10-29-2016, 05:03 AM
I would suggest a combination of anti-inflammatory medicines, muscle relaxers, and opiates. This combination has always worked best for me: Naproxen Sodium, Carisoprodol (Soma) or Tizanidine (Zanaflex), and Methadone or Oxymorphone (Opana), with Oxycodone instant release for breakthrough pain. These opiates are stronger and harder to source than Hydrocodone or Tramadol, but the relief they've given my wife and I in the past has been immense and long-lasting. I shattered both kneecaps in a fall down concrete stairs 7 years ago and she has degenerative disc disease and a severe herniated lumbar disc.
Opiates, muscle relaxers, and NSAIDs have always helped these pains, but, as BeepBeep said, they are just a temporary fix; as soon as the drugs wear off or worse, run out, you will be back at square one seeking more. Not to mention the prohibitive cost. It's nice that modern medicine gives us these "band aids" to take care of our symptoms, but sadly, the true problem is still present, ready to rear it's ugly head when the chemicals that give you relief leave your system. And then there's the withdrawal to worry about...
Consider practicing yoga. Anyone can do it, no matter how mobile or flexible you may be. The movements and poses you learn will stretch out your muscles, ligaments, and tendons, strengthen your spine, core, and pretty much every other area of your body you choose to work. The beauty of yoga is that you can practice all of it or just pick choose poses you feel you need and leave the rest. Any pose can be modified to fit your needs. I would suggest doing some beginner's yoga routines at home first (there are plenty of them free on Youtube), then branching out into more complex routines/poses. There are plenty of free resources online and in books/DVDs at your local library. All you need is your body, comfortable clothing, and enough space on the ground to stretch with your arms and legs splayed out fully. A yoga mat is not necessary at first, but eventually you'll want one; it provides traction for your hands and feet that many poses benefit from. Quality yoga mats are available for as little as $20. Optional other equipment is also cheap: a block (to make yourself more comfortable and improve alignment), blankets (folded and used for support in certain poses, you probably already have some of these), and some poses benefit from straps, which are only $5 to $10.
Kicking addictions to these hardcore opiates was no small task, but with kratom, massive heaps of willpower, and the support of each other we were able to do it. After the many months it took to somewhat "normalize" our bodies, the pain persisted, but it was nowhere near as bad as we had recalled it being during our years of addiction (long term opiate use will screw with your chemistry that way).
For a few months now I've been doing yoga, and recently I got my wife interested too. It's helping immensely with EVERY pain, entire body (especially core) strength, mental discipline, and all around feeling of well-being. I can't recommend it enough!
Opiates, muscle relaxers, and NSAIDs have always helped these pains, but, as BeepBeep said, they are just a temporary fix; as soon as the drugs wear off or worse, run out, you will be back at square one seeking more. Not to mention the prohibitive cost. It's nice that modern medicine gives us these "band aids" to take care of our symptoms, but sadly, the true problem is still present, ready to rear it's ugly head when the chemicals that give you relief leave your system. And then there's the withdrawal to worry about...
Consider practicing yoga. Anyone can do it, no matter how mobile or flexible you may be. The movements and poses you learn will stretch out your muscles, ligaments, and tendons, strengthen your spine, core, and pretty much every other area of your body you choose to work. The beauty of yoga is that you can practice all of it or just pick choose poses you feel you need and leave the rest. Any pose can be modified to fit your needs. I would suggest doing some beginner's yoga routines at home first (there are plenty of them free on Youtube), then branching out into more complex routines/poses. There are plenty of free resources online and in books/DVDs at your local library. All you need is your body, comfortable clothing, and enough space on the ground to stretch with your arms and legs splayed out fully. A yoga mat is not necessary at first, but eventually you'll want one; it provides traction for your hands and feet that many poses benefit from. Quality yoga mats are available for as little as $20. Optional other equipment is also cheap: a block (to make yourself more comfortable and improve alignment), blankets (folded and used for support in certain poses, you probably already have some of these), and some poses benefit from straps, which are only $5 to $10.
Kicking addictions to these hardcore opiates was no small task, but with kratom, massive heaps of willpower, and the support of each other we were able to do it. After the many months it took to somewhat "normalize" our bodies, the pain persisted, but it was nowhere near as bad as we had recalled it being during our years of addiction (long term opiate use will screw with your chemistry that way).
For a few months now I've been doing yoga, and recently I got my wife interested too. It's helping immensely with EVERY pain, entire body (especially core) strength, mental discipline, and all around feeling of well-being. I can't recommend it enough!