My name is A., I'm 26 years old and my son just turned two at the end of November. I had JRA which I was lucky enough to outgrow, but still struggle with stiffnes and the significant difference in the length of my legs, which causes my spine to be out of line and my hips to constantly go out of place. I also have fybromialgia, chronic migraines and nausea as well as a pain amplification disorder, allergies, and asthma. I was misdiagnosed as having lupus when i was fifteen and was treated for it for years. I struggle with the chronic pain and also a sleep disorder, probably caused by sleep apnea. I'm so glad to hear that you have a good dr. it's so hard to find somebody that understands. As far as medication, I personally do have to take a regiment of pain medication to be able to remain functional. It's pretty hard and it's not my first choice, but I do what I need to be able to function and take care of my family. Even the pain medication doesn't help me deal all my pain and symptoms so i do try other things. Glucosamine chondroitin has been helpful to both myself and my mother, who suffers from severe osteo arthritis. We both also take the antidepressant Effexor at a very high dose. It helps treat the extra-articular pain and somewhat manage pain in general, as well as the added side effect of helping with the depression that can come along with chronic pain and illness. Also I have found that a physical therapist can be very helpful. They have many ideas for dealing with pain. They use ultrasound therapy and tens units to treat pain and relieve muscle tension. My father, who broke his spine many years ago and has suffered chronic pain ever since had a portable tens unit, which uses small doses of electrical current to help block the pain sensations to the brain. He could clip it to his belt and move the sensors to different places on his back throughout the day as his needs changed. Also physical therapists can help you design a good exercise and stretching program which can help you prevent and manage pain. You don't have to go to physical therapy forever, but they can help you get started and monitor your progress so you can learn to pace yourself and not push to hard, but do just enough to help. Excercising everyday and stretching make a huge difference in with my fybromialgia. If you talk to your Dr. they should be able to refer you to a local therapist who can help you set up a fybromiala maintenance home program, or whatever is best suited to your needs. Swimming is a great exercise for me because it's so low impact and doesn't irritate my joints or aggravate my back, and the hot tub is a great treat and the heat helps the pain. Thermacare heat wraps are pretty cool too. I've always found heat soothing and they work for eight hours, go wherever you go, have no cord and don't burn you if you sleep with them on. Alternating both heat and cold when your back is bad can really help. The two other things you might look into are massage therapy and acupuncture. Physical therapists will often incorporate massage therapy, you dr can also give you a referral and many insurances are starting to cover at least fifty percent of the cost. There are also massage schools locally who offer low cost massages by students. I haven't personally tried acupuncture, but my older sister who has multiple sclerosis as well as several other pain causing conditions, swears by it. She also takes mega doses of pain medication but says she doesn't know how else she could deal with the pain the medication doesn't take away. I know i gave a huge list of information but I have been dealing with these issues personally since I was nine years old and obviously have family who struggle with health and pain issues so I want to give you all the info I have picked up and have learned from others. If you have any other questions about anything I said or if it doesn't make sense let me know. It's not a good pain day for me. Good luck to you and god bless you for looking for alternatives to pain meds and keeping your head up. Happy Holiday's.
A. B. Teeter
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