Memorygirls - The Matrix Re-inspired

ClootiesMum

Susan - don't know if this stuff will help but we find it a godsend as does my aunt who swears it cures her sciatica. It's probably not hard-core enough for you but I'd feel terrible if I didn't mention it

http://www.mint-ease.co.uk/

It's also sold on Amazon - that might work out cheaper but I really like the people on the phone @ the company. It's like Deep Heat but MUCH more effective. And if you do contact the mint ease folks you can always ask for a wee sample as they sometimes send one out free of charge.

lucielle

MG I've sent you a PM.
L

Dorastar

Been away for weekend in London for neice's 1st birthday - don't get to see my bro very often cos it's a 430 mile round trip and usually involves a hotel night as well. Had a fab time and positively resolved to keep in touch better - am going to email and facebook sister-in-law in future as bro is too lazy to ever reply!

First quote for falling down brick wall has come back at £1710 which is less than we first thought so got to wait for other quotes to come in, and another roofer coming tomorrow to quote for that too. Both sets of olds have offered £ for our wedding anniversary to put towards either bit of building work so that will help and dh's overtime will also go towards it. Am trying hard not to have to close a savings moneyspinner I started 5 years ago in order to pay for the wall so going to do budget tomorrow and see how much we could save by only eating beans on toast!

clairewop

Snap Dorcaster lol, glad you had a lovely weekend

greenbee

susan946 wrote: »

Just now I should give anything to be able to walk by the river. My back is so painful I don't know quite what to do to cope. I can't take strong painkillers as they make me feel so ill. I take my prescription anti inflammatories but can't take anything more as I don't want to overdose. My main coping strategy is mind over matter - if I don't acknoweldge that the pain exists it doesn't exist. Trouble is it no longer seems to work. Had my nerve conductivity tests last Wednesday and I'm back to see the surgeon next Friday - 13th - so hopefully he will have something positive to suggest. Can't cope with this much longer.

Sorry about the self pitying moan.....but if anyone has any helpful suggestions?

I had chronic back pain for years (from the age of about 14), and have now resolved mine through diet, exercise and probably sheer bl**dy mindedness I still have two slipped disks, but as long as I look after myself they don't bother me. I has taken years to undo the damage caused to muscles of compensating for pain, and I still have weekly sports massage to a. deal with any injuries I've given myself through being silly and b. improve my posture. Deep massage on abdominals is not something you want to have if you can avoid it

I changed my approach to managing my pain and back problem when they discovered that the incredibly strong painkillers that I was taking were making me worse - I had a reaction to them which meant they made me more, not less sensitive to the pain! This has caused some nerve problems that resurface when i'm very tired, but otherwise I'm drug-free now. And the pills seemed to stop my brain working...

However... a few coping tips... (NOT medical advice)

• try the titration of the dose suggested by your GP - even cutting the pills in half. Little and often avoids the peaks and troughs and can keep the pain at bay. You may also find that you start to get through the night without having to wake up for a dose.
• Use a TENS machine. A proper one for chronic pain (and with a note from your doctor, you get it VAT free as a chronic pain sufferer). I've had two from NEEN/Mobilis healthcare and they've been great - very small, so you can clip them on your belt, UK made and they send out loans if there are problems. They used to do a 30-day trial too... best thing to do is call and find out what might suit you if you want to try something.
• keep warm - seems obvious, but it makes a huge difference. Hot water bottles in bed, warm baths before going to bed, warm showers before you get going in the morning, and wearing enough layers (including scarves that can be used to stop draughts) can prevent muscle spasm. Use wheat packs to provide targeted warmth.
• Mobilisation exercises BEFORE you get out of bed. That way you've warmed the muscles up before you ask them to do anything
• Lots of different sized pillows so you can set yourself up for however you feel each night. I used to use memory foam, I now use a combination of spelt and feather pillows.
• A decent mattress and mattress topper. You need something supportive, but also softness, particularly if turning is difficult. Pillows to support your body when sleeping (eg in front of you to stop you lying on your front, or between your knees) may also help.
• Nordic walking - well not exactly, but if you do go out, a couple of walking poles to help with stability makes you feel so much more confident. And one stick on its own just makes you more lopsided and twisted
• Epsom salt baths - the magnesium really helps with the cramps. Only do this at night though, as it can make you sleepy. Start with a tea cup full of epsom salts (buy in bulk online or from garden centres, not from the chemist), and work your way up to about 1kg if you need it. Magnesium citrate taken at night is also a good way to top up magnesium and helps you sleep too.
• Swimming (or hydrotherapy if you aren't up to swimming) as immersion in water really helps calm your sympathetic nervous system. So much more effective (for pain management) than beta blockers, and without the side effect of making you want to burst into tears... although you may be exhausted!
• Keep moving. Sitting/lying for too long makes you stiff. Even if you potter, keep moving.
• Diet - there is lots of evidence to suggest that spices such as cinnamon, turmeric, chillies etc are good for pain management. So start using them in cooking, and drinking yogi teas. If you're taking painkillers, protect your gut by taking them with carbs/yogurt or you'll get a stomach ulcer. Eat plenty of F&V for energy and to help with weight (the less you weigh, the less strain there is on your back), but cook them well, as the painkillers cause your digestion enough problems, without asking it to cope with raw stuff.
• Minimise the amount of sugar you eat. It appears that for a lot of people it makes them more sensitive to pain. There are studies on this, so google it if you don't believe me
• No fizzy drinks either... cut down on caffeine...
• Try to get outside in the fresh air and sunshine every day. Greenery helps you feel better, and sunshine tops up vitamin D.
• The odd glass of wine and bit of nice chocolate occasionally doesn't hurt either
• get a friend round for a cup of (yogi) tea and a chat, to distract you - but explain in advance that your attention span is short and that you may not be well enough to talk to them for more than 15 minutes or so. Hopefully they'll volunteer to help out too... my friends used to change my sheets, mow the lawn and do bits of housework and cooking for me, all in return for the pleasure of my (somewhat tempermental at the time) company

If you feel like you'd just like someone to put a hand inside and rip out the offending body parts, then I know where you're coming from. You need to get control of this, as plenty of people resort to self harm (acute pain distracts from chronic pain). There are some great visualisations techniques that can help, as can massage, meditation, aromatherapy, but you have to find what works for you.

Hope this helps. Feel free to PM if I can help further.

Eager_Elephant

ClootiesMum wrote: »

Susan - don't know if this stuff will help but we find it a godsend as does my aunt who swears it cures her sciatica. It's probably not hard-core enough for you but I'd feel terrible if I didn't mention it

http://www.mint-ease.co.uk/

It's also sold on Amazon - that might work out cheaper but I really like the people on the phone @ the company. It's like Deep Heat but MUCH more effective. And if you do contact the mint ease folks you can always ask for a wee sample as they sometimes send one out free of charge.

This is interesting ClootiesMum as my DH has a form of neuralgia (nerve pain) in his head and I read on the internet that peppermint oil is good for this so I brought some - unfortunately because his neuralgia is inside his head it didn't work but as most peeople have it on the trunk of the body it seems to do something.

Susan - if you would like me to send it to you I will as we will not need it and it is just sitting around (every so often I open it and sniff it and it seems to make me feel full - hmmm maybe I should market it as a diet aid). However do not let the vapours get near your nose or mouth as mine were tingling for hours :rotfl:

EE

Eager_Elephant

Earlier I was in The Range and looking at the garden centre and what did I see...

self-watering hanging baskets :rotfl:

I can't believe how much they cost - they were £5.99 and that did not include the pipe bit or the chains to hang it up with :eek:

I pulled it apart in the shop and basically it was a like a flower pot (in the shape of a hangin basket) with a piece of plastic (with small holes in) in the bottom that sat about 1.5" above the bottom, it then had a hole in which the pipe sat so exactly the same as what MG made :T

The thing is when MG first mentioned her self-watering pots I really did think they were self-watering :rotfl: and thought how much time and effort it would save me if the plants watered themselves :rotfl: and then I thought if only they could plant themselves as well.

Guess I was getting a bit carried away (or maybe my coffee was spiked!!)

EE

Cheery_Daff

:rotfl: EE I would have thought the same thing without thinking about it properly

Cheri - we went to Ynyslas when we were over your way - absolutely beautiful!

((susan)))))) Greenbee has good suggestions there of course! Mr Daffs had a slipped disc a while back, an awful lot of pain for months and months - all sorted out with Alexander Technique lessons (one to one). Now he's very aware of posture etc, and move around an awful lot. I guess it's never one size fits all though. Good luck.. xx

MG! Doing fabulously well there woman!

Well, I'm back from my Scandinavian music festival thing Had a most excellent time - my heart certainly did sing, I was very brave and sat and played with lots of other people, and had an absolutely marvellous time! :j :j :j :j

greenbee

Cheery_Daff wrote: »

((susan)))))) Greenbee has good suggestions there of course! Mr Daffs had a slipped disc a while back, an awful lot of pain for months and months - all sorted out with Alexander Technique lessons (one to one). Now he's very aware of posture etc, and move around an awful lot. I guess it's never one size fits all though. Good luck.. xx

oh yes... did Alexander technique too... anything that promotes body awareness is great. Helps with self-assessment and describing pain too.

Glad you enjoyed your festival Cheery - I hope that means you'll be doing similar things regularly from now on

clairewop

I find my back hurts less when I move around too,

I woke up this morning in absolute agony, when I finally managed to get out of bed and moved around the pain was much less, although doing too much irritates it too.

Right pain killers are kicking in now so its bedtime or i'll be asleep on the keyboard of the laptop lol. The only downside of taking them they make me very sleepy, so I try not to take them during the day, if I need to I only take 1.