What got me laughing was that although the "medical experts" now say it's of no benefit, they are encouraging those who do find it to be beneficial for low back pain to keep taking it.
Do you see why I'm laughing?
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Part of my morning routine is watching the news program HLN News and today I heard something that really made me laugh. There is new medical evidence apparently now showing that the medicine Acetaminophen is not effective for low back pain. Acetaminophen is as useful for back pain as a sugar pill. HUH!
What got me laughing was that although the "medical experts" now say it's of no benefit, they are encouraging those who do find it to be beneficial for low back pain to keep taking it. Do you see why I'm laughing?
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I was having a conversation with a neighbour recently about life, struggles, pain and how we're coping. I was told that it was easier for me because "you're small and skinny...you don't hurt like I do...things are different for you". Hearing that not only hurt my feelings but it pissed me off too. It's hard enough to hear "you don't look like you're hurting" from those who don't know what it's like to be me but to hear it from someone living life just like me, hearing that hurt worse. During the conversation this person also told me "it's easier for you". Let me clarify a few things here and now...NO! it's not easier for me! Just because I'm small and skinny now doesn't mean I still don't hurt. I hurt every day. Things may be different for me now, but it wasn't always this way. I still struggle some days to like who I am and there are still days when I am under my rock because of my pain. I still have down days too...and just like you...I am human too and it has taken me several years to get to where I am now. My road hasn't been an easy one and I have worked hard to understand my pain and how it affects my life. Everyday I make a promise to myself that I will not let my pain control everything there is in my life. I try to take each day as a new chance to try, and to make better choices. Each day is an opportunity to challenge my abilities and to learn. Pretty blunt I know but when I saw this I thought... well said! Give it some thought....Are the medications you're taking a cure for your pain? Chances are the medications will aid in the symptoms you experience due to your pain but they will not cure you of the illness causing it. Chances are too that you are experiencing some very heavy side-effects to the medications you are using or have tried in the past. You may even have been given a medication to counter balance the side-effects of another so you can continue taking it. If you give your medications consideration with regards to their ingredients....they are a mixture of various chemicals, binary compounds, sugar, colouring and other miscellaneous things you are unaware of. When there are so many natural and alternative forms of pain treatment available, I can't help but wonder why so many people continue to choose to be a customer. Now please understand that I am not saying that there is not a place for medicinal treatments, but there are also many non-medicinal treatments available too. The choice is yours, please make it with education and understanding of the options available to you. I hope you will join the Facebook page at www.facebook.com/chronicpainandlife (if you click the button text above in the picture it will take you right to the Facebook page)
There are things that I post on Facebook that I am unable to share with you here...I've tried to keep the two pages fairly similar but it's getting harder to do...so I encourage you to join and like the Chronic Pain & Life Facebook page....share with your friends and family too! Thank you for taking the time out of your day to visit this website blog and I look forward to hearing from you on Facebook. take good care of you Tammy Okay so it here it is...the first completely open RANT...
What bothers you the most about living life with pain? We all have had those moments in life where our pain has brought our lives to a stand still. We can't avoid that. It is a part of the unpredictability of chronic pain and it is a part of the "new normal" that is our lives. SO...Let's hear it...what bothers you about living life with pain? The program "Living with Chronic Pain - A Patient's Perspective" (LCP) is a program that I wrote and developed over the years of my personal journey with my pain. The program includes several behavioural strategies l learned while in college and later implemented while supporting clients during my career. I wrote the program more as a way to help myself, a working tool I could use to help manage my pain and my life with pain. I have had the program read and critiqued by three specialists in their individual fields before sharing pieces of it with you.
While having the program reviewed I was told by a Psychiatrist that I was not qualified to write the program and that with the qualifications I do have, I shouldn't have been able to write it at all. I've got to say that I just love it when people tell me things I shouldn't be doing or shouldn't be able to do! It's usually the first thing I will go and do next just to prove you wrong. I was a handful as a child and can honestly say as an adult...I'm still a handful. I saw something today on line and it got my back up a bit and I want to air it here....someone mentioned being told that the reason they are in pain is because they don't believe in God.
First let me say that is CRAP!! not true! not in the least bit true!! You are not being punished for your beliefs on God. Second let me explain why this bothers me so much. There was a time when I believed that I was being punished for all of the bad things I have done in my life. I thought God was trying to teach me a lesson and that if I hadn't been so bad in my life actions, I wouldn't be going through this hell now. I thought God was punishing me with a life with pain. Have you given consideration to the amount of money you have spent trying to treat your pain? Do you look at each treatment with the hope that maybe this will be the one that will stop your pain? Products are marketed to people like us with the hidden message that our lives would be better if only we try this particular product. Companies bank on our desire to be pain free.
There is no cure for chronic pain and there is no one particular treatment or product that will stop your pain completely. What may work for one person, doesn't mean that it will work for you. What may work one day, may not the next and vice-verse. I think that is what drives us to keep spending money trying to find the "right" treatment. We are constantly trying to find the one treatment that will work all the time. Truth is...it's an endless search that will leave you exhausted and frustrated. Why? because it doesn't' exist. Chronic pain has become a very profitable business to be in. Keep your money in your wallet, look to yourself to manage your pain and take good care of you. Maybe it's just me, but have you ever noticed how quickly doctors reach for the prescription pad during appointments? There seems to be a prescription for just about any complaint we can imagine. Before accepting a prescription from your doctor you may want to ask...
It is imperative that you ask any questions you have about the medication you are being prescribed. Make sure you understand exactly why you are taking the medication and what the medication is expected to do. With increased understanding and awareness of your medications, you will be able to make better decisions regarding your treatment. Take good care of you Tammy One thing I've really come to hate hearing from people is "you don't look like you're in pain". Seriously? I want to ask them what would they prefer I look like. Would they feel better if I were hobbling around, giving in to the pain and crying all the time? I know it wouldn't make me feel better. I've already tried it!
It's hard sometimes to bite my tongue when I hear this, but I try to remember they don't know what it feels like to be me. They don't know the ups and downs I live with. Each day I try to face my life with a smile and with a good attitude. It makes living with an un-cooperative body tolerable. I still don't know how to handle this when I hear it. Those who know me, know what I've been through and the road I've been down. Just because I don't wear my scars for the world to see any more, doesn't mean I still don't hurt every day. I've just chosen to smile through the pain, instead of through the tears. Take good care of you okay? Tammy |
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