Pain Management

[lksteve]

Originally Posted by Team Sergeant

I think no matter how bad I feel I’d do it all over again, in a New York minute, and I would.
And of course there’s Motrin for the real shitty days…

actually, thats a management technique i use as well...when my left shoulder hurts really bad, i think back on how i injured it...when the upper back hurts, i think about being a 25 year old demo sergeant humping a heavy, funny shaped rucksack...hell, i'm kinda stove-up now, but i had the time of my life getting this bad off...

[zeroalpha]

Interesting thread.

I’m sitting at my desk reading the thread, after taking 4 Codeine Phosphate (60), 1 Diclofinac and something to stop the anti-inflam ripping my stomach to bits.

I’ve got fused vertebrae in my neck (2 pair) and 3 in my lower back all fused together. And, just for the hell of it, I get Kidney Stones every year or so… (I have one now that’s 10mm x 4mm) – Not going to piss that out I tell you! Basically I’m living in constant ‘chronic’ pain and then when the Kidney Stones hit, I refer to it as ‘ please kill me now’ pain.

Anyway, You name it, I’ve tried it. I find massage does help, however only for short periods. (Like until a day and a half later, then its back to ‘normal’) I’ve tried acupuncture, (Similar to massage but more expensive) magnets, (No great difference but made my feet really cold for some reason), Listening to whales shagging on a CD the pain clinic psychoanalyst gave me, (didn’t do anything but made me horny), regular visits to a pain clinic specialist who basically tells me that the pain is there, and there’s nothing that can be done about it so live with it.

I’ve also tired smoking some weed (and yeah, its illegal here as well). It helps no end. However, not only being illegal (I have drug tests for work stuff) it also gives me the mega munchies and I’m worried that ill get a fat arse. I really wish it was legal as its basically the only thing that can take the pain away totally and for a decent period of time. (Excluding a 9mm hollow point – Haven’t tried that yet)

The codeine I’m on gives me severe constipation and also screws with my in built temperature gauge giving me hot and cold flushes. The is one benefit of the whole stuffed back situation is that I also get priapisms so as long as I’m stoned, it don’t hurt then I can shag for hours!

Anyway, Ill keep a good eye on the thread because I’m interested in what others are doing in relation to pain and living with it.

Later

Z

[Cincinnatus]

Team Sergeant,

Thank you for that eloquent and poignant bit of wisdom. I can't imagine it being said better.

[hoepoe]

Originally Posted by Cincinnatus

I'm going to try the blunts, I mean SuperJoints , that Sneaky recommended and Sonnon's "Warrior Wellness" routine that another buddy, who's got similar injuries and limitations to my own, swears by. As well as look into the bike and what it costs to use the pool at the community center in Lebanon.

Thanks.

You on the UN team up there? If you can get into Israel, there are many options for pain management, including swimming at "Canada Resort" just over the border, alternative medicine (acupunture) which is good.
Masage etc.

Feel good.

My question is not how to manage the pain, but rather how to come to terms with not being 150% functional..ahem I am of course 150%...mm there's that denial again

edited for spelling like an ass

[jatx]

I don't think he meant THAT Lebanon...

[hoepoe]

Originally Posted by jatx

I don't think he meant THAT Lebanon...

LOL, as an afterthought, something registered that there was anothe one in N.America.

Well, if any of you come this way, you;ll know where to go!!

Hoepoe

[Cincinnatus]

Ok, that's the best laugh so far today. I meant Lebanon, NH. Just across the Connecticut river from me, twenty miles or so, and the biggest metropolitan area, LOL, hereabouts.

My mother, the prototypical grey haired old lady in tennis shoes, got nabbed at the Franfurt airport a few years ago and escorted by six security guards into a closed room, where they asked her why she was going to Lebanon via Boston. She said "It's the only way I know to get there." Disbelief on the part of the security folks until she pointed out it was Lebanon, NH. They put away the rubber hoses and let her go.

I believe all six of these guys are now in senior management positions with TSA.

[jasonglh]

Any of you guys with chronic pain try the Therma-care heat wraps? They have some great ones for lumbar that you can wear if you are going to be traveling. I use them if I have to drive more than an hour or so. That way when I get there I can actually walk around.

They also have some that stick on and a new one thats a knee wrap.

[BulletcatchR]

I've got chronic knee pain for 25 years or so.From about`80-`90 I just
took my precribed pain meds(oxycodone,hydrocodone,codiene,darvocet...).Fo r me the 'cure' was worse than the sickness,the drugs work less and less while the side effects get greater,in my experience.The last 15 years I've been mostly narcotic free(except for a few ER visits where I was treated for acute pain).I use Acupuncture,physical therapy,and herbal supplements(joint packs-I'm always trying different combinations of supplements).I take flax seed oil and keep my system 'on it's toes' by varying my supplements and taking 'juice' fasts every now and then.
Treating chronic pain with Acupuncture is a commitment---to $$$.It's not cheap.I would self treat,my wife would treat me( even before she went and got her Masters Degree in Oriental Medicine)and I would get (supervised)treatments from interns on the cheap.When I hired an Acupuncturist I specified that I wanted to learn to self treat,the practioner I went to was 'martial arts' oriented and totally cool with it.
There are also many good books on the subject,I recommend 'Hit Medicine" by Bob Flaws.That is the book I started with,one of my 'teachers'was a student of Flaws and my wife has studied(took a gyno class) under him.
I think a sign of a good Dojo is the Master being a healer as well as a fighter.It's a case of I wish I knew then what I know now...I realize today that ALOT of my chronic pain(knees and I got shoulders and elbow bursitis too) is the result of 'gutting it' thru an injury during training.It's what ruined me.Reading a book like 'Hit Medicine' and practicing some of the skills will go along way to relieve old age miseries,especially if you practice those healing skills while you're still young.

As far as herbal pain management it has always been my opinion that certain plants were God's gift to us on Earth.How western 'man' has adulterated and concentrated these gifts I am not agreeeable with.Rolling up Cannabis and smoking it is the samesame as cooking coca leaves into crack,in my opinion.You can prepare a homeopathic herbal remedy,and achieve results without compromising your headspace or urine.I say "you" because I've tried it,and I get better results with other methods.When I was on the narcotics I had excellent results usng Acupuncture to ease my nuasea.

I cannot remember all the bones I've broken. I can remember how many times I've been burnt so bad I had to stay in the hospital for a week, or the few times I've been operated on by military doctors.
How do I deal with pain management?
I think about all those that didn’t make it back.
And the pain eases.
I think about those who did return but have lost arms and legs.
And my pain shrinks.
I think about all those kids that are missing fathers and the pain they deal with daily.
My pain all but abates.
I think no matter how bad I feel I’d do it all over again, in a New York minute, and I would.
And of course there’s Motrin for the real shitty days…

TS

In all my years,those I can remember,this last year has been the lowest point(on a physical and mental level)of my life.I've been playing left/right 'big' knee most of my life,and for the first time I 'broke' both of them at once.My chronic service connected right knee took it's third arthroscopic cartilage repair,luckily there is very little degenerative damage.A month after,I blew my Lknee ACL/MCL (I've got a line of duty accident report on that knee too)and got a tendon transplant in January.
I couldn't put it into words for myself but somehow when I would find myself in the deepest pit of depression I would realize what I'm going through is NOTHING.TNX TS

Good news is that I am well acclimated to post trauma depression,I celibrate patheticness and MOVE ON.When I went to my six week post op the OrthoDoc thought I was on month three.I cut all narcotics at week 10(no big accomplishment ,I know),my PT cut me loose on my own,I check in at the VA every couple weeks.I treat myself with 'dit da jow' and self massage for the 'dull constant pain' and get a 'needling' after a workout.I use plenty of ice packs,and gel packs that can be heated in the microwave. Part of my 'normal' (pre injury)workout is to start and finish with some yoga,I've tried all kinds I like Taichi-ChiGong the best.I find that establishing the mind body connection and energy flow before working out really helps me in reducing post workout swelling and pain.

bulletcatchR

[brewmonkey]

Sorry I missed this thread.

As someone doing pain management for the last 2+ years I have run in to some interesting ideas. Everymorning and then several time through the day I pop my litany of pills to stave the pain.

For non narcotic methods I have been doing some reading on lately is acupuncture. Here is a list of some of the issues that the WHO believe acupuncture might be helpful in alleviating pain. I am not a big fan of alternative theories of pain relief but this one is getting a lot of talk on pain management sites I visit.

Have you thought about a T.E.N.S. machine? They even make them small enough now so you can wear it while you have to be out and about. I know many people with back pain who swear by these machines.