Three days. THREE DAMN DAYS in a row now!

[Redstone]

I do indeed hope I'm not jinxing anything by posting this, but today is the THIRD DAY in a row that my shoulder pain has been minimal. Nothing worse than a dull ache, which I can not only live with, but absolutely celebrate. (And I did, this afternoon, with Mrs R before the kids came home. Not that you needed to hear about that, but still...)

Holy shit. So THIS is what it's like to live without massive pain for three days in a row? It's like living in another world, and I LIKE this world, I really do.

I hope I can stay here. It's a great place.

Redstone

[KitchenWitch]

1. What have you done differently to get this breakthrough

other than afternoon activities with Mrs R?

:hi:

[Redstone]

6. I'm not sure if I'm supposed to say. You know I don't get spooked easily, but

if what I THINK happened is really what did happen, and I'm not supposed to talk about it (I'm not sure about that aspect yet, because I haven't asked), then I'll clam up rather than lose the benefit.

Sorry to be so vague, but this is an experience that's kind of unique in my life (and remember, I've been a lot of places and seen many things), so I must tread lightly on any proprieties that may be involved.

Even via PM. But if I get the go-ahead to publicize anything, you'll be the first to know, since you're one of the Pain People like I am. We Pain People must stick together, after all.

Redstone

[KitchenWitch]

8. I hear ya

You did do something different...but cannot say what!

:hi:

Glad you found relief, and I hope it is permanent!

[conscious evolution]

47. Sounds like you got reiki'd

If so you can talk about it.
If not oh well

Have you ever tried reiki?(or heard of it?)It is one of the ancient Asian traditional medicne fields.It helped with my sciatica(nerve pain)The wierd thing is the practioner was a couple of thousand miles away.Blew me away when it actually worked.And I damned sure took a while to get up the nerve to tell others about it.

If this is only a temporary fix though ask your Doc about elevil.In addition to treating depression it is also used to relieve nerve damage pain and phantom feelings after amputations.Feelings as in having that amputated foot itching like crazy. Many amputee's can tell you what I mean.Elevil was the only thing that worked after my original injury.Even the heavies like vicodan and oxycotin did not do more than take the edge off.My pain disappeared after three days.And stayed away till I reinjured it.(stupid me thought it would be alright to keep overexerting myself,even after the doc's said to take it easy.)

I feel for ya man.Major pain on a daily basis sucks bigtime.

[Radio_Lady]

51. What ever happened to rolfing?

[LSK]

27. I would like to know too

My father suffers from bad pain in his back and legs.

Congrates on finding something.

[Redstone]

31. In all due time, if I can, and if I find out that this was REALLY what did it.

Sorry to be vague, but I must.

Redstone

[Nicole]

2. I hope you can stay there too

In that massive pain free world. :hug:

[Redstone]

10. Can I? I'd like that. I'd like it a lot.

Redstone

[Nicole]

15. I sure hope so.

[July]

3. Hey, cheers, Redstone, that's fab.

Hope this continues for the foreseeable future. Enjoy!

[Redstone]

18. Don't believe we've met, but I SURE do appreciate your post.

Redstone

[July]

21. I'm around, lurking some days. Enjoy your posts.

Here's to more good days!

[Redstone]

24. Thank you, July. I do appreciate that.

Redstone

[Hugin]

4. I've been meaning to ask the cause of your pain Redstone...

Bursitis?

Tendinitis?

Unknown?

[Redstone]

9. Are you familiar with the car-restorer's phrase "Body-Off Restoration?" That's what

I had done to my left shoulder in 1999, after injuring it in 1972. The whole catalog of shoulder surgery, all at once. Three and a half inches of my collarbone are in a lab somewhere right now.

Unfortunately, that surgery caused some nerve damage, for which I had additional surgery in 2001. And it didn't work. Mechanically, the surgeons did the right thing, but the damage was too great to be remediated.

And there's the underlying (or overlaying) RSD from the original injury ( see http://www.rsdhope.org ) to complicate it all.

Three days is a gift. Three days is a miracle.

Redstone

[Hugin]

16. Cripes! Yeah, I can see where three days is a breakthrough!

See if you can push it into four!

:D

[Redstone]

26. We can hope, can't we? And I'm doing so right now.

Redstone

[Radio_Lady]

52. Redstone, I had no idea you were so compromised. How sad!

I try to be grateful for good days... I've had surgery that also ended up in a painful scar. Recent back pain is backed off and I'm looking forward to the spring.

Take care, and be better.

In peace,

Radio Lady in Oregon

[LynzM]

5. I'm so glad to hear that; that's awesome!

I will keep all crossables crossed that it stays a dull ache for the forseeable future! Any idea what caused the change? :hug:

[Redstone]

12. I'll tell you as soon as I find out if it's OK for me to do so. Not trying to be a pain in the ass

here; it's just something I don't know much about, so I'm not sure what the rules are.

You dig, right?

Redstone

[LynzM]

23. Yup, I dig.

PM for ya! :hug:

[wildhorses]

7. good news !! ---no details??

about the shoulder i mean:P

[Redstone]

33. Details are in #9 above, thanks for asking.

Redstone

[Ghost in the Machine]

11. I know exactly how you feel, my friend...

I live in constant pain too (broken neck, 2 major surgeries, permanent nerve damage, etc, etc...) and I find myself longing for days of "minimal pain". I've actually had spurts of 2 to 3 days where I was pain free... but that's all they last, 2 to 3 days... and they are few and far between. I push myself harder every day, even though I shouldn't, and I pay for it in the end. I'll never give up or give in to the pain though. I just have a stubborn streak in me that says "I can do it".

I was laid up for 3 years, and when the doctors and insurance company released me back in August, I was back working 16 - 18 hours a day within 2 weeks. I opened a restaurant with the boatload of money they gave me, and I've worked my butt off to see it get off the ground and going. Now, if I only really knew anything about running a restaurant I'd be doing better! LOL! I hadn't worked in one since I was 16 years old, but I've eaten in many of them and I know what's good.

:hi: I hope you get to the point of having a couple pain free days, if not getting all the way back to 100% pain free.

PEACE!

Ghost

[Redstone]

17. Good God, Ghost, You're one of Us (the Pain People)!

It's a damn difficult struggle, isn't it, to explain how chronic pain rewires your brain, and the narcotics don't provide you any fun, just relief, and when you do get those three blessed, glorious days, you work your (whatever body part) off, because you need to take advantage of the window and get something done, because you haven't been able to for so long...

You and I, we are brothers (or brother and sister as the case may be, because I'm not sure of your gender).

We are Pain People. We live among the lucky Others, but we're not like them.

Yes?

Redstone

[Ghost in the Machine]

25. It's hard for anyone who hasn't lived with chronic pain to truly understand

how it is living this way. A lot of people don't realize that physical pain can lead to mental pain also. It's hard to admit to yourself that you can't do the things you used to do, or that you need help in doing some of the things you used to do. I was in the grocery store with a walker 2 weeks after being released from the hospital from my second surgery, and felt like a real helpless baby because my mom was with me (I was 41 then) and she was having to pick things off the shelf and put in the basket for me because I couldn't raise my arms, and was on a 2 LB lifting restriction. I also still had 23 staples down the back of my neck.

I weaned myself off of the pain pills within a month of surgery... I just refuse to have to depend on a pill to live a somewhat normal life. All they did was keep me doped up where I couldn't function. There's no "quality of life" in living like a zombie. My neurosurgeon told me that "marijuana is one of the most potent pain relievers known to man"... so I do self medicate at least once per day. I'd love to live in a state with legal medicinal marijuana, but I don't foresee me moving anytime soon.

Yes, we are brothers of the Pain People Tribe, and definetly aren't like the Others. I hope they never have to suffer our fate, as I wouldn't wish chronic pain on anyone.

Peace to you, my Brother...

Ghost

[Redstone]

29. "I can't" is one of the hardest phrases to learn to say. Yes, it is.

But please, don't be shy about using opioids if you need them.

If you have chronic pain, they aren't "fun drugs" like they are for non-Pain People. If you have chronic pain, they're enabling drugs that help you lead a "normal life." Like being able to go to work each day, as they've helped me to do.

Redstone

[ThomCat]

13. That's because you shipped hte painful vibes down this way.

It's been a hell of a week. x(

I hope you get more good days. I hope a bunch of us do.

[LynzM]

19. Hugs to you, ThomCat

I'm so sorry it's been a bad week for you. Lots of gentle :hug: for you...

[ThomCat]

30. Thank you.

:hug:

Hugs always help. Especially gentle ones.

[Redstone]

20. Oh, no, no, no, NO! I'd never, EVER put my pain off on to anyone else.

I'd rather hurt than hurt someone else.

That may sound kind of "flower-childish" and at odds with my personality, but it's true.

I can take more of a beating than anyone else can,(on edit: Except TominTib), so I'd NEVER offload my pain.

I can take it.

Redstone

[ThomCat]

28. My stuborn stoic justification for pain

has been that there is only a certain amount of pain allowed per capita. Random variations even out over suficiently large populations and all of that. So the more pain I have, the less pain everyone around me has. So being in pain isn't so bad, because it helps everyone around me.

I know, it's total psuedo-science. We all try to justify things we can't control. It helps me get through the day without screaming. :P

[Redstone]

32. That works for a while, doesn't it? Especially when you don't have anything else.

I know. I do.

Redstone

[GoddessOfGuinness]

14. I'm so glad to hear that!

:hug:
Here's hoping it continues! :toast:

[haf216]

22. I very happy for you!

I hope it stays that way!

[Redstone]

36. Thank you. If it does, I'll owe someone big. And pay gladly.

Redstone

[skygazer]

34. Oh, man that's so cool

Good luck to you - I hope it keeps up. Pain wears you down on so many levels - people who've never lived with chronic pain cannot imagine...

Whenever the fantasy question comes up about going back in time to change thing, I always reply that I don't really care about changing anything - I'd just give anything to wake up in the morning and not hurt. That would be the coolest.

[Redstone]

35. It would be cool indeed. And life-changing.

Redstone

[NC_Nurse]

37. I'm so happy for you!

That's wonderful!

I'm sure Mrs. R was happy about it too! :D

[Redstone]

39. Oh, yeah. But no more about that; I don't want to get this locked, OK?

Thanks for your comment...you're a peach.

Redstone

[NC_Nurse]

45. Oh, gosh.

That didn't occur to me - sorry! :blush:

[idgiehkt]

38. I am so glad for you

Have you done anything differently, or is it just lessening on it's own?

:hug:

[Redstone]

41. Something REALLY different. Details may be available after I check with someone,

or they might not. Sorry to be so vague.

Redstone

[idgiehkt]

44. that's okay

I'm just really glad it's working for you.

:toast:

Keep it up, whatever it is. :hug:

[redwitch]

40. I hope you can too!

Living with constant pain would make me a miserable wretch. You are always so nice in spite of it! :hug: May your painfree days continue forever and a day.

[InternalDialogue]

42. Redstone, chronic pain is something I can't imagine.

I read your posts when you were suffering and know I can't relate at all.

So I can't know the degree of your relief, but I'm glad to hear you might have found it.

Here's hoping your pain-free days continue.

[hfojvt]

43. sounds like you have become

comfortably numb

Maybe your freeper fans were praying for you :sarcasm:

Hope it lasts.

[Redstone]

48. Ha! that gave me a good laugh! Maybe my Freep pals want to meep me posting, so

they can continue to be fascinated with me.

Thank you so much.

Redstone

[lizziegrace]

46. I'm very happy for you!

no pain days are rare and cherished. I hope you have many, many more pain-free days.

:hug:

[Drum]

49. Glad to hear this, Redstone.

Congrats on all!

:hi:

[The Traveler]

50. Man, I'm glad to hear that!

Keep us posted on your findings, Redstone, if at all possible and proper. But above all ... I'm just hoping this trend continues for a long time.

Trav

[Kajsa]

53. I'm so happy for you, Redstone.

I'm sure you look upon life with a
whole new perspective, now. It's great!

I'm dealing with on and off pain due to
three herniated disks in my lower spine
and arthritis.

I'm very curious as to how you got it under
control.

Look for my pm-

" Inquiring minds want to know"

:hi:

[reyd reid reed]

54. You're not jinxing it, you're celebrating it

and you're sharing it...that can't cause a jinx. In fact, it's going to continue to get better and better until one day you're going to say, "Ache? Dull? What ache? Where?"

Until then...happy dances all around!!!

[kedrys]

55. I'm so very glad to hear that!

Take it easy, one day at a time. :hug: I'm in the junior league of the Pain People, but my s.o. has been struggling with severe chronic pain for years, and is slowly weaning off all the damn painkillers that don't work any more. I'm very proud, and your story gives us both hope.

Welcome to the world. It's a beautiful day. :loveya:

[BarenakedLady]

56. I'm glad you are relatively pain free

I hope it stays that way. :hug:

[QMPMom]

57. I'm glad for you, Redstone. (For more than one reason! LOL!) n/t

[elfrangel]

58. SO Happyy for YOU!!!!

:bounce: :woohoo: :applause:

:bounce: :woohoo: :applause:

:bounce: :woohoo: :applause:

:bounce: :woohoo: :applause:

[Redstone]

59. All right, then. It's "Energy Healing" from a DUer who I don't even know.

Laugh if you want to, because I would certainly have done so a week ago, but dammit, I had FOUR GOOD DAYS this week.

Christ, I haven't had four good days in a row since, well, 1972.

This DUer told me I could discuss it, but I'm not sure I should disclose his or her name; I have to check with him or her (I haven't even read this DUer's profile, I'm so cautious about jinxing the whole process).

Tonight's not great. But I had FOUR GOOD DAYS. And man, did I get some WORK done. And it felt damn good.

My advice to you all: Never say never. Never discount ANYTHING. Keep your mind open to the alternatives. For example, I've tried hypnosis more than once, and it's never worked well for me. But I've never said that hypnosis is worthless because of that; I know that it's worked wonders for other people. Ditto acupuncture; my acupuncturist told me that I have "stubborn chi." And I have no reason not to believe her.

Conclusion: If a fellow DUer offers you help, and you need it, say yes. Don't stand on pride or belief, nor on disbelief.

There are many things in this world, Horatio, that are not dreamed of in your philosophy. (Or however Shakespeare actually said it.)

Trust me on that, OK?

Redstone

[LynzM]

60. Four good days is awesome!

I'm so glad you had that time, and I hope you can get more good days from this in the future, too! :hug: I've temporarily joined the pain people, though with lower-case p's, for sure, for about 10 days now. And I have to say that I'm humbled greatly by the little bit that I've been through, and the fact that so many of you guys maintain a fantastic sense of humor in the face of this.

[Redstone]

66. Whassamatter, kiddo? Nothing serious, I hope.

Redstone

[LynzM]

70. I'm hoping not, either. I don't think it is.

I've been having what I'd call moderate (especially in the morning) upper shoulder/neck/head muscles pain for about 10 days now... the ibuprofen started wearing a hole in my stomach, so I went to the doc today to get some muscle relaxants and an alternative to the ibuprofen. Fingers crossed that they treat my stomach ok. I think I just pulled all the muscles pretty bad, but I can't nail down what I did to do that. :shrug:

[Redstone]

76. If you're not getting some methacarbamol (muscle relaxant), let me know.

I have a lot of it that I brought back from Canada, where it's OTC. I'd be happy to give some to you.

Redstone

[Gormy Cuss]

61. Four days is a great achievement!

May it be repeated soon.

[Left Is Write]

62. That's awesome.

:hug:

[GoddessOfGuinness]

63. The act of keeping one's mind closed creates tension...

which would only serve to exacerbate pre-existing pain, and possibly create more.

Open minds are good...

I'm so glad you're feeling better! :hi:

[Little Wing]

64. Was it a euphemism for black DUer?

[Redstone]

65. Not sure what you mean by that. Nothing in the Duer's name indicates that.

Redstone

[Little Wing]

69. In the latter half

If it's there, it's there, if it's not there and/or you're still not seeing it, I'm wrong. There's no racism involved, just a translation of dark.

[reyd reid reed]

72. One thing I've learned through the years

is to never scoff at anything. It's all valuable and any effort, any positive energy, any goodwill no matter how small is more help than we realize.

I'm glad you've been doing so well. It's going to keep up. It really is.

:hug::hug::hug:

[Pacifist Patriot]

74. Reiki?

[Redstone]

77. No, not even hands close to me. Long-distance stuff. Pretty amazing.

Redstone

[Ms_Dem_Meanor]

67. What ever you did...

I hope you can keep it up. I would rather have your shoolder than my back any day of the week. :hi:

[Redstone]

68. Be careful about what you wish for, OK?

Redstone

[conscious evolution]

71. How are you feeling today?

[Redstone]

75. Not so great. But I had those four days.

Redstone

[Pacifist Patriot]

73. As a chronic pain sufferer, I celebrate your lack of massive shoulder pain.

About two years ago we finally stumbled on something that reduced my pain/fatigue. Unless you've been there you really can't appreciate the difference, eh? I so hope you stay there.

[Kat45]

78. That's great. I hope it continues.

Sending good vibes your way. And you know what? I'm working now. Finally got a job, started two weeks ago. Just have to get used to getting up and going to bed early so I won't be exhausted all the time. Thought you'd appreciate that bit of good news. :hi:

[Blue-Jay]

79. I'm holding you personally responsible, voodoo prince.

Because my right shoulder has been killing me for the past few days. For no damn reason!