So... what are some of the 'alternatives' you're doing for your pain condition?

[barb dwyer]

I'm curious about some of these claims on these websites...
some of it is obviously crap, but -

A friend's friend is getting this certification for something
called 'body talk' ...
so she needs people to work on.
Well, my friend says
'I know someone who's REALLY messed up!
you can work on HER!'

(meaning moi)

So I've gone for like ... two 'treatments' so far.

I can't complain about it -
but while I was doing this ...

I wondered what y'all are doing if anything?

[DesertEyes]

Yoga

I _hate_ it !!!! I am way too much of a "type A" personality to sit for an hour and do _nothing_ !!!

....

....

....


except that it works. Especially if I do it right before bedtime. It really helps me sleep, and in turn that makes a _big_ difference the next day.

I also have a massage every other week. that's a huge help with my lousy circulation. It's completely got rid of all the numb feelings in my feet and hands, and reduced the sharp pains I get all over.

Mike

[barb dwyer]

LOL!

yep. Done yoga 'most all my life
(my mother taught yoga long before it became a fad)

lemme tell ya -
fat yoga sucks.
Who wants to stretch fat?

And on top of that -
who wants to stretch fat .. slowly?


It just bounces right back ...

[Freedom1990]

Originally Posted by barb dwyer

And on top of that -
who wants to stretch fat .. slowly?


It just bounces right back ...

And that is exactly why I avoid things like yoga!

[barb dwyer]

heard and UNDERSTOOD!!!!!!

*vivid mental image now it's everywhere!*

[barb dwyer]

Turns out this job has been the answer to a prayer for just being a reason to move at all. Pain or no pain. A paycheck can be a great motivator.

No way could I have done this job a year ago.

I'm grateful for that much of a change for the better!

[funma]

Hi barb, if I could afford it I would do massage but right now Im broke. I have heard of people with muscle, joint, body ache pains use a numbing cream. I have TN and putting it on my face would drive me nuts! My scalp was numb for over 6 months after my brain surgery and I dont want to ever experience that again.
One thing I forgot to mention in your other post was this. My mother has fibromyalgia, so they say but she went to a gyno and found out that if your going through, or have gone through menopause the lack of estrogen causes joint and muscle pain and migraines. Also, a wacked out thyroid causes the same things as lack of estrogen.
Hope this helps,
Laura

[barb dwyer]

hi Laura-
Well, then I'm screwed from all angles -

I've got all of it.

[ElegantlyWasted]

Arg... I had to retrain myself to realize that doing nothing was actually doing something ( for me it's meditation. When I broke my collar bone I doubled and tripled up on the vicodin to get a buzz. That wore off and I was in a world of hurt. Asprin and stretching helped. I could see massage being helpful as well. Fortunately no chronic stuff yet at 37.

[barb dwyer]

Well, I scan around on the engines, loking at 'alternative' stuff...
and it can get pretty 'out there' you know?

bla bla bla Reikki, bla bla bla Light Touch, bla bla bla ...

I even saw thing thingy that shoots a 'blue light'
(I know - I thought Kmart too)
at the joint or whatever hurts
and miraculously makes it better.

What the hell.

Some of this stuff -
I mean,
not so much who comes up with it
but how MUCH of your conscience
do you have to throw away
to hawk it?

[least]

My lower back is really painful after "hurting it" (somehow) a few weeks ago. I'm willing to try anything but can't afford to try anything. So my problem is a lack of money more than anything else. We now have acupuncture in my town, as well as several good massage therapists, but I can't pay for them and have no health insurance so I'm screwed...

[Sugah]

least, I have chronic lower back pain. There are some things you can do to ease it that don't cost anything -- though if it goes on very long, I'd urge you to look into medicaid and see if you qualify.

First, don't sleep flat on your back or on your stomach. If you are a back sleeper, make sure you put something under your knees. If you're a side-sleeper, do the same. Nothing kicks my lower back pain into high gear than having my knees touch while I sleep. A regular pillow will work, though if you can afford $8-$12, you can get a body pillow at WalMart or Target. I replace mine every two years or so when they're beyond fluffing.

Another way to ease the pressure on your lower back is to lay on the floor with your butt up against the base of a chair and rest your calves on the seat of the chair. Watch t.v. or listen to music as long as you can stand it in that position. A good, hot shower or bath prior to will help loosen up the muscles and help things relax.

Lumbar support -- I have dog bone pillows that I often place in the small of my back when sitting. I have a friend who carries a microbead pillow to meetings so he can sit comfortably for an hour. And don't stand too long on your feet if you can help it.

There's a lot you can do to ease the discomfort, but I have to emphasize again, if it goes on much longer, it's important you learn the cause. I've got nerve damage, and you don't want to find out what that's like.

Peace & Love,
Sugah

[barb dwyer]

I've recently started doing that, Sugah
but I don't have a body pillow
I'm just using the one off the couch.

Some mornings it's on the floor when I wake up
(reckon I didn't need it then)

Many things I've tried to keep with me when I sleep
wind up on the other side of the room
when I wake up.

I'm a terror on alarm clocks.