14 years ago I had a RTA. Open book fracture of pelvis. Pain ever since. Has anyone got other ways to cope with pain instead of morphine etc

[Monrod]

[earthwitch]

have you been to a pain clinic? They have a whole range of things that can be tried, from long acting injections directly into the damaged area, to things like tens or acupuncture or ultrasound, as well as reviewing any meds you are taking.

[Hidden]

Hello BOB here

You say you were treated for an Open Book Fracture of the Pelvis fourteen years ago. Have you had any form of treatment since then especially in the last six months ?.

If not you really need to see what is going on in there so under these circumstances you really need to see the GP.

So to get you over a period so you can see the GP you could take painkillers if you are not allergic. Try Codiene, and Paracetamol, only take them as on the packet both drugs complement themselves together, only take a dose that will control the pain,I am not a GP so I can only give support.. A chemist may recommend something more appropriate

Now please contact your GP he will advise on what medications you take, Above is only a stop gap.

All the best

BOB

[Hidden]

I'd rather not advice any meds but can recommend meditation, mindfulness, distraction any activity that gets you in the flow. (Flow is when you are totally focused on an activity and getting great enjoyment from it and hours whizz by without you noticing).

All these things use different brainwaves and in time will help to block out the pain messages. All help your body to heal naturally and all are safe to do as often as you like.

Also a lymph massage. May need someone to do this for you. Feet, legs in long firm strokes up towards the heart, and hands and arms towards the heart. Sluggish lymph system harbours toxins, and causes tissue swelling around the joints. You'll know if it's sluggish because it will feel tender like bruising to the touch, just go gently over these areas. Do daily if you can for a week, then you can alternate legs and arms each day.

And a sports physio can deal with any compensation pain that has built up over the 14 years, so that you are left with the core pain which may require less meds to keep under control.

[superannie in reply to Hidden]

Hi Zanna, can you recommend any books on the type of medication free methods that you are using? I am at the stage where codeine and paracetamol are not helping much and my GP and I are trying to find other relief before I go on to stronger medication. Thanks Ann

[Hidden]

Hi Ann,

I don't really use books. I learnt mindfulness at the pain clinic, and meditation I picked up myself.

I have an android phone and tablet. There are many free apps to try and they will be on the iphone too. Can be accessed on a pc as well, of course. I find with the meditations, sometimes music is enough and I do breathing myself but other times I need guided into a full body relaxation.

I have a colour change cd from the pain clinic, think of the pain as a colour and change it to switch off the pain. This goes deep into my mind and I come out of it with a hang over so I don't do a full one very often, but rather a quick 10 mins here and there. It's all so automatic now, its hard to explain.

There are also many very good health and wellbeing resources on the web. Things designed for emotional wellbeing and confidence are good too (even though this may not be a problem to you, it's always good to think about such things). Pain and emotion are closely linked.

It's just a case of finding what suits you. I follow a blog called positive provacations and there's a weekly newsletter with ideas to keep the mind healthy.

There may be classes you can go to in your area, sometimes in the beginning its helpful to talk to others.

Mindfulness is quite complex so it may be best to go to a class to learn the basics. It's main aim is to live in the moment and focus fully on the task at hand, using all your senses to appreciate, explore and connect with it.

Even colour therapy may help. It's on my list of things to do. Colours affect our moods and can either energise us or drain us, and by changing the colours we wear and decorate our houses with can change how our body behaves.

Aromatherapy is lovely too. Gentle massage with healing oils, very relaxing and feel good factor. They will concentrate on sore bits if you want or just do a general all over massage. It's very gentle, not like a physio massage, and very soothing. It does make a bit of a mess of your hair, but if you get a morning appt, you can continue massaging your head yourself all afternoon and get the benefit of the oils for longer.

Try one at a time for a month or so, really get involved with it. If you like it and it helps you, carry on with it and add another one. If you start more than one thing at a time, it will be more difficult to know what's helping.

Then once you have 3 or 4 things work out a way to rotate them through your day, so you are treating yourself every few hours. Always do something before you get up and before you go to sleep. But any other time that suits in the day too.

Good luck, and have fun, remember some things will take a while to get the hang of. And it will take a while to see the benefits too.

[pinknosedcat]

Just wanted to add a little to your mindfulness thread, can you knit or crochet? Doing constructive and creative things with your hands has a really positive affect on pain and mind set. there are studies going on about the roll of the hands in relation to stress relief etc. I'd recommend having a go and seeing if it helps, there are loads of classes around at the moment. Mindfulness is brilliant for pain and stress Good luck.

[Monrod]

Thanks for your kind reply. I have herd of this and I do cross stitch and water colouring. It takes the mind to a better place but pain is not improved. Thanks once again.

[johnsmith]

One of the things that often occur with fractures is muscle shortening. This can cause pain. If no one has ever advised you of this (likely because many fracture consultants only consider how long the fracture takes to heal not how muscles behave) then you will need to seek specialists in remedial massage who can lengthen out shortened muscles.

This can be a long drawn out process and can be quite painful. There are also exercises available which would help stretch out some of the shortened muscles.

Muscles which are over tense produce lactic acid and are unable to receive an adequate supply of nutrients from the blood supply.

Ask someone at the local football club who are the best people to see in regard to this.

Hope this helps

[Loisbonnie]

I take methdone every 6 hours and take vicodin for Pain in between and that seems to help.