The book of pain by mdmc

[mdmc]

Recently I started having unexplained pain in my hands, arms, shoulders, neck and hip joints.
The thought of becoming a pain person scared me. The pain people are a noble bunch, a large group, a group that welcomes all but desires no new members. Pain people exist to reduce their levels of pain.
I am doing everything I can to stop or reduce this pain I experience. I am now also looking into alternative treatments.
Besides seeing doctors, exercising, taking meds, eating better, I have been keeping a pain journal. I write down where the date, time, location of pain, and a number from low 1 to 10 rating the pain. I also try to write a summary of exercises / times medication were taken and if they had any effect/ and a note of what I was doing at the time.

here is an example.
2-14-8 4:20AM cant sleep pain in shoulders is severe. Hands ache, but shoulders are extreme. It started to hurt while at a dinner party last night. Right out of no where. BOTH SHOULDERS #1 / #7 BOTH HANDS #1 / #2.
Got up took meds, did arm circle exercises.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=105&topic_id=7440740

[LynzM]

1. I'm sorry you're hurting, mdmc

I don't have personal experience with this (yet), but I'm sorry you're in so much pain. I hope that you can identify the pattern(s) to help you avoid it. :hug:

[Warpy]

2. Do you have a diagnosis yet?

When drugs aren't working, I use deep meditation. If you are interested in trying it, email me for an address where they have half hour and hour long sessions in guided meditation online.

It takes a tremendous amount of concentration, but after an hour or so of meditation I often find I have several hours of functioning. If I try it when pain is keeping me awake at night, I often fall asleep in the middle of it.

I discovered it quite by accident when I was a kid with pain people said I was too young to have, arthritis. I only found out I was doing classical jhana meditation much later in life. Imagine my surprise.

[mdmc]

3. thank you - I am willing to try

thanks for the advice... I will email you. Thank you my friend.

[Mojorabbit]

17. I'd love the site too

The nerve pain in my legs from the MS keeps me awake at night. I used to be able to do self hypnosis with some relief but I can't seem to do it anymore.

[Maraya1969]

19. I'd love to know those sites. Can you post the links here?

[mopinko]

4. so sorry to hear this, friend.

hope you find relief. you are so right, tho. pain can take over everything.
i saw the neuro surgeon yesterday. i was not surprised that i still have a little pain 2 weeks after my double discectomy. i knew that with my fibro, i would heal slowly. i was very surprised when he wrote me a scrip for lyrica. i had been wondering about this drug. i have my fingers and toes crossed that it will help me.
i am very tired of having pain and fatigue in control of my life. if i every get relief, i think i will put the iron will that it taught me to good use. big if, tho.
take care friend. i will let you know if this med does help.

[ThomCat]

5. You're right. We'll welcome you, but hate to have to.

:hug:
I hope you can find the cause(s) of your pain and deal with it effectively.

[mdmc]

6. 2-17-8 2am

RIGHT SHOULDER #1/#2
LEFT SHOULDER #1/#4
my left shoulder gives me a lot of pain when I move it. I can touch my left hand to my right shoulder, but it causes pain.
I can't lift my left arm past my shoulder - I can only lift it 90 degrees.
I started new meds and am seeing more doctors.

I've been feeling better and hopeful. I exercise.


Hope all is well with everyone else.

[fight4my3sons]

7. I don't know if you are doing any PT, but

The Center for Physical Therapy (I think that's the name, haven't lived in NY for 3 yrs) in the village of Wappingers is excellent. I went there for about a year for a knee injury. I know someone with osteoarthritis that went there and had great results. They have a pool for therapy right there as well as their exercise equip. I wish I could remember the name of the therapist there.

[mdmc]

8. wappingers falls isn't too far from me

I will look in to physical therapy...
I saw a orthopedic surgeon that didn't think I would benefit from pt...

[mdmc]

9. I've been doing acupuncture and it seems to have a positive effect

I don't know if it is better then a massage. Acupunture does hurt.

[blondie58]

11. I have heard good things about acupuncture

I wonder if part of it is the fact that you are in a meditative state while waiting. I hope that you get some relief soon- that is lousy.

[mdmc]

10. I have a diagnosis and started treatment

I have RA (rheumatoid arthritis). I have a bunch of meds now and am feeling better. While I will have to take medicine the rest of my life, I should be pain free.

Thank you God.

[Warpy]

12. I'd say "congratulations," but since that's part of what I have

I know what a pain in the ass it is. The good news is that most of us can be well controlled on meds.

Getting a diagnosis after you've beaten yourself up for being lazy, a wimp, and every other rotten thing in the book is an incredible relief, even when it's a rotten diagnosis like RA.

[mdmc]

13. I am just glad that I can start to work on recovery

I've been sitting around basically looking like a hungover cripple because the pain has been so intense and untreated.

Now I have hope.

Peace warpy.

[mopinko]

14. so glad to hear this.

what warpy said. it is pretty hard to be in pain and have no reason for it. docs shrugging their shoulders at you are a special hell. glad you are past that. hope the meds work well for you.

[mdmc]

15. so far it has been perfection

the meds work well and I'm on the go! I feel 100% better. I have a new outlook on life

[mdmc]

16. I am still doing pretty good

I have almost no pain and the meds don't seem to have any noticeable neg side effects to report. Just can't have kids due to birth defect risks...

Still, I HAVE NO PAIN!

[Mojorabbit]

18. That is wonderful

to hear!