Notices

Struggling and tempted

Old 04-11-2022, 11:16 AM
  # 1 (permalink)  
Yield beautiful changes
Thread Starter
 
ToughChoices's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: A home filled with love
Posts: 1,681
Struggling and tempted

Nearly 50 days sober! I’ve been feeling really good, but I somehow managed to hurt myself doing laundry this weekend. My low back and sciatic nerve on my right side are killing me, and I’m surprised by how much the physical pain is affecting my mental health.

Today I feel overwhelmed and anxious. I’m afraid that the pain won’t go away. I can’t sleep. It hurts to sit/lay/walk/stand, and my addict brain is screaming for relief. My addiction requires that I abstain from pain medication and alcohol, and this is honestly the first time my resolve has been really tested. If I had
medication, I know I would take it. Yuck. That doesn’t sound strong at all.

But I don’t have medication, so, weak as I am, I’m not using. My sweet husband keeps telling me to go to the doctor, but I don’t think I could say no if they offered me pain meds. It’s hard to explain to him how tricky my addicted brain can be! I know that the folks here will understand, though. This is rough.

Tell me it gets better?!?
ToughChoices is online now  
Old 04-11-2022, 12:00 PM
  # 2 (permalink)  
Member
 
Surrendered19's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2019
Posts: 2,426
Good for you for posting ToughChoices. That is rough stuff. There is nothing like pain to test us on so many different levels.

I really encourage you to get to the Docs. They can help you manage the pain, which might include low doses of meds that won't endanger your ongoing recovery. They can also tell you what some next steps are as far as further medical intervention. They might be able to fix you!!!

The one thing not to do is to settle in and try to live with pain, because that is no way to live, especially if there are other solutions that the Docs can offer.

Things do indeed get better and better, and make so much more sense, the longer we are in recovery and on our healthiest albeit imperfect roads.
Surrendered19 is offline  
Old 04-11-2022, 12:08 PM
  # 3 (permalink)  
Member
 
biminiblue's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 25,373
I had that happen recently and I found really good exercises that helped tremendously and quickly on Bob & Brad Physical Therapists on YouTube.

I go to them anytime I have issues. They're on facebook too, if you'd rather do it that way.

biminiblue is offline  
Old 04-11-2022, 12:17 PM
  # 4 (permalink)  
Administrator
 
Anna's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Dancing in the Light
Posts: 61,330
I have had sciatic problems recently too and I've found YT videos that really help. There are exercises to strengthen your muscles and to stretch them which helps the pain. Also, ice and heat, alternately could help. I hope your pain begins to ease up soon.
Anna is online now  
Old 04-11-2022, 01:45 PM
  # 5 (permalink)  
Member
 
Join Date: May 2019
Location: UK
Posts: 3,869
Sounds like a lot of pain, TC. This isn’t what you need at all on day 50.

Yes, GPs are unlikely to be of help, and as you say they’ll prescribe a pain med.

With so much at stake, i.e. your sobriety, it’ll be well worth seeing a physiotherapist or a massage therapist. I think of the cost in terms of a week’s alcohol.

Well done on day 50 and for keeping it going during this painful episode.
Hodd is offline  
Old 04-11-2022, 02:30 PM
  # 6 (permalink)  
Yield beautiful changes
Thread Starter
 
ToughChoices's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: A home filled with love
Posts: 1,681
Thanks for the advice and the support, friends!

It is fascinating to learn about myself as I go through recovery! I’ve always been quite proud of my endurance and my mental “toughness” (heck, even my username is Tough!!) But it turns out when my body feels bad, my brain tags right along with it!

And today that brain was trying to talk me into a quick fix for pain. Which is ridiculous because it’s how this whole mess started! I worked really hard, I hurt, and I justified taking pain meds because of my hard work. I needed meds so that I could continue to work hard. Breaking out of that cycle requires that I address what is causing the pain, rather than masking it. I’ve got to root this out, not just trim off a few dangling branches to make everything look better.

This process is exhausting and exhilarating. I really appreciate all of the solid advice you’ve given. A massage is a good idea, indeed, and the physical therapist videos have very helpful information, too. I’m planning to soak in a hot bath, rub in some aspercreme, and apply an ice-pack this evening.

Thanks for your support! Learning how to deal with this stuff sober is hard!
-TC
ToughChoices is online now  
Old 04-11-2022, 03:09 PM
  # 7 (permalink)  
Member
 
Hawkeye13's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 11,373
I had severe chronic neck pain for many years and part of my drinking was to deal with the pain. I couldn’t even turn my head in the car to back up or look either way—had to move my whole body.

I began a yoga practice and also worked with a good therapeutic massage specialist, along with chiropractic care, and though it took some time, I got real, deep lasting relief and healing.

Funny thing was I found the truth in the claim that we store emotions in our physical body. As deep tissue work began to loosen and unwind frozen muscles, I would find tears dripping off my face onto the floor from massage table, and great waves of sadness and anger coming over and through me.

My neck was sore and tender with fluid pockets from congested tissue due to poor circulation. As I healed I actually had symptoms in reverse—but it allowed me space back into my own body once again. I did some cognitive therapy during part of the treatment, which also helped me verbally process these physical things.

I have had much better luck with these modalities as opposed to pill-prescribing doctors and lame physical therapy. Acupuncture was another thing that worked well. Don’t know how you feel about trying some or all of this if you haven’t, but time and consistent, gentle hard work really fixed 90% of my neck issues.
Hawkeye13 is online now  
Old 04-11-2022, 03:21 PM
  # 8 (permalink)  
Administrator
 
Dee74's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 211,058
hey TC

There is a product in Australia called called PainAway spray. I'm not into homeopathic medicine at all as a rule but I picked up a bottle of this on special once and when my back was severely spasming from a similar injury I tried it in desperation and it really helped, and has helped since.

Obviously it's not available internationally but all it is is a mix of oils etc -Arnica Montana Flower Tincture, Rosemary Oil, Boswellia Carterii Extract, Eucalyptus Oil.Also contains Lavender Oil, Jojoba Oil, Vitamin E..

It might be worth trying to track down US equivalents?
D
Dee74 is offline  
Old 04-11-2022, 04:08 PM
  # 9 (permalink)  
Member
 
Join Date: May 2019
Location: UK
Posts: 3,869
I just found out I wasn’t joking about a massage costing the same as a week’s alcohol. Luckily I’m not triggered by looking at alcohol in shops, and I find it almost interesting, especially the prices. Like most things, it’s gone up in price, and a quick calculation told me I’d be spending £50 or around US$65 a week if I were still a drinker.

I’d be paying for that physio or massage, TC. Money well spent.
Hodd is offline  
Old 04-11-2022, 04:24 PM
  # 10 (permalink)  
Member
 
zoobadger's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 257
I don't do yoga ordinarily, but I'm prone to similar pain due to a compressed nerve that flares up in my lower back. I have a set of yoga stretches that relieve the pain pretty quickly.

I don't have a chronic injury or anything like that. Just routine sciatica that flares up occasionally. But it's startling how quickly the pain will resolve if I do the stretches carefully and regularly throughout the day. If you do a Google Image search "yoga for lower back pain" you'll find a lot of pages suggesting simple and safe stretches. And youtube has lots of help as well. I carefully avoided anything that looked challenging because I am not a bendy person at all.

I tried massage but it didn't help. Except that the massage person recommended that I just slow down. And she's right. For example, getting clothes out of the bottom of the washer. Just slow down. Reach in carefully, don't twist, maybe even get a little stepstool to reduce the bending.
zoobadger is offline  

Currently Active Users Viewing this Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are Off




All times are GMT -7. The time now is 05:25 AM.