Alternatives

[Guest guest]

Hello One and All!

I know this is a site to share our pain, but I would also like to

bring up ideas that I have explored. Sometimes they work, sometimes

not, but try a couple of them, and you might be surprised how well

they do help.

I have experienced varying degrees of chronic pain for over twenty

years. But before this, I was a competitive ice dancer. After my first

episode of pain I asked myself what the difference was between falling

thirty times on a jump and getting back up laughing to do it again.

And I'm sure you've all read stories about endorphins and how they

affect us. So...

As hard as it is, try to ignore pain and do or think of other things.

Get so interested, you temporarily forget about the nasty stuff.

Watch a belly rocking comedy. Put on your favorite CD and sing at the

top of your lungs. Walk even a little or do light yoga. Anything to

get the body moving. Yes, it will hurt. But it hurts anyway, right?

I also play mind games with my body. I'll take one pill, whether it's

an opiate or aspirin, and tell myself it's a super, duper, pain

killer.Believe it or not, it's worked when I could no longer stand it.

Or use self-hypnosis. Pretend you're building a wall against the pain,

one stone at a time. At the last stone, say that the pain will be gone.

I have other things I've done, but you get the point. If you tell

yourself over and over you hurt, (and of course you do), you may make

it worse by negative reinforcement. And try not to get angry or upset.

For back suffers it can tighten the muscles and throw you into spasms.

I've practiced all of these and more, and many times they've worked,

even when I had spasms so bad my entire body was jerking.

Unfortunately, after a few years your body won't be tricked as easily.

But to those that have just been the long journey, ay least give it a

try.

I hope any of this helps. I know it seems impossible, but it can work.

Jeanne