Non-chemical or alternative pain relief?

[Matey]

Sorry to hear about the accident. I think onearmedbandit is absolutely right when he talked about pain management and also using the psychological approach, (Codeine will bring its own side effects that can be miserable to deal with too). There are techniques around guided visualisation that many people with chronic pain find helpful, I would imagine there are websites that will give some specifics regarding how it can work. Give your physio a grilling on pain management too, they should have a few clues.

[blackdog]

Drink some good alcohol and toke up a nice fat J. You'll be feeling great within seconds.

Hospital then prescribed medical grade grass.

an approach that im fairly keen to investigate further, unfortunately i have issues surrounding procurement (transport and actually having a trustworthy source)

also esp. if it makes the wifes food taste better

[SMOKEU]

an approach that im fairly keen to investigate further, unfortunately i have issues surrounding procurement (transport and actually having a trustworthy source)

also esp. if it makes the wifes food taste better

It's not what you know, it's who you know. Dress in some scruffy looking clothing and approach the local hood rats; that should ensure the regular supply of your medication. It may be of questionable quality, however.

[CookMySock]

unfortunately i have issues surrounding procurement (transport and actually having a trustworthy source) also esp. if it makes the wifes food taste better

Now that you have mentioned it here I doubt whether you have problems getting any, and trust me it makes everything about your wife taste better, especially if you share it with her.

Steve

[SixPackBack]

Good luck with the pain management theblackstig. Pills and concoctions do not always have much affect, and those that do can lose effectiveness due to tolerance. Codiene and Tramadol bounce off me , and my Dr has all bought given up on effective pain control [an indicator that professional pain management help is often very poor]. Remaining pain management medicines dull the mind and body so badly that quality of life is virtually nil.

Alternative methods of pain control see the patient entering an esoteric world. Vitamin D, magnesium injections, de-tox, acpuncture, hema veiw and a whole host of 'alternatives' may provide relief, or may just relieve the wallet.

Fighting pain kills the spirit and makes not only yourself but those around you miserable. For me a 'D day' is set after which removal from the gene pool takes place. Your own pitiful existence is thankfully over and loved ones [with the help of life insurance] are free to carry on.

[Ratti]

My husband died last year of a nasty cancer called multiple myeloma. The main efect it has is to degrade the calcium in bones. His spine was like a dried XLO cloth, and was breaking just about every time he moved. Pain comes no where even close to describing what he went through in the last few weeks. I feel so much for you who live with that degree of pain every day.

The only other things i can think of is maybe a TENS machine? Might not be appropriate for your situation, but worth a look.
There used to be a clinic in Palmerston North that specialised in managment of pain. She taught breathing and visualisation techniques to let the pain flow rather than fighting it. I dont know if its still going, but there was a docter at the hospital there that referred people to her.


There is some really good advice posted here, and some that IMO is of dubious value. Anything is worth a shot tho if it improves your quality of life. Best wishes for your eventual recovery.

[SixPackBack]

Another method of control to consider would be http://www.exitinternational.com/ probably not relevant to the starter of this thread, but there will be those people who would not be prepared to live through a life of chronic pain.

[steve_t]

Acupuncture and TENS are two options that are very worthwhile investigating IMO Good suggestions!

[golfmade]

Had to look up TENS to know what it means. Get that done now and then here in Taiwan actually. They start you out with acupuncture and then do the TENS. First time I was a bit un-nerved (pardon the pun) as it felt a bit odd but did help. Then again, I doubt I was in the kind of pain you are, but it's worth trying.

If you're in the vibe to try more alternative things check out cupping. If you've got a place there that does acupuncture and TENS they most likely also do cupping. When I get it done they use glass lids and just a suction, no fire. You'll end up with some nasty looking bruises on your back but especially in summer time I've noticed it helps improve my blood flow and I feel less hot.

[onearmedbandit]

TENS didn't work for me unfortunately, all I got was lots of shocks lol.

[AllanB]

So I arrived here ready to make a witty comment regarding a doobie and started reading the responses.

Fark me if I haven't got the proverbial lump in my throat. Certainly put my hemorrhoids into perspective!

Kudos to the honest and open replies, now I have to go off and do something manly to get rid of this gay throat lump ...........

[T.W.R]

i spect the physio is going to be fairly gruelling as well

That's where it all begins

What you're dealing with now is just healing, getting things operational again is a different story.
18mths of physio meant for some interesting times for me
Like OAB I'm the result of a left arm motorcyle injury....though not paralysied but close with only about 35deg of movement in my left arm ( roughly 70deg from full extension to 75deg from full contraction).
Did a 70km/h landing with my left elbow taking the full impact, compund multiple fracture of the Ulna head & shaft and severe dislocation of the Radial head and radial nerve palsey (they removed the ulna head & rebuilt it and then fitted it back into my arm at the 2nd operation)
After 7 individual operations, 3 sets of metalware, & 2 bone grafts I'm at the point where the specialist only has options of a cadaveric elbow ( out of another peeps), an artificial elbow ( would have 4 replacements by the time I was in my late 50s then it'd have be fused in place), or fuse it in place now
Even spent a period of 4mths where I'd have to go for blood tests every 2nd week just to check that the meds weren't screwing up my liver function.
As it is my elbow isn't fixed the ROM hasn't changed......It does bend OK for what it is but it sounds like I'm grinding stones in the joint, it continually aches relentlessly not matter what I do for it, phantom pain comes & goes. It's misshapen and the bicep muscle has withered.
Had the majority of prescription pain relief meds & plenty of other options as well......they're all temporary and the pain is always consistant. But after 15yrs of living with it it's the way things are for me.
Just take it on the chin and in time it's secondary; don't let it dominate you, dominate it the mind is a pretty powerful tool and all forms of pain relief are only dulling what bits are telling your mind.

[golfmade]

TENS didn't work for me unfortunately, all I got was lots of shocks lol.

I personally don't think TENS would do anything for serious damage such as accidents you and blackstig have been in.

[steve_t]

I personally don't think TENS would do anything for serious damage such as accidents you and blackstig have been in.

TENS may be useful as a supplement to the drugs, not a replacement for them

[SixPackBack]

I personally don't think TENS would do anything for serious damage such as accidents you and blackstig have been in.

TENS can do wonders no matter what, when or how the injury. Most injured folk try a gamut of cures in order to find the best that suits them. For me Tramadol, Codiene, Paratripyiliene, Pyhsio, Chiro, Acupuncture, TENS had less affect than a heated wheat bag.