Do you live with chronic pain?

[medjay]

I've had chronic lower back pain for about two years now. The frustrating thing is it came out of nowhere. I can't trace it back to any event I can remember.

Visits to the chiropractor didn't work. The only thing that keeps the pain away is constant movement and exercise. It only bothers me when I'm sitting for long periods of time. I've also found that the martial arts I've been doing helps a lot. My pain isn't major, just an annoyance so I consider myself somewhat lucky.

I've been thinking about getting one of those inversion tables. Anyboody own one? Do they work? Are they worth the money?

 

[Native Alien]

They do work if....

but i would check with the doc and the chiro before you get one...

it is my understanding that they only work for certain types of

problems and that they can make some worse.

 

[Weird Harold]

i know that i have other friends who have a hard time finding the magnet pads to fit.

Believe it or not, the one I have I ordered from AVON. It's part of a set of magnet pads --two small single magnet pads, two large fivemagnet pads, and the back support which has sixteen magnets.

I don't think they currently offer it, but you could always check AVON.com because they often bring back limited items like the magnet set if they sell well.

 

[Naughty n Nice]

I've had chronic lower back pain for about two years now. The frustrating thing is it came out of nowhere. I can't trace it back to any event I can remember.

Visits to the chiropractor didn't work. The only thing that keeps the pain away is constant movement and exercise. It only bothers me when I'm sitting for long periods of time. I've also found that the martial arts I've been doing helps a lot. My pain isn't major, just an annoyance so I consider myself somewhat lucky.

I've been thinking about getting one of those inversion tables. Anyboody own one? Do they work? Are they worth the money?

When I sprained my back, the doctor explained to me that you don't have a healthy back one day and a bad back the next. It's a combination of a lot of little things, and one day the last little thing it could take would occur and it goes out. It just couldn't take one more little thing. So it could be on it's way to being bad for a long, long time before the last straw break's the camel's back. (sorry, couldn't resist)

 

[Native Alien]

thank you so much for that weird harold...

it is one that i will remember. and you know i have a AVON lady,

maybe i should ask her if they can get the back stuff too....

 

[Weird Harold]

you know i have a AVON lady, maybe i should ask her if they can get the back stuff too....

My Daughter, the Avon Lady, can order stuff that isn't in the current capmpaign, but only if it is in stock and she can find the stock number -- this magnet set was only in two campaigns from about two years ago, so I'd be surprised if your Avon Lady can order it.

If there is an "As Seen On TV" store near you, you might be able to find a similar set there -- I occassionally see late night commercials for magnet therapy stuff; some of it is similar to the set I have.

 

[Naughty n Nice]

I would recommend trying the Homedics magnetic pads. You should be able to find them just about anywhere. You can also check out www.hsn.com or www.qvc.com I've got so many different kinds of magnetic paraphenalia. I have these tiny magnets (not in a pad) and I believe that they're Homedics. They're great for migraines or any localized spot. You just have to tape them on to the area where you're having pain. For instance, when I have a migraine, I'll tape 3 of them around the outside of my eye. It's tremendously helpful.

 

[Naughty n Nice]

YAY

I am so tickled that this thread has taken off like wild fire. A lot of people appear to have had a lot of suggestions to share. A lot of people have learned new techniques and methods of dealing with the pain. I think that this thread is just what the pain doctor oredered!

 

[Guest]

About magnets. They never worked for me, and I gave them a good 2-3 month trial use. They were made by Nikken, and I should have returned them, they are not cheap!! I can see where they may work on a headache, but not my heels. The pain in my heels is very deep, and is the result of chronic inflamation.

The magnet probably never came even close to helping me. In the head area, the blood is much closer to the skin, it may make the difference. I just wish the sales people would have been a little more honest. To listen to them, there was nothing a magnet couldn't cure!

I guess it's like everything, buyer beware!!!

ACP

 

[Naughty n Nice]

Oh yes, Nikken. I almost got taken in by them myself. I wouldn't part with that much money though. Try different brands, they may work differently. I get pads to put in my shoes from the company who makes the sobokawa pillow, and I swear by them! I order them from www.hsn.com

 

[Weird Harold]

About magnets. They never worked for me, and I gave them a good 2-3 month trial use. ... I can see where they may work on a headache, but not my heels. The pain in my heels is very deep, and is the result of chronic inflamation.

...I just wish the sales people would have been a little more honest. To listen to them, there was nothing a magnet couldn't cure!

Magnets don't work for everything, no matter how much is claimed for them by people trying to sell you expensive magnets. Any magnet strong enough to hold more than one note to your fridge is probably strong enough to help with minor pains. The stronger the magnet, the deeper the magnetic field reaches. But even the very strongest magnets aren't going to reach much more than an inch deep. (about the same distance as it affects another similar magnet.)

I sometimes use a flexible refridgerator magnet with Domino's phone number on it under the elastic wrist band I wear when my wrist/carpal tunnel is acting up -- again the combination of magnet and support seems to work best.

For those interested, I had my daughter check Avon's current stock list this afternoon and the magnet set I have is NOT currently available.

 

[Weird Harold]

Try different brands, they may work differently.

The only difference in "therapy" magnets is the number and arrangement of magnets in the pad. Insoles and flexible devices are "ferrous" magnets and are all about equal in strength because of the nature of the material they're made from -- in fact the free flexible refridgerator magnets are basically the SAME as expensive insoles although a bit weaker because they're thinner.

Stronger magnets don't work any better, the just work "deeper." "Rare metal" magnets are generally "stronger" magnets because they're more compact, but they don't workany better than weaker magnets except for deep pains which aren't often amenable to magnetic therapy anyway.

 

[Naughty n Nice]

Ok Harold, this time I have to disagree. Magnets do differ one from the other, in addition to the layout. I also believe the stronger the better, can't hurt any.

 

[Weird Harold]

Magnets do differ one from the other, in addition to the layout. I also believe the stronger the better, can't hurt any.

Magnets certainly do differ. Ferrous magnets are less dense and less powerful than rare earth magnets, ounce for once. The shape of a magnet determines the shape of it's magnetic field. Different layouts and spacing generate different interactions between the magnetic fields.

Still, I don't believe that a stronger magnet is inherently more beneficial --it just is able to affect a wider area (space.)

The real question here is, "Are magnets sold as "therapeutic" magnets more effective than a refridgerator magnet?"

Based on my experience, I have to say no. Magnets from a craft store sewn or glued onto a back-brace are just as effective as magnets of similar shape and strength sewn into a back-support by a company marketing therapeutic magnets.

Something like magnetic insoles are't something that you can make yourself, but most other magnetic therapy devices are something most moderately crafty people could assemble themselves for a tenth the cost of buying them.

 

[Naughty n Nice]

No Harold, refridgerator magnets are NOT the kind of magnets that are used in magnet therapy. They are MUCH less strong and have a whole different makeup.
I'm only arguing because I KNOW that I'm right. Otherwise, I wouldn't dare disagree with you. You know all!! :wink:

 

[Weird Harold]

No Harold, refridgerator magnets are NOT the kind of magnets that are used in magnet therapy. They are MUCH less strong and have a whole different makeup.

They may not be as strong, but they have a magnetic field and magnetic fields are the same -- other than strength -- no matter what generates them.

I use refridgerator magnets for areas that bulkier, solid magnets don't fit well -- like the carpal tunnel area of my wrist -- and I get just as much relief as using the small pads from the magnet set from Avon without the bulk and weight.

In some circumstances, the strength and composition of the magnet is much less important than whether you can get it to where the pain is without being inconvenienced.

I might need to leave it in place longer, or get a bit less relief, but a flexible magnet under a wrist band let's me type and use the mouse while a thick pad with a magnet in it interferes with using that hand for almost anything.

 

[Naughty n Nice]

Sounds psychosematic to me. Let's agree to disagree on this one
Ask your doctors or experiment to see what works for you.

 

[Guest]

Topicals ?

What about topical's, for pain relief? Has anyone tried anything that will really take the pain away? I've tried a bunch, with no luck. I think the most exotic was a mixture of 5% Lidocane ointment, and DMSO. The DMSO is used a lot on amimals, but quite a few people have also benefited from it. It gets sucked right through the pores in your skin. You have to be very clean when using it. I hear it can take dye, from a dark pair of socks, right into your skin. Sort of like a tatoo!

Has anyone found any cream / gel that will help with deep down pain?

ACP

 

[Guest]

my wife tried capasin , maybe that spelling is wrong but she said that it was damm hot, and somehow the more you use it the stronger it gets!!

 

[Naughty n Nice]

I've used bengay on occasion, it worked a little. The best thing for pain, in my opinion, is ice. Freeze the sucker til it's solid, you won't feel a thing

 

[Native Alien]

Naughty--that could even be made to be erotic in certain cases.

ice is something that i find doesn't help me much, seems that

warm moist heat works the best for me...

 

[Naughty n Nice]

Naughty--that could even be made to be erotic in certain cases.

ice is something that i find doesn't help me much, seems that

warm moist heat works the best for me...

Sure, it depends on what kind of pain you have. If you have deep muscular pain, you want to use moist heat. However, if you have an "injury" with excessive inflammation, you should use ice. And for those of us, myself included, who have both muscular and inflamed owies, we don't know if we're coming or going.

 

[Native Alien]

i don't know about anyone else, but with me and the fibro the moist heat is the one thing that seems to help...ice i use when nothing else will work.

as to topicals, i like aspercreme..no smell for the most part and it does help some...i have tried alot things and these are the ones that work best for me...

 

[Kman30]

This is the first day that I've found this thread. My heart goes out to everyone here who suffers w/chronic pain. I am 30 and have been suffering with one form or another for about the last four years. Some knee problems, recently neck and back. I forget who posted it on here but yea, I get sick of hearing the, "your too young for all that" No shit. Like it's a choice or something. The pain is not excruciating but it is there and at times i seem to eat aspirin for breakfast, lunch and dinner, but mostly it's the mental aspect of it. Slowly over time my overall attitude went down the tubes. Very cynical, short tempered, and to some degree angry. For me, excercise, reading jokes, watching funny movies and trying to make that cup half full is what helps me. I also appreciate the fact that I'm even still here on this earth and able to watch my kids as they grow and change. I'm sure everyone on here has heard it before but I truly believe attitude is everything.

 

[Naughty n Nice]

Welcome to Lit Kman and welcome to my thread!!! Thank goodness for kids, eh? They force us to get up and get going! Well, not me personally, I'm only mommy to 5 cats. But they demand food too! I hear you, about the psychological issues, it isn't easy to live with pain. Believe me when I tell you that you are not alone. Everyone who lives with pain, day in and day out, suffers psychologically too. Especially, when it is someone our age. The best thing you can do for yourself is see a therapist, talk it through, and learn how to cope. Best of luck to you, and I look forward to getting to know you!