Things that help with the pain.

[Pompal 09.]

I thought that we could probably all do with a thread that collates all in one place things that help with the pain?

For instance:-

HEAT PADS I find that heat pads really help me and the ones that stick on are the best, they are easy to fin in most supermarkets too. Now I have a nifty tartan wraparound that has an insert I can put in the microwave and heat up so it' s reuseable and can be placed anywhere I need the comfort.

MEMORY FOAM Pillows and mattress topper really help with supporting my back and neck in the best position. The topper or mattress also lessens that 'bump' when someone else gets into bed.

TENS MACHINE I bought one of these from the chemist and it really helps with some of the sciatic pains, I bought the battery version and can wear it under my clothes during the day and turn it on when needed.



What helps you?

 

[Pompal 09.]

For my partner I got a Dreamland therapy pad/wrap...its electric heats up quickly and targets the pain reasonably quickly. He has cancers, but he also has a back problem and its great alternative to hot water bottles. He can't use tens machine.

 

[White]

Pain is nature's way of saying something is wrong. It is also a most basic instruction to avoid something.

Hence the correct first response to pain is to obey it, and seek help for the underlying cause. Most of the time, simply doing exactly what your body is asking is enough to provide enormous relief and begin recovery.

When people are asking for relief of pain, very often what they are hoping for is a way to carry on harming themselves without feeling the actual effect. Hence palliating for its own sake is often the route to further problems.

If problems are very deep and difficult, it may be the result of a lifetime of this behaviour coming home to roost. Or of not finding the solution to the underlying problem.

Indeed, some people genuinely have no choice but to keep working despite serious illness. All I ask is that they realise this is a compromise, that they understand the role of their action in the situation, that way when there is an opportunity to change something they will recognise it.

Hence I'm not arguing with pain relief per se, in my experience though it is often a way of admitting defeat about dealing with the cause. Sometimes we don't know what else to do about the situation.

Bear in mind other useful tools, that also tend to help contributing factors to various pain situations:

fasting
green vegetable juice
sleep and rest
immobilisation
hydration
epsom salts bathing
coffee enemas
peppermint tea
time

 

[Landon B]

To kvdp's list I would add anything which enables you to relax:

chamomile tea
Reflexology treatments
massaging your hands with oils
scalp massage
slow, deep breathing
warm shower
magnesium supplements
stroking a pet
spending time out-of-doors
being with people who love you

Ava x

 

[xdkirbyxd]

When you are in pain activity of any kind is often avoided but it is vital to keep mobile and as active as you can be. It has some great benefits, not least of which are the release of endorphins that fight pain and increases in serotonin that lifts mood and regulates your sleep pattern. Sleep is one of the first things to suffer when we have chronic pain in our lives.

So try any of the following, working at your own pace.

Walking
Pilates
Yoga
Swimming
Strengthening your muscles will relieve the pressure on painful joints and ease joint pain.

 

[huh?]

The only thing that's ever worked for me is a soak in a hot bath. If I could stay there forever, I would.

Either that or geting absolutely hammered

 

[standaman]

Dear Jim,

I have the hot tub set up raring to go and the bar is OPEN!!!

 

[Jabber wock]

Sounds good to me, thanks.

Tens can aggravate a pain I think?

Sorry to hear of your partners illness and wish him the best xxxxx

 

[Jeff H.]

Activity and exercise as a pain therapy are very much a double-edged sword. Anything that calls upon adrenal output will have the effect of temporarily reducing symptoms, including inflammation, but this can be illusory.

Inevitably, the body still has to provide the means of recovery, remember that inflammation is a repair function of prime importance. Movement does not reduce arthritis, for example, but it reduces the awareness of arthritis, loading up worn joints by exercise makes no more sense to me than pressing the accelerator hard with a flat tyre.

The reductio ad absurdum is that you could probably run with a broken ankle if you were being chased by a tiger, but boy would you feel it when you stop.

Suppressing acute symptoms is known to lead to more chronic problems, however we choose to suppress. Conversely, chronic situations generally require an acute event in order to begin to resolve.

We do not get symptoms of disease - we get symptoms of recovery, the body's attempt to limit or repair damage. The trick is to accept what is happening while supporting the body through the process, and making it as tolerable as possible.

 

[jcaddyer]

I respect your views kvdp but in my experience exercise does work. Obviously it will depend on the level of pain present.
I'm not advocating loading up worn joints with heavy weights nor exercising painful swollen joints but gentle strengthening, used in a carefully planned programme.

I spent around 15 years working within a GP Referral/Activity programme and saw first hand the huge benefits and improvement in patients mobility and pain levels.

Just my two pence worth

 

[Kirsty M]

Hi Pinkangel

I agree with you regarding the importance of exercise for pain management, however my perspective is that its primary value is in stress reduction, relaxation and improving ones mood.

My own personal experience of my own pain issues, is that they are very closely tied up with my mood. Low mood can coincide with a variety of very painful joints and muscles - at a level which can bring tears to my eyes. On the subject of exercise for my own specific case I find it to be immensely helpful for improving my mood. When my mood improves the concomitant joint and muscle pains disappear. When I am stressed all pain (physical and emotional) feels worse. I can't be sure whether my pain is psychosomatic or a physical symptom of mental health problems. For this reason I would always advocate doing whatever exercise you can possibly manage if you have pain issues.

Ava x

 

[ClizenCortes]

Yes, Pinkangel - many people find that yoga helps with back pain.

Also I bang on about EFT for back pain - release the emotional charge from the original cause and the pain often disappears completely.

But I also partially agree with kvdp - often people want something that will allow them to continue the choices they are making, without the consequences. And not just for back pain. However, EFT clears that too

Fx

 

[ladyni]

I think I too am going to disagree with you. Exercise improves general health and improves mood - both of which make you better able to cope with pain. We both have a naturopathic (lifestyle) approach to health conditions, and we'd both agree that anything which promotes general health will aid recovery from illness/injury. It may not be a total recovery, but it is better than disrespecting or undermining your basic health. Maybe the excerpt I'm quoting is poorly worded and I've focused on it unfairly. If so, my apologies. But I do feel that exercise, in some form, is critical in the management of all heath conditions.

Ava x

 

[thomassverdweaaaxxx22]

I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis about a year and a half ago. I used to do a lot or running (half marathons) and always felt happy, healthy and fit. With the arthritis, I often feel pain in various joints. As I thought I shouldn't run if I was in pain, I stopped running. I was, in fact, told to carry on exercising as much as possible but I also found that the philange-metatarsal bones in my foot had moved down and my toes up and so it is extremely painful to run.

I do a lot of walking and with the help of a physiotherapist, I can now stretch and move my arms, legs and head to almost full extent as they were seizing up. This has helped a lot with the pain. I still feel that I will improve further if I could start running again but that would have it's disadvantages as well.

 

[eYo]

Ok so it wasn't a tiger and it was my hand but you are so right, I knew it was badly hurt but I had to carry on and get out of the situation, afterwards it was like ' how did I do that?' The pain was by then completely numb, but when I stopped argggghhhhhhhh!

This is me, and how my back situation came about

A minor car accident, with whiplash did this for me.

Hear! Hear! What each one of us can tolerate is different, and that is one of the problems facing doctors when prescribing, and also why I was interested to hear what worked for other back sufferers, rather than diet, exercise, snake oils and such.

Thanks

 

[traillamelder]

Sorry to hear of your ra. With exercise maybe try moving to a more low impact form? Instead of running try a tread mill with a softer padded approach or static bicyling.

I used to love cycling everywhere but now the impact on my spine makes it impossible so I moved to a static bike and a video/dvd, I get the exercise with minimal shock to my spine

Also have you tried any of the exercise trainers? I wear Sketchers, shape ups and the extra padding is invaluable with the impact on my feet, knees, hips and then spine

 

[John Jay]

Thank you Cascara. Sorry you can't get out on you cycle. I used to love cycling but have become a bit worried about the traffic. I have a treadmill and a static bike which I intend to use during the winter. I did buy some sketchers but found I was in quite a bit of pain after a day. Back to my trainers for now I think.

 

[EddieJ]

Hi Ylangrose

I'm not very knowledgeable on rheumatoid arthritis but your post did remind me of a story I found about a medical Doctor who had re-trained become a Personal Trainer after developing RA and find research that exercise helped. I did a bit of Googling and found it again: http://www.lifetimehf.co.uk/about-us/john-searle

He also replied to a BMJ article with:
It may be worth either trying to contact the chap or doing more research yourself.

Pete

 

[smiley]

Thanks for that Pete. Wow, fully fit again in just 8 weeks. Sounds fantastic. I have read the article and saved it to look at again later.

My GP and rheumatologist both said I should continue running. I have just bought some new running shoes and got my treadmill out so have made a start.

 

[ClizenCortes]

healthpoint electro-acupuncture device....
pulsor micro-crystals...
running is not a good way to exercise imo...hill walking, yeah...
tai chi...