes him feel like his brain is fuzzy. Recently, he was given an anti-inflammatory drug, Indocin, to assist with the disk problem in his back. The first few days he complained that the Indocin made him so tired, he had difficulty doing anything because he was so tired all he could do was sleep, what he came to learn was that taking the medication three times a day, everyday, helps relieve the side effects. What he came to realize was that he was having far less migraine headaches.

I cannot say the same thing. I was also prescribed Indocin. While I was now able to get up in the morning without the stiffness or excess pain, no matter where I spelt, I noticed that I also suffered from severe headaches. I also found that my feet were swelling more frequently. After two months, I decided to stop taking the Indocin, my feet still swell, but only when I walk a great deal, and my headaches have totally disappeared. Of course, I again have the painful stiffness first thing in the morning.

One of the things that I find most helpful is exercise. George has shown me a great combination of exercises. One thing you must realize is too much exercise is just as detrimental as none at all. I have come up, after three years, with a specific exercise routine. I spend no more than 30 minutes a day doing a combination of pain relieving and muscle strengthening exercises a day, every day of the week. I do not do the same exercises two days in a row. At times, if I find I am having more pain in any specific area of my body, I may add a pain relieving exercise which often assists.

There are many things that I have attempted over the past nine years. The following is a list of things I have found either helpful, or of no use. Please remember every human is different, what works for one may have no effect on another. I am not suggesting you utilize the program I have found to help myself, it is simply a guideline for you to discuss with your health care provider.

Once my pain became controlled, I changed my eating habits. I try to eat healthy, or should I say healthier? The fact is, whenever I get a virus, instead of simply finding my entire body aching, I find that that is true, plus the areas where I suffer chronic pain, seem inflamed. I do not, under any circumstances want to contact a virus. Although that is not possible, I figure if I manage to live healthier, I may fight a few viruses from attacking. I have cut my coffee intake, from one pot to one half pot. I have added at least 8 ounces of fruit juice, I very the flavors; I also drink at least 16 ounces of water a day. When I get a craving for something sweet, instead of heading to the nearest candy store, I now eat fruit, but fruit does not quite handle the sweet craving; therefore, I add homemade fruit or caramel dip. [The fruit dip can presently be found in the archives] I also follow the old rules for what should be eaten from which food groups. I want to let everyone know that I do not watch for foods high in cholesterol, high in fats, starch or sugar. I eat what I want, when I want it and the doctor is always amazed at how perfect my blood work is.

Yes, I did try this therapy, but I never found any success with it. That does not mean that it will not work for you; different therapies have differing affects on various people. I wish that I could offer a better assessment, but I cannot.

I have pain in the mid section of my back due to a disintegrating disk, pain in the lower portion of my back where the disks have totally disintegrated, I also have sever pain in my left knee [more than likely from the seven surgeries I have undergone], I also suffer from sciatica. Therefore, I must do a strange combination of exercises. The following are the BEST and MOST FREQUENTLY done:

For lower back pain and sciatica: Lay face down on the floor, push myself up as if I were going to do a pushup; but you gently roll your back up, never raising the lower portion of your body, and roll it back down.

Sitting in an upright position with my legs elevated, point my toes away from me, holding that position for the count of ten. Then pull my toes back towards me, holding them in that position again for the count of ten.

Stand two feet from a wall, hold my arms out to my side, bend them at the elbow and put the palms of my hands flat against the wall, lean into the wall and push myself away.

These are very simple exercises which have amazing affects; after speaking with your doctor, if he approves, try them!

If anyone has any other secret pain management techniques, I would love to hear from you. Please email me at reallyfreeny@yahoo.com.