Comments on: Reflections on Pain: Part 2 https://thehappyphilosopher.com/reflections-pain/ A Guide to Freedom and Happiness Wed, 25 Oct 2017 04:13:21 +0000 hourly 1 By: TheHappyPhilosopher https://thehappyphilosopher.com/reflections-pain/#comment-7516 Thu, 31 Aug 2017 15:27:26 +0000 http://thehappyphilosopher.com/?p=1650#comment-7516 In reply to Natasha.

Thank you Natasha. Pain has given me more empathy and deeper understanding for which I am grateful. We only notice our health when it leaves us.

]]> By: Natasha https://thehappyphilosopher.com/reflections-pain/#comment-7506 Thu, 31 Aug 2017 01:11:22 +0000 http://thehappyphilosopher.com/?p=1650#comment-7506 Hope you are feeling better . Back pain is very debilitating ( I had terrible SIJ dysfunction for 4-5 months during pregnancy and had to pass my fellowship exam during that time . Could not take anything for it , either – had to stand up half way through last case and declare ” I have nothing else to add gentlemen” as could not sit anymore – you should see examiner’s faces :))) Passed it, too- they mush have felt sorry for me .

It left me with a deep sympathy for my lower back pain patients and appreciation of good health when I have it . I think most of us take pain-free state for granted.

Sending some healing vibes your way
Cheers
N.

]]> By: Derek https://thehappyphilosopher.com/reflections-pain/#comment-7329 Tue, 22 Aug 2017 17:53:47 +0000 http://thehappyphilosopher.com/?p=1650#comment-7329 Hopefully your back is feeling better by now. But if it is not, and mainstream conservative therapies have not been helpful, consider trying alternative herbal supplements such as Boswellia Serrata or SAM-e.

]]> By: TheHappyPhilosopher https://thehappyphilosopher.com/reflections-pain/#comment-6916 Wed, 09 Aug 2017 04:01:39 +0000 http://thehappyphilosopher.com/?p=1650#comment-6916 In reply to Mrs. Grumby.

Thank you. I will check out that book. Pretty sure my back is the culprit, not the hip.

]]> By: Mrs. Grumby https://thehappyphilosopher.com/reflections-pain/#comment-6908 Tue, 08 Aug 2017 15:14:08 +0000 http://thehappyphilosopher.com/?p=1650#comment-6908 Sending good thoughts and healing energy your way. Chronic pain is exhausting and messes with your mind. So glad you have your meditation practice to help maintain a healthy perspective.

Hope that the PT is delivering some relief!

I went through a long stretch of chronic low back/hip/abdominal pain a few years ago and found that Thich Nhat Hanh’s book No Mud No Lotus was a great supplement to my meditation practice.

If there’s any chance that your psoas muscle is involved, this post of mine might be helpful:
https://grumbysonthemove.com/pilgrimage-through-pain

May you find freedom from pain!

]]> By: TheHappyPhilosopher https://thehappyphilosopher.com/reflections-pain/#comment-6825 Thu, 03 Aug 2017 02:15:40 +0000 http://thehappyphilosopher.com/?p=1650#comment-6825 In reply to wolverinemd.

Thank you for sharing your story. As you point out there is no such thing as a “routine” surgery. I feel for you and hope things get better for you from a pain perspective. I’m pretty against surgery, but someday I may get to that point. Hopefully not. Not sure if gapapentin helps with the pain/numbness, but it is the best sleep medication I’ve ever taken! It’s hard to understand what severe pain is like unless you have lived though it.

]]> By: wolverinemd https://thehappyphilosopher.com/reflections-pain/#comment-6821 Wed, 02 Aug 2017 19:10:49 +0000 http://thehappyphilosopher.com/?p=1650#comment-6821 It’s a cliche but it’s true. Money doesn’t matter if your health suffers. As late-50’s MD, I can empathize with your back pain. Until 3 years ago I was in fantastic shape, running 30+ miles a week, winning local races, lifting weights and biking. I stepped in a hole and tore my meniscus. Months of therapy didn’t help so I had “routine” arthroscopy which went well until MRSA set in. 6 months and 4 additional surgeries later, I was fortunate to keep my leg but my knee was completely destroyed. Now I’m able to walk about a mile until the pain sets in. Then one year ago, I woke with right sided low back pain, radiating to my foot. The pain was frighteningly severe. Then I developed foot drop. Narcotics didn’t help. NSAID’s helped a bit and gabapentin was also somewhat helpful. I missed 2 months of work, had 3 ESI’s, 2 courses of PT and could not sit for more than 2 minutes. Finally after 6 months I had a microdiscectomy and was able to sit again. I was really happy to return to work and be relatively pain free. Back pain is draining. I had many bad thoughts. I had planned on working until 65 but after all that, I’ve planned to retire in the next 18 months. I wish you the best in your fight against back pain. Keep walking, consider an ESI, gabapentin (I tolerated it well, some don’t) and even acupuncture. Surgery is mostly effective if there is a specific target like I had (an isolated herniation).

]]> By: TheHappyPhilosopher https://thehappyphilosopher.com/reflections-pain/#comment-6794 Tue, 01 Aug 2017 01:20:32 +0000 http://thehappyphilosopher.com/?p=1650#comment-6794 In reply to aGoodLifeMD.

That is a good analogy. The big question is should I continue to work so I can afford to fly first class, which arguable should be better for my back 😉

]]> By: TheHappyPhilosopher https://thehappyphilosopher.com/reflections-pain/#comment-6793 Tue, 01 Aug 2017 01:18:48 +0000 http://thehappyphilosopher.com/?p=1650#comment-6793 In reply to ChrisCD.

Thank you Chris. I’m approaching my pain from many angles. I’m optimistic.

]]> By: TheHappyPhilosopher https://thehappyphilosopher.com/reflections-pain/#comment-6791 Tue, 01 Aug 2017 01:12:24 +0000 http://thehappyphilosopher.com/?p=1650#comment-6791 In reply to saveinvestbecomefree.

I’ve noticed that as the ego attachment loosens, the distinction between “retire to” and “retire from” just turns into “retire”. Good topic for another blog post 😉

Health is something we all take for granted until it is taken from us. When I have those moments of no pain, no tension, no numbness…it is so blissful.

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