Back when I didn't have my diagnosis and the pain was starting to take over my life, I tried buckets of pain relief techniques. I was so damned desperate for pain relief (that I didn't have from my non-believing scumbag doctors at the time) that I tried a bunch of things just "hoping" it might work or do something. At least I didn't try street drugs and nobody with chronic pain should have to turn to street drugs for pain relief (I don't count medical marijuana in here, it's prescribed and doses are controlled).
Here's a list and explanations of some things I've tried. Some are more or less effective for my kind of pain and some are completely useless. As usual, I've added a bit of humor...
1- Meditation and Qi Gong: Helps a lot after a long day at work and it calms my body down. Doesn't eliminate pain, but it relaxes my body enough to help me sleep and helps with my irritable moods. Been doing it since 2005 and it's the only thing I continued practicing from my Kung Fu days...2- Chiropractic adjustments: Helped with my back pain (from an unfortunate Canadian activity known as "shoveling that cold white shit to get your car outta the driveway"). For my hip FAI pain, it didn't put a dent into it. On a positive note, the chiropractor was young and soft on the eyes!
3- Aromatherapy: Smell yourself better! I actually enjoy making special trips to the mall just for buying candles at Bath and Body Works. It doesn't scratch the pain, but it enhances my mood and makes my house smell like coconuts, spices, grapefruit and pine fresh. Some of those sents fool people into thinking I baked some yummy desert and they head to the kitchen and get fooled Mwahahaahaha!!!4- Massage: I used to enjoy this soooo much until the last time in 2011 when I was too uncomfortable (from my hip pain) during the massage to really enjoy it and relax. I might try it again in a couple months, after my torn labrum and FAI on my right hip get fixed in surgery.
5- Advil and Tylenol: Tried those too much and stopped when my stomach got too irritated and started bleeding. I guess I was still on the "wishing it would go away" mode and I didn't have any support from doctors back then.
6- Antidepressants: I tried low doses of Elavil or as I call it "El Evil" for about 5 months. It helped me sleep, way too much and I stopped taking them when my pharmacist said that feeling drowsy till 10 am is an abnormal side effect. It was supposed to help with my pain, but it didn't do anything and at the time, I felt like I had no choice but to try it and hope that it would cut the pain. I was glad to be out of "Zombie Land" when I stopped "El Evil".
7- Exercise: Most chronic pain specialists (like my super physiatrist) and many websites out there that talk about how it's crucial to incorporate exercise in your treatment plan. It makes sense, the more your muscles and joints are working, the more resistance they'll have and it will also increase your stamina. This one helps in the long run. I've given up most of the sports I did because they didn't help my FAI and actually made the problem worse. Nowadays I enjoy swimming, it doesn't put too much stress on my hips and the water takes the weight off of them. When I have good days I go out for a walk, if it's too cold or icy outside I go walk at the mall (it's safer for avoiding falls plus there's a Starbucks ;) ).8- Vitamins/Supplements: I currently take fish oil supplements (Omega 3), vitamin D, calcium-magnesium, vitamin C, Spirulina and a Multivitamin every morning. I feel a little difference on my mood. I think I was lacking a few minerals and vitamins (especially vitamin D) and taking them every day for the past month or so helps. Spirulina BTW is a blue-green freshwater algae that is rich in protein and can help boost your immune system. It also contains iron (many women like myself are deficient in iron) that helps with my energy levels.
9- Playing Video Games: It totally works! Well it doesn't eliminate the pain, but it works well to distract my mind from it. Plus it's been tested, scientifically, check it out : http://psychcentral.com/news/2010/05/10/video-games-help-relieve-pain/13660.html I enjoy playing World of Warcraft, Diablo III, Star Trek Online and I like the Professor Layton puzzle games on Nintendo DS.
10- Watching a good movie/reading a good book: I'm known as a crazy book monkey. I have about 4 books on my night stand and I read at least 3 books a month (better average than in my college and university days lol). I'm also a movie junkie. When I get captivated by a story, it takes my mind off the pain and it feels like I'm somewhere else. I also read comic books...everybody needs superheroes, even chicks with FAI hip pain!
11- Bananas: Yep bananas help me cope. I have a running gag at work where I have to "rescue" a banana every day before it goes to a brown spotted version of hell. Some days, my colleagues and I like to compete to see who's got the biggest banana in their lunch box lol! I also read an article saying that bananas are some of the top mood boosting foods because they contain Tryptophan...Google it, I dare you to monkey fucking google it!!!
12- Hobbies: I play cribbage almost weekly with my best bud. Sometimes we go to our favourite pub that serves artisan beer and we play a couple games while sampling different kinds of beer. I also enjoy playing music and also listening to my favourite bands. I also like playing board games on occasion.
13- Food: Firstly, I have to say that being less active than before means I have to keep my calories in check. I've been eating cleaner and healthier food in the past couple years and it's so far working for me. I eat more fruits and veggies, try different grains and organic foods plus I've eliminated junk food joints from my list of restaurants, PERMANENTLY! When I eat out, the restaurant chosen has to serve a lot of veggies on their plates and I stay away from fried foods. I do make room, on occasion, for some comfort/feel good food like Chinese Food or Poutine. However, I check what I order to avoid being disappointed of myself and regretting it later or I cook them myself at home where I know what I put in it.
14- 9GAG.com: You know how they say that laughter is the best medicine...it's all true. I discovered 9GAG through my brother (also known as best bud) and I've been an addict ever since. I love reading jokes, memes and looking at silly pictures. When I have a bad day, I turn to 9GAG or the comics section of the newspaper (actually called "Diversions" in the Gazette). It brightens my day and laughing helps with the pain. I'd rather laugh all day than cry or be grumpy all day, plus laughing at other people is soooo much fun (I'm talking about 9GAG here not people you know in real life).
I hope you've enjoyed my post and feel free to comment or write down the things you've tried for your pain. Feel free to laugh and try a banana...seriously they're awesome!!!
~ Klau
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