What is chronic pain and how does it work?

[helvella]

Further to yesterday's post about chronic pain, today we have a video as well as more personal stories - including several from the UK.

Sufferers of chronic pain have long been told it’s all in their head. We now know that’s wrong

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

What is chronic pain and how does it work? – video explainer

theguardian.com/society/vid...

Note: The image is just that - a still photo - follow the link to reach the actual video.

[LindaC]

Thank you helvella! I exercise for pain [hourly for 5 mins x8 and 15 mins stretching before bed - to 'get me through the night'] and use gels/lotions, meditation and as a very last resort 1 paracetemol + 1 baby asprin, sparingly. The alternatives are, for me, not worth losing what I've left via side effects.

Does anyone on here use 'pain relief' without dreadful side effects?

[Yeswithasmile in reply to LindaC]

I did used to find that chondroitin did help a bit. If that’s any use to you? I have to say that I also find that when I guard my shoulders/hips/knees/toes etc (🙄) it exacerbates the issue. I think your stretching is a good idea. The tension from guarding just adds to the pain.

The most helpful thing I ever had was a trip to the pain clinic. I admit that the lidocaine patches/tens machine did very little but to be taken seriously and offered proper medication does wonders for your mental health.

[LindaC in reply to Yeswithasmile]

Thank you, yes I take glucosamine + chondroitin, tuneric is also good... I take several supplements - all approved by Dr P and do find them helpful.

Yes, exercise and stretching are great. I'd like to try TENS, not too keen on drugs for pain... hope I can continue to manage it. I worked in M Health for decades [psychology background] and yes, it's so important to keep our 'heads' good. Take care and thanks again! xox

[Yeswithasmile in reply to LindaC]

Sorry Linda, i realise that chondroitin being a supplement probably wasn’t what you were looking for. I just found that everything else I was prescribed from so difficult to take. If it wasn’t a physical side effect, they brought my mood down and then I found everything much harder.

I did find that getting treated for thyroid helped immensely.

I also found that chiropractor and massage beneficial. Don’t know if you have tried either or if you could - I noticed one of your posts mentions you have bone issues.

Hopefully you can continue to manage it. I have just started supplementing collagen for joints. Early days yet but I have read good things.

Lots of luck x.

[LindaC in reply to Yeswithasmile]

No, nothing to apologise for! I take a lot of supplements - including the two I said above, and collagen + silica. Yes, that's why I simply don't take any of the offered pain meds - many simply don't work or have potential dreadful side effects... I just won't go near them. I'd forgotten, can't use TENS due to arrhythmia [something else, years outstanding/ignored due to hypothyroidism!].

Yes, Feb 2010 Dr S finally got me on the right track + May 2010 good advice from Dr P too - endos waste of time, for me. Yes, had a lot of chiro treatment during 2013 for neck/shoulder and have been regularly seeing a physiotherapist from 2018 for what eventually turned out to be my spine [began with right lower leg in 2013 but 'not listened to'] - I ensure that exercise does the job and put up with the rest of pain.

I'll check out and see if a Pain Clinic exists here - thanks. Best to you also xox

[humanbean in reply to LindaC]

Does anyone on here use 'pain relief' without dreadful side effects?

Yes, me. I take Naproxen and Tramadol. I also have to take PPIs to cope with the bad effects of the Naproxen on the stomach.

[radd in reply to humanbean]

hb,

I am a complete convert of curcumin & can't praise its merits enough.

I recently had TFT’s done & stopped all sups after messing up the previous with biotin 🤪🤦‍♀️ & freaking my surgery (not that they dose me but do allow me to have bloods done there [and local CCG will test FT3 even though they withdrew my T3 prescription years ago. The irony of that!!]. ), and was amazed at how quickly aches & pains returned, particularly in an old shoulder injury, even gut played up a little.

Having haemochromotosis I am obsessed with free radicals, and increasing levels of antioxidants. I don’t take Naproxen and the links below are for rats 🐀 but still manage to successfully demonstrate yet several more of curcumins multiple benefits.

‘Curcumin significantly inhibited the naproxen-induced gastric antral ulcer area and lipid peroxidation in a dose-dependent manner.’

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/271...

.

Liposomal Curcumin Enhances the Effect of Naproxen in a Rat Model of Migraine

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

[humanbean in reply to radd]

Thank you, I'll look into it.

[LindaC in reply to radd]

Yes, I began taking it for other things but once had a shortage, waiting for order, I noticed pain [knee, not an area I'd had pain before], straight back on Tumeric and it reolved in days. Then companies added black/pepper/bio-perine. Great stuff!

[SilverAvocado in reply to radd]

What form do you take it in?

I'd like to try curcumin but don't know if tablets are worth it or you need to go to the trouble of boiling up golden paste or taking it in food.

[radd in reply to SilverAvocado]

SilverAvocado,

I don’t think you can get enough in food, although I use turmeric (& garlic) in practically everything. I drink turmeric tea as well but my main source is via pills.

[humanbean in reply to radd]

Can you tell us which pills you take, please?

[LindaC in reply to humanbean]

If something works, then that's great! Thanks - I'm sure one day, judging by my MRI, I may have to use something more... ? Take care and be well.