How to Get Relief From Chronic Pain Without Prescribed Drugs
Taking over the counter drugs (OTC) is usually the first step in trying to get rid of those little nagging aches and pains we all suffer from during the normal course of our daily life.
Most of the time these non-prescribed drugs work just fine. However, it’s when the little aches and pains become a persistent chronic pain that we run into problems.
That nagging, chronic backache can become a debilitating problem. Those Irritating little headaches that keep you in a constant bad mood can take on monumental proportion and make your life an absolute hell.
The search for headache pain relief can be all consuming. This is when the cheap OTC drugs you buy at the discount stores become ineffective.
Hopefully, you are smart enough to realize that doubling up the dosage is not a good idea. Your first step should be is to consult your doctor if the OTC drugs are not doing the job. A chronic headache or chronic back pain is something you can’t ignore.
You should not delay about seeing your doctor if your problem is persistent headaches. Ask about getting an MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) procedure done on your head.
It’s painless and a very good way to spot a growing cerebral aneurysm forming in your head. This is a fairly new technique for spotting this sort of problem and is gaining popularity with the doctors.
The MRI is also a great tool being used to spot a ruptured disc in the spine. The MRI is a non-invasive way to look inside of you to see what is going on. If you have any luck at all your test will come back negative.
Usually, the first thing a doctor will try, after passing the MRI test, is physical therapy, and/or some mild prescription drugs. The cause of your chronic pain can be anything from a pinched nerve to a strained muscle. The physical therapy, while expensive, may just be the cure you’re looking for to get rid of your problems.
However, you may have to start taking a regime of prescribed drugs if the workouts do not take care of your never-ending pain. This is where the dangers start to pile up.
Every prescribed drug has an adverse drug reaction. These reactions can affect your liver, stomach, kidneys, and even your heart. You must discuss the possibilities of this problem with your doctor.
An alternative to the prescribed drugs is herbal, or natural pain relief medications. These are pills, ointments, and spray-ons that are manufactured from plants and other natural elements of the earth.
Although new, they don’t have the adverse side effects as conventional medicine and appear to be moving up into first place as the preferred way to get pain relief.
Richard Tolar
http://www.articlesbase.com/alternative-medicine-articles/how-to-get-relief-from-chronic-pain-without-prescribed-drugs-92543.html
4 Responses to “How to Get Relief From Chronic Pain Without Prescribed Drugs”
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Am I being neglected by my doctors? ?
This is a loaded question/issue: I am 26 and I have chronic low back pain that is constant. I have had it since I was 14-15 years old, which I didn’t get treated until I was 22. My PCP ordered an MRI which I to an orthopedic surgeon and discovered I had/have Degenerative Disc Disease, one extra vertebrae and it is crooked. The DDD affects L3, all the way to S-1. I have been dealing with the pain for 5 years now, however, it has gotten significantly worse within the past year (nothing has changed with my lifestyle) so I went to my new PCP (mine retired) and they basically poo-pooed it. After the 2nd visit, the Dr. prescribed Hydrocodone which didn’t do much, then Tramadol which I had horrible side affects with no pain relief, then Norco which didn’t take the pain completely away but decreased substantially. When I ran out, I called the doctor to schedule a self-initiated check up, and informed the nurse I was out of the medication and needed a refill and had some general questions. The nurse called me back and said the doctor would not refill, would not see me for pain, and suggested I see a Pain Management doctor. She left me without pain medication and no doctor to see. I called the advice nurses, and they told me to call the patient advocate, which this woman called the Dr, and she had her call in pain meds (she agreed that was wrong) and the Rx I got was Tylenol 3. I took it just once and threw up within an hour, got a HUGE headache and it didn’t relieve my pain whatsoever. I called the office back and told the on call Dr. and she said she would leave my Dr. a message… I heard nothing. When I asked the nurse how to find a pain management dr, she said she could have my Dr. refer me to one, I agreed. The appointment was a month away! I since then, have nothing to take for my pain (which gets so bad at times all I can do is cry) I saw the PM dr and he looked at MRI films from 5 years ago, and I told him I have several new issues, and they are worse…he said no MRI would be approved by my insurance company because I don’t have nerve damage (tested my reflexes). However, he prescribed Neurontin which is an anti seizure medication, and Physical Therapy. I was curious about this drug and looked into it—I WILL NOT TAKE THIS! There was even a lawsuit against it for prescribing it for exactly what I have. I asked what am I supposed to take for my flare ups? Why won’t they prescribe what worked? He said the Norco wasn’t a good drug because it didn’t last…which I told him, I would rather take something as needed, rather than a daily commitment to a Neuro drug. How can he prescribe a drug that cut’s off pain nerves without a new MRI (there could be a new issue altogether) and send me to physical therapy which initially causes more pain and nothing to take for my pain? And if there is no nerve damage, why prescribe nerve medication?? What do I do from here? Why are these doctors refusing to prescribe what works? I don’t know what to do, I am in pain, and I can’t get the help I want.
You may want to see an orthopedist, neurosurgeon or doctor of rehab medicine( a physiatrist not a psychiatrist)References : PT
i just wanted to express that i understand your frustration. i have no answers becasue i cant figure out why i cant even get a proper diagnosis in the first place. its sad. its like docs just dont care anymore. so sad. i wish you the best of luck and will pray for you!
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I wish I knew the answer for you. I was hurt at work pushing a hamper loaded with newspapers and herniated three disks. My life since has been a nightmare like yours. At one time the pain was so bad, so bad I thought suicide was the only answer. Needless to say I didn’t as soon as I thought about it being a selfish act that would hurt my family. Anyway because the Dr’s know about my depression and thought of suicide, no one, not one anywhere will allow me to take anything other than Ultram. It helps like an aspirin. Duh, ! Now years later I have the DDD in L3, L4 and L5 and severe Arthritis in my entire spine. This has ruined my life in so many ways. I loved to work and can not. I loved to dance and can not. Making love with my husband is ok when it happens but the next day I can barely walk standing up Straight. ON and on. I advise you to ask to see the patient advocate and start a bitching session like no other. Let them know you need help to deal with all these issues. If these people do not help you, find the e-mail for your state Representative and start with them to explain what I have put up with and that you don’t want to live on disability for the rest of your life just because some darn Doctors don’t believe you are in pain. Go get em girl and don’t take no for an answer, if one can’t help, e-mail another. My present Dr will not perscribe anything strong he says because he does not want me to get "hooked" on it. I think the quality of my life should be more important than his throry. I am 66 and 100% disabled both mentally and physically from all this crap. Good luck from Granny in Michigan
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