Hope

[luckyjim]

I've been a pain person for the past 6 years following a heart attack & stroke in May 2010 & heart bypass surgery Oct 2010.

The last 2 - 3 years have been sheer hell

About 4 weeks ago. I have done all the things pain people will be familiar with. I have tried more drugs (prescription) than I can remember, their nature ever increasing in toxicity. My GP has been a tower throughout.

About 4 weeks ago, I did an incredibly stupid and dangerous thing, I stopped taking 2 of my prescribed meds, both of which were high dose. The following 8 days were unpleasant, to say the least. I confessed to my GP and received a well earned telling off.

I need to cut the story short and get to the point.

Subsequent to my irresponsibility, my life has changed dramatically. I have actually started to get my life back. I am still taking some pretty nasty meds, but less of them. I am sleeping more than 1-3 hours per night. I am walking each day. I am able to cope. I can manage the pain.

There seems no logical reason for this, but it is real and I have grabbed it with both hands.

I finish where I started. HOPE.

Lj

[Bananas5]

Where there is life there is hope and where there is hope there is life

x

[Hidden]

While I can't endorse your technique, planned changes can be very informative. As we add medicine after medicine after medicine, the compounded side-effects may create their own problems. This may vary from person to person. For me, I felt much better after gradually dropping a tranquilizer I had used for years. I felt much more alert and able to think better.

[NFDK]

You did a very courageous thing, even though you got a telling off Well done and best wishes, Wendy x

[johnsmith]

Not sure sure by what you mean when you say: "There seems no logical reason for this."

Depending on what you refer to I can see plenty of logic as to why you have improved in outlook.

Here are my reasons - Please point out any errors you notice.

1. After major trauma there is a physical component and a mental component.

The physical component has to repair itself which takes up resources and leaves the body drained.

2. There are more demands on the brain.

The brain has to avoid pain causing movements.

The brain has to manage the new demands on it

The brain has to learn new management skills

The brain has to juggle the demands on the changed social requirements and ability

Parts of the brain may have to shut down in order to keep energy requirements within hand-able limits.

3.Damage caused by major trauma can take 3 years or more to heal.

4.The brain can take several years to learn how to handle major trauma damage efficiently.

The brain and body is now ready to move forward.

Look forward to your comments.

[luckyjim]

John

I take issue with nothing in your reply, indeed I welcome any and all well thought out responses.

Your reply is a fine example of the empathy which is evident amongst our pain community.

Thank you

Jim