Living with Chronic Pain | People in Pain Learning from each other

Blog

Update

Posted by kgangel0810 at 03:08 PM on March 10, 2009

I have not updated my blog in awhile, I have been busy, but wanted to add a couple things in hopes it may help someone reading my site.

It has now been 6 mos since my cervical surgery. I still have a lot of muscle pain , all over, so I am guessing much of it is from the Fibro I Have. My Therapy is going well though. I Have Ultra Sound, Massage and heat and it does really help while I am there. I have also purchased a TENS unit which has really helped if going for a long drive in the car. I would suggest getting one if you have back or neck problems, or both. The TENS should not cost more then $50.

Some info on it:

Dual Channel TENS Unit - TENS-3000 3 Mode
Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation

Found at:

http://www.otcwholesale.com/koalaty-tens3000.html

Improved Technology : Most units use an analog system, which is not very accurate. The TENS 3000 uses a microprocessor, which gives exact dial performance. Microprocessor Benefits include an accurate Timer, and an accurate output of maximum, full strength power of 80ma. Accurate as a digital unit, yet easy to operate! Safety amplitude cap: Protects the Amplitude Knobs from accidental bumps or knob movements.

Electronic Muscle Stimultion is an internationally accepted and proven way of treating muscle injuries. It works by sending electronic pulses to the muscle needing treatment; this causes the muscle to exercise passively. Electronic Muscle Stimultion has a low frequency and this in conjunction with the square wave pattern allows direct work on muscle groupings. Electronic Muscle Stimultion is widely used in hospitals and sports clinics for the treatment of muscular injuries and for the re-education of paralyzed muscles, to prevent atrophy in affected muscles an improving muscle tone and blood circulation.

I have also learned a new procedure called EFT. I have just started using it , as I am not done reading about it , but so far it has helped relieve and very bad head ache I Had. So, I guess I must be doing it right. Hopefully , I will learn more about it to help with the other pain I have.

Some info on it:
Found at:
http://www.emofree.com/

Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) is an emotional, needle free version of acupuncture that is based on new discoveries regarding the connection between your body's subtle energies, your emotions, and your health. EFT has been reported successful in thousands of cases covering a huge range of emotional, health and performance issues. It often works where nothing else will.

Best of all, anyone can learn and use EFT and you don't need specialized schooling for it. We even give away the basic methods as a free download.

Experience EFT's results for yourself - after you read the free basic instructions, you can perform your first "rounds" of personal tapping in a few minutes.

3 Mos Since Surgery

Posted by kgangel0810 at 11:55 AM on November 29, 2008

comments (0)

Have been going to Physical Therapy, heat massage and Elec Stim. It seems to help while there, but have soo much muscle tightness and pain still. I am doing the home exercise program they gave as well. I have been having more pain again though. AT least the headaches are still gone

The neuro doc is going to do an EMG on my arms to see what is going on there. I am not sure if I like this new doc or not, but have to have a pain doctor with my other one moving. I sure do miss him, he really tried to help all the time.

Well, that is it for now

Lots of other personal problems going on so life calls

Hello

Posted by kgangel0810 at 04:54 PM on October 24, 2008

comments (0)

Have been feeling some better now, up and down with the pain, maybe I will get lucky and the surgery will have helped some. I hope so anyway.

The Carpal Tunnel is definitely acting up in both arms, even the rt arm and that is where I had the surgery.

I get the neck brace off hopefully next week, I have a doctor appt in the morning and Xrays have to be done too to determine if it is ok to do this

Will write again after the appt.

So far, the RSD pain has not progressed or gotten any worse.

New Entry

Posted by kgangel0810 at 10:58 AM on October 12, 2008

comments (0)

Still not doing so well after the surgery. The pain pretty much still there, have not been as depressed lately though, so that is good.

Unfortunately, though, my Carpal tunnel is acting up again and acting up good. Not good for me. Don't know why it came back with avengence, but it sure did.

Hopefully, wearing the brace will help it

Hello All, Updating

Posted by kgangel0810 at 09:20 AM on October 07, 2008

comments (0)

Just wanted to stop in and say Hi and let you know I am coming along from surgery.

I had a slight set back over the weekend, I did way too much and it was all my fault. Had to go lie down and spent the rest of the day in bed. Did get a good nights sleep and felt much better in the morning. Have been staying put since and will not do something like that again. Or at least until the doctor tells me I am able to do more.

So far too, RSD has not spread and I am praying it stays that way. It did not get worse either then it had been before the surgery

So, that is it for now, 2 1/2 weeks more of this neck brace and then hopefully back to therapy to get my strength up

Again I am Late at Posting an Update

Posted by kgangel0810 at 12:49 PM on September 28, 2008

comments (0)

Try as I may it seems I have a hard time updating my blog.

This time though I guess I have an excuse. I have had to have surgery to help relieve the pressure and pain I have been having in my head, neck and arms. I have been to several doctors to try to figure out the best approach to getting back to feeling better. One doctor was doing injections that did seem to help some, but not for long. They were steroid injections and nerve blocks. I went through several of those but thought I did not want to have to keep doing these month after month. I went to a ortho doc that said surgery, but he chose the disc that has colapsed and he thought that would be the one to repair. I got another opinion from a Neuros Surgeon, he thought the 2 discs that were herniated were the ones to be repaired as he said that they were pressing on the spinal cord.

Well I chose the Neuro surgeon as to me he made the most since. Since having these 2 repaired though, I have not felt good, have not felt better and at times have felt worse. It has only been 2 weeks since the surgery though, so I am hoping that somehow things will get better and I will be doing better when the collar comes off. Otherwise, I feel I will have some very big problems.

So, that is it for me for now , hopefully the next update will come sooner

Blessings

Kris

Been awhile since I posted

Posted by kgangel0810 at 12:18 PM on July 04, 2008

comments (0)

Hi all,

It has been awhile since I have posted a new entry here, so I thought I would do that. Funny how I have the time to do this on a Holiday, lol.

Anyway, I have been really trying to add exercise to my day each day. It has been very difficult as it is painful to exercise when you have pain, but through all the research I have done, stretching and exercise seems to really help many people in pain.

I know there are some that just can not and so this is not for you, but for those with FM, RSD anyway, I know there has been proof exercise helps. My advice to you if you have a ton of pain may be that you start off by trying to do aqua therapy first then try to do other things once you are feeling some better about exercising. Of course all this has to be over seen by a physician that you trust.

I have been doing aqua therapy and I am now going to a Physical Therapist and learning some stretching exercises to help ease my tight muscles and hoping that will help as well. I have spinal problems as well as RSD and FM and so I am going to see if it helps ease the back and neck pain I have as well and maybe save me from surgery.

So far, I seem to be walking some better and it seems to be helping with the tightness as well, at least some anyway.

I have been walking as much as possible too and am up to a mile a day now.

I think that has to be a good thing and wanted to share it with anyone that may feel they can not do it, I felt that way too, but it does get better

blessings
Kris

Well, Side Effects of Cymbalta, too much!!

Posted by kgangel0810 at 03:02 PM on May 20, 2008

comments (0)

Unfortunately the side effects of the Cymbalta lasted for 2 full weeks and I just could not tolerate them as they kept getting worse instead of better.

It is so hard to not be able to find a couple good meds to help you with your pain. I sure wish I was not so sensitive to the meds they are trying.

Well, that is all for my update today, I don't go back to the doctor until June 6th.

Kris

Hi All, New Update!!

Posted by kgangel0810 at 11:57 AM on May 15, 2008

comments (0)

I am really not very good at doing and keeping up my blog, sorry about that!!

I should keep a journal for pain , as that is a huge help for those that keep one, it really helps the doctor to better understand your pain as well.

I am on a new med. It is called Cymbalta. So far my side effects are headache and stomach ache. It is not a good feeling and it lasts a long time. I take it at night with my stomach meds and some food and the yucky feeling lasts most of the next day as well.

Oh well, it has only been a couple days, I am going to continue and hope that the side effects lessen, as I really would like to finally find something that helps

Hugs

kgangel

Hello All

Posted by kgangel0810 at 12:33 PM on March 15, 2008

comments (0)

I am updating after my carpal tunnel surgery.

I think all went fairly well since the surgery, except that I am over doing with my hand and it is causing pain. I have to try to remember it is only been a few days and to slow down. I am good at letting others know that and forget to do it myself

The sutures and splint come out on Weds. Hopefully things will be feeling better then

Kris

View Older Posts »