Re: Muscle Relaxers for Pain

[Guest guest]

, the first thing I would recommend is MBSR (Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction). I have become an enthusiastic supporter of this for pain relief. Tracie teaches this technique. This summer I had finally decided to have surgery on my lower back because I just couldn't continue with the pain & severe leg cramps. I ran into an old friend of mine who now teaches MBSR & she convinced me to try it before undergoing surgery. I was very skeptical, which was odd, since as a midwife I believed strongly in the mind-body connection & it's effect on labor pain. Anyway, after just 3 classes, I was totally amazed at the relief I experienced. My pain isn't gone, but it's back to the level I've had for about 25 years, which I can live with. So that would be my first suggestion. Here is a good website, explaining MBSR. He's selling books, but it's still a good starting place. I think it would be a difficult thing, for me at least, to do on my own, but if taking a class is out of the question, we can probably help you learn the basics. The link to Oprah will give you a couple of excellent basic instruction sheets. http://www.mindfulnesstapes.com/

Now regarding meds for muscle spasms, back when the fatigue, etc. started several years, I began having muscle cramps everywhere--places I didn't know I had muscles. I remember having cramps on the outside of my ankles! If I reached back to scratch my back, my arm, neck & back would all cramp up. I even had trouble using toilet tissue--my arm, side, legs & back would all cramp. I could just be gesturing as I talked & get a severe cramp in my elbow! Somebody at work suggested quinine water, which I bought at a health food store, but it didn't help. So I asked my neurologist & he gave me a prescription for Quinine. I've been taking it ever since. A few times I've run out & tried going without it, but within a few days I'm starting to cramp again. Actually, before the Quinine, one of my docs gave me Baclofen, but I had some kind of reaction to it; can't remember what, but I had to stop taking it. Anyway, last year, Dr. Larry, my neuro, talked to me about stopping the Quinine, because some studies had shown an increased risk of something, heart disease maybe?, with it, but I told him that every drug has a downside & I was willing to accept that risk, so he has continued to prescribe it. He knows me well enough to trust that I'm not going to sue him if I have a problem because of it. I just can't function with all those cramps & muscle spasms.

I don't know if Quinine would help you, and you can't take it if you are on Plaquenil (sp?) or other drugs in that category, but it's something to consider.

Ramblin' Rose

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[Guest guest]

in UT My neuro gave me Cymbalta for back pain. It seems to be working pretty good. I only take Tylenol arthritis strength for headaches & general knee pain.Join our Sock Challenge for Orphans in Kazakhstan - 265 pairs needed by 9/15/07 http://groups. yahoo.com/ group/Mittens_ for_Akkol/ grannylunatic@...

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[Guest guest]

in UT My neuro gave me Cymbalta for back pain. It seems to be working pretty good. I only take Tylenol arthritis strength for headaches & general knee pain.Join our Sock Challenge for Orphans in Kazakhstan - 265 pairs needed by 9/15/07 http://groups. yahoo.com/ group/Mittens_ for_Akkol/ grannylunatic@...

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[Guest guest]

Rose Where can you still get Quinine? My pharmacy said they can't get any. I took it for my night kicking that left me tired as heck. The ex bf got tired of me kicking him so that's how I got the meds to begin with.Join our Sock Challenge for Orphans in Kazakhstan - 265 pairs needed by 9/15/07 http://groups. yahoo.com/ group/Mittens_ for_Akkol/ grannylunatic@...

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[Guest guest]

Rose Where can you still get Quinine? My pharmacy said they can't get any. I took it for my night kicking that left me tired as heck. The ex bf got tired of me kicking him so that's how I got the meds to begin with.Join our Sock Challenge for Orphans in Kazakhstan - 265 pairs needed by 9/15/07 http://groups. yahoo.com/ group/Mittens_ for_Akkol/ grannylunatic@...

Take the Internet to Go: Yahoo!Go puts the Internet in your pocket: mail, news, photos more.

[Guest guest]

Rose Where can you still get Quinine? My pharmacy said they can't get any. I took it for my night kicking that left me tired as heck. The ex bf got tired of me kicking him so that's how I got the meds to begin with.Join our Sock Challenge for Orphans in Kazakhstan - 265 pairs needed by 9/15/07 http://groups. yahoo.com/ group/Mittens_ for_Akkol/ grannylunatic@...

Take the Internet to Go: Yahoo!Go puts the Internet in your pocket: mail, news, photos more.

[Guest guest]

Rose Where can you still get Quinine? My pharmacy said they can't get any. I took it for my night kicking that left me tired as heck. The ex bf got tired of me kicking him so that's how I got the meds to begin with.Join our Sock Challenge for Orphans in Kazakhstan - 265 pairs needed by 9/15/07 http://groups. yahoo.com/ group/Mittens_ for_Akkol/ grannylunatic@...

Take the Internet to Go: Yahoo!Go puts the Internet in your pocket: mail, news, photos more.