Pain management - any good resources?

[anaishunter]

I'm lucky in that MS has not caused me a tremendous amount of pain. I have hip pain and on the near-term schedule is a hip replacement. Overall, as I get older, there will be more pains and aches, MS/hip-related or not.

I am interested in alternative ways to manage pains. The pills are great, but I'm curious about other techniques. Any good recommendations? books, videos, groups,...

- "yoga breathing" is working well for me to help with ms symptoms (like when my bladder is acting up.

- 1 or 2 glasses of wine can ease up the occasional ms pain in my leg.

- getting my head busy like "painting, reading..." sometimes makes me forget about pain

- meditation.

Just looking for suggestions, ideas. what's been working for you. thank you.

[Kenu]

Good Morning ☀️ finally warming up a little here. I have back problems along with MS pain in arms and legs. Am on my second pain pump and it’s been a life saver. Not only helps with back but also MS pain. Over ten years now with a pump. Don’t have to use any other medications which is great 👍🏼. Doesn’t effect your brain 🧠 and no damage to lung’s and kidneys 🙏. Going in today for lumbar epidural injections in my lower back, hopefully 🙏 helps. Good luck and enjoy your day 👍🏼😉

[Humbrd in reply to Kenu]

Best of luck 🍀 with your injections. Hope it does the trick.

[Cutefreckles72 in reply to Kenu]

Hi Kenu, I recently started having lower back pain and it is hard to deal with. Does the pain pump help? I take two Ibuprofen 500 mg pills at night, and it doesn't help.

[Kenu in reply to Cutefreckles72]

I am on my second pain pump, been over ten years with one now. Smartest thing I ever did. Not only does it help my back problems but also with ms pain 👍🏼😉

[NorasMom]

I swear by hot water bottles. It sounds a little weird, but when I don't go to sleep with a hot water bottle against my hip I have a lot more trouble walking the next day and a noticeable amount of pain, which I don't usually get when I actually use the water bottle. This has been working for me every night for close to 20 years. Of course, when the bottles wear out after a year or so, it's not fun to wake up in a puddle of water, but I'll take that risk!

[Iona60]

I am trying to exercise more. Yoga and stretching really seem to help me. This is an interesting topic and am looking forward to reading the responses.

[anaishunter in reply to Iona60]

thank you. yes, I do yoga. also meditation. it helps a lot except when I do too much and my body complains with fatigue,etc...

it's like I have to dose every activity: do some exercise every day, but not too much. the challenge is that everyday is different.

[BlanketTime1]

have you tried CBD? i would recommend buying from a 3rd party tested company. i used to think it didn't do anything, but i ran out once and my dystonia was horrible. so now i know it helps.😀

[anaishunter in reply to BlanketTime1]

I've tried CBD but does not seem to help. wine seems much more efficient.

[BlanketTime1 in reply to anaishunter]

😜

[Muffie]

Hi there - with you on the wine 😉 I know it’s temporary with wine but the indulgence and oh my the relief. ….it’s my happy moment in the day.I have body tremors sometimes exterior and always continuous internal daily tremors/vibrations including my voice. It used to be intermittent but now 24/7.

Baclofen and lyrica keep me covered during the day. Wine - my nightly 2/3 glasses - hit the sweet spot. Such a relief.

[Alan_Ski]

For spasticity pain in muscles, I find a massage gun helps a great deal.

[anaishunter in reply to Alan_Ski]

yes, massage help a ton. I don't have a gun but whenever I get a chance to get a body massage I feel that my body is more together, more connected.

[Goldilockssearching]

Heat, CBD (tincture/balm/lotion) magnesium spray Tylenol/ibuprofen, bio freeze

[anaishunter in reply to Goldilockssearching]

thank you. I've not heard of Magnesium spray. will look into it.

[mrsmike9]

I just started PT (again). My head hardly swivels, headaches and I have low back pain as well. The therapist, after he tried to move my head, pretended to take my pulse and said, "well you still have a pulse", pointing out my stiffness. We shall see. I've done chiropractors, whatever I can to loosen my muscles which will help with my pain. A zillion years ago I figured I was always tight because of my Type A personality. I asked a doctor how to stop being a Type A person. He said, you can't, but when you have your heart attack you will be more driven to recover. Gee, thanks doc.

[JMWCO in reply to mrsmike9]

Applicable but frustrating- dam type A people we are!!

It took ms & a pandemic to work in my work/life balance to the point it’s getting balanced. I knew I wanted to, I knew I should but it’s the horrible catalysts you need to push one over at times….hearing it vs feeling it.

[JMWCO]

Yoga, walking, breathing, distraction, and swimming.

I do not do any of these things all the time as too much and I’m down and too little I get overly confident like I could go more. 😬

I take a ton of vitamins (I notice big changes when I don’t) - b complex, d, biotin, magnesium, Tri flex, alpha lupuc w/biotin.

And all my other meds….😬

I was just about to post asking if anyone does leg compression therapy….

Oh - almost forgot arnica gel, ice packs for back/eta when falling asleep!