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Ice or heat? Any good books? High Pain Levels...

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Posted 4/6/2011 4:59 AM (GMT -6)
Hello HW Family. I've been on every day, but I haven't been posting as much. My pain (specifically in my neck) has been high lately. Does ice or heat work better for you? It's so frustrating to feel this way all the time. It's killing me.

I feel like I've tried everything--shots, acupuncture, physical therapy (still go), tens, cupping, topicals, braces, heat, ice, water therapy, baths, etc. The list goes on and on.

What haven't I tried? I wish that there were something new that I could try that's over the counter, but that isn't a new medication. Don't think there is though.

Hope everyone is well. I've been doing too much lately, which I know is what is causing all of this added pain. I guess that after ten years of being this way, I still don't know my physical limitations. Or, I do, but I continue to keep doing to much regardless of the consequences.

Come to think of it, the one thing that I haven't read much about is relaxation techniques. I used to do them, but don't much anymore.
One more thing...does anyone know good books about chronic pain in general, and/or relaxation techniques?

That's the only thing I haven't done as much as I'd like to.

Hugs,

Flower
Posted 4/6/2011 7:14 AM (GMT -6)
I think for heat or ice it depends on what your chronic pain condition is. I have RSD and that is a big no for ice. I also heard that if you put heat on for too long that it can rev the nerves up instead of settle. For me I guess warm baths can help to a degree. Have you tried epsom salt baths? I am not a fan but a lot of people find it helpful. For relaxation well I took biofeedback that I try to apply and suggest others try. Relaxation tapes,guided imagery and general music help me feel calmer. Self talk too. Finding a hobby or distraction of some kind.

So hard to find what works and we do all vary. Some is trial and error for each person. OTC meds don't really help much. I guess overall aleve helps the aches not so much the pain. Feel better

Posted 4/6/2011 8:56 AM (GMT -6)
Hi Flower -

I'm sorry you aren't feeling well and having extra pain. I personally use heat, especially in my neck and such. Re: books - I'm a reader and have read multiple books on chronic pain and so forth...but it's honestly been a couple of years and I finally packed them all away. Hopefully, others will have some suggestions.

Just wanted to tell you that I hope you feel better.
--Tina
Posted 4/6/2011 9:36 AM (GMT -6)
 

   Good morning flower123!

          I hear ya!....I do the same!....just push a little too much at times, only to pay for it later. Takes five minuets to mess it up and a week to recover to a level I can handle.

                 No books to suggest, but my wife and I rented a Blue-Ray movie called "The Tourist" ......it was excellant and most of you ladies will enjoy it. smilewinkgrin

 SE wink

Posted 4/6/2011 10:50 AM (GMT -6)
This hand/arm doctor has great self-hypnosis book.

http://www.myfatherssecret.com/

Posted 4/6/2011 2:09 PM (GMT -6)
Hi Flower -

I haven't read it - actually waiting for my copy to arrive at the moment, so I'll get back to you - but I'm told an excellent book is 'Explain Pain' by David Butler and Lorimer Moseley. A lot of their work has been with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, but the book is meant to be great for anyone who has chronic pain.

Another that has helped me is 'Full Catastrophe Living' by Jon Kabat-Zinn. I found a lot of it pretty useless, but there are a few really good techniques in there for helping to manage pain through things like body scan and mindfulness.

*gentle hugs* on the problem with overdoing things. I've had chronic pain (CRPS) for nearly 12 years and I still haven't learnt my lesson about where 'the line' is...

Take care of yourself
Laura
Posted 4/6/2011 3:51 PM (GMT -6)
Hey, Flower hope your feeling better soon...sorry your having a hard time of it...
Ice and Heat can be depended, on how you feel and the type of pain...for new pain
always use ice first, for RA pain heat can help better than ice...wish this was a simple answer.
Have you tried those ice hot patches and if you did, did you like the ice part
better than the heat? then you found your answer...sure hope this helps and is not
confusing...
(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((Flower))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))
healing hugz
Posted 4/6/2011 5:50 PM (GMT -6)
Hi, Flower,
I wanted to add my thoughts since you're always so kind to me. I often use those heat packs (the kind you put in the microwave) on my neck for awhile many days, although it's not a cure. Heat will relax muscles, but may not do a lot for nerve impingement. Sometimes combinations of ice and heat are needed.

I have had chronic neck problems for about 30 years and for me a good cervical pillow,and overall good ergonomics are a must or I'm a mess. Just one night on a bad pillow can do me in for weeks. Also - no more shoulder purses, etc.

As far as pacing yourself, I think that's something many of us have to learn the hard way, unfortunately, but at least it's something in our control. Try to tune into what your body is saying more, and stop an activity when you first start to get signals - or just know you'll pay for it.

An excellent resource site for relaxation/guided imagery CD's or downloads is www.healthjourneys.com. The woman who does most of the material is Belleruth Naparstek, LISW, and she first started her work (decades ago) with the Cleveland Clinic. She also has resources from others that she reviews first. And there are opportunities to listen to short clips for free. I put her Healthful Sleep CD on many nights at bedtime. She also has one for Chronic Pain.

We've all got to put as many tools in our bag as we can to manage CP!

Hoping you feel a little better.

Hugs and thanks for your caring,
PaLady
Posted 4/6/2011 5:59 PM (GMT -6)
Hi Flower. I'm sorry that you're having so much pain. *hugs* I don't have any books to suggest, but I use BenGay and Voltaren Gel. Voltaren Gel has to be given by your doctor thru a prescription. They both work pretty well. I also use TigerBalm. I get it at Walgreens. It works pretty well too. It's so dependent on your body. I used a Walgreens patch that was the same thing as Icy Hot Patch and it didn't work for me, but it might for you. Trying to give you ideas on things you can try.

I hope you feel better really soon. Take care.

love and hugs
Loretta
Posted 4/7/2011 4:25 AM (GMT -6)
JCG32: Can you tell me about what a biofeedback appointment was like?

Momto8boys: Thank you! How have you been doing?

SE: Is "The Tourist" a scary movie? Just curious, as I get scared easily:)

Billy, I'll check that out. Thanks.

CRPS: Thank you for the suggestions. I'm going to buy them. I want to start a little library in my home of CP books, so that I have more resources.

Pebbles, thank you! :)

Chart: Thank you! I think that for me, they both do work, but I can never figure out which one I like better.

Loretta: Thanks! I don't think I've tried Bengay, but I will. I did try Voltaren Gel, but I had an allergic reaction to it: hives:(

PALady: Thank you so much! You are wonderful. I always love reading your posts, and am so happy to hear from you. Hmmm. I think that I do need a good pillow. Thanks for the suggestion. Also, I'm going to go to www.healthjourneys.com now!

Thank you, everyone, for all of your support. I feel blessed to be part of this forum!

Hugs,

Flower
Posted 4/7/2011 5:04 AM (GMT -6)
Flower - I've also just found a couple of CDs a friend copied for me ages ago - one has things like a body scan and various other mindfulness exercises, the other is a progressive relaxation exercise. I can try emailing it to you if you'd like, or else putting it somewhere via a fileshare?

Laura
Posted 4/8/2011 4:28 AM (GMT -6)
CRPS,

Thanks! I don't want to post my email. Is your email here on HW? If so, I can email you my email address. I checked, and yours is not posted. I don't know how to do the fileshare. Hmmm. Is there another way?

Hugs,

Flower
Posted 4/8/2011 7:03 AM (GMT -6)
Hi, Flower,

So sorry to hear about your pain level. I have neck and shoulder pain, too. I use those Ben Gay wraps on my neck during the day at work, and I ice it down sometimes at night. If the ice doesn't feel good, I don't use it. Muscle relaxants and Celebrex help me the most with my neck and shoulder pain. Sometimes I get shots in my shoulders. I also take Tramadol for pain twice a day...100 mg each time. I truly hope you find some relief soon. I feel for anyone suffering with this type pain.

Blessings,
V
Posted 4/8/2011 6:09 PM (GMT -6)
Flower - the fileshare is just a site that lets a person put up files so that another can download it. I've actually just put it up for another friend - http://www.4shared.com/dir/BRJRLXBy/_online.html

That will bring up links to the individual tracks - it's a little slow, because I've done it using the free features - so you can only download one at a time and have to wait so many seconds before you can do so. A little tedious, but I hope it helps you. Let me know if it works. :)

Laura
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