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how do you deal with pain? i have always been a MTFU kind of bloke, and just got on with it. always thought that taking a load of pills cant be all that good for you.
but sometimes you need something to take the edge off whatever ailment you have.
would love to kind alternatives and give something a try.
any tips that dont include booze and pills?
Pain is good in a way it's telling you something. As with all of these things it's also a symtom so what's the cause. Best option is don't do the things that trigger it then if you can't avoid them the pills.
There are side effects to pills, just like being in pain has side effects or lack of sleep does.
No tips but I think the recent Doctor that gave up drugs program might have touched this area.
Should you still be in pain, or is it unrelated to your recent surgery?
Voltarol gel, the joy of movement? 😆
Ultimately pain is just nerve signals to the brain, and your brain responding to them. To an extent it can be mental attitude of acknowledging the pain exists but telling yourself that you can deal with it.
I used to do this on the rugby pitch and when I injury myself on the bike. but you find that you can't do it forever as when you relax (such as in the shower ) the pain signals come back through and things get sore.
Peripheral muscle stimulator/TENS machine thing helps my shoulder and back. No good for knee. More active = better, days without exercise = stiff.
Oh and Volterol
pain is from other joints whilst trying to go easy on my recently mended joint. got a feeling more surgery is gonna be needed in the future............ 🙁
I think not trying to tough it out but take regular low doses of painkillers.
Jon Kabat Zinn, a leading proponent of mindfulness originally used the technique in a chronic pain clinic. As above it's a way of changing your reaction to the pain rather than masking it with pills.
I think, in some circumstances, there's a lot to be said for MTFU
... but that's only once you're sure that you're not damaging anything; after that, pain's just pain and you can deal with it much better if
1) you know why it's hurting and
2) you know it's not something being damaged
(should also say that 1&2 above are also good circumstances for taking painkillers IMO)
It is your choice whether to take painkillers or not, however it is worth making that your choice is fully informed so that you aren't misguided. If you are sticking to the prescribed dose and following any medical advice then you can expect to have no deleterious effects on your health. What painkillers are you worried about taking? NHS choices has a great page which clears up a lot of potential worries in this area.
However, you may have other reasons for not wanting to take pills, and yes simply not wanting to is a good enough reason! So, other things that people often find helpful (many of which have also been mentioned above) are (in no particular order):
1) TENS machines
2) Mindfulness
3) Heat (hot water bottle, wrapped in towel)
4) Cold (ice pack, wrapped in towel, not longer than 20 mins)
5) Exercise (staying within pain limits)
6) Acupuncture/dry needling
7) Keeping yourself busy and occupied!
This is actually about migraines but it clears up a lot of questions about painkillers:
http://franticworld.com/can-mindfulness-meditation-really-reduce-pain-and-suffering-by-90-percent-2/
This might help understand the mental aspects of pain
I've started going to a cryo spa and have found it really good for recovery from aches, sprains, impingement etc. Also look at diet, anti-inflammatory foods like chillis, and avoid foods which cause inflammation.
Mindfulness well worth a go
Advice from the right physio. I put up with arm pain for years as i was to studpid to get the right advice. Turns out it joints in the upper back..
I know a guy who was in a pretty bad car crash. In and out of hospital best part of 4 years getting operations, lot of broken bones as well. He swears that after about 6 months of constant and agonising pain he taught himself how to 'turn off' the pain switch so he couldn't feel it. I don't mean he could walk about ignoring the pain, but he could lie in bed or be sat up in the chair and just get his mind into a zone where he couldn't feel anything.
I believe some one above mentioned this
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p047yvhw
I can't offer you much although I agree on your painkiller sentiments. You can become reliant on them and they have side effects.
It might help if you can elaborate on the pain. Sometimes pain can be your bodies way of saying stop but sometimes not stopping is better long term with some physical conditions. Back problems can get better with gently exercise.