Chronic Pain - any suggestions?

How inactive are you ? A lot of health problems can be due to the combination of high weight and lack of strength in legs in back which causes pressure. If you can, start exercising slowing. Walking for 30 mins, push-ups, sit-ups etc. Start slowly. Start push ups by resting on your knees. It's a great excercise because it's low impact and improves strength generally in your upper body. Cycling is also great. Get an indoor car cycling machine if you don't want to cycle outdoors or can't for some reason.
 
zippy said:
sit-ups
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...are one of the worst exercises you can do.
Holding various plank positions will do a lot more for core strength and activate a wider range of muscle groups.

https://www.issaonline.edu/blog/index.cfm/2016/are-sit-ups-bad-for-you-the-us-military-seems-to-think-so#
https://ruggedfellowsguide.com/10-alternatives-crunches-situps/
http://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/want-a-stronger-core-skip-the-sit-ups
etc.

Go see a biokineticist and let them develop an exercise program for you. They'll give you something that doesn't require equipment & exercises that are simple so that you can focus on doing them correctly.
 
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There are also some great stretches for back pain. I was shown a few by my dance instructor and biokineticist. This, coupled with core strengthening might help in treating the root cause as opposed to treating the symptoms. Being fit and strong has no drawbacks.
 
zippy said:
How inactive are you ? A lot of health problems can be due to the combination of high weight and lack of strength in legs in back which causes pressure. If you can, start exercising slowing. Walking for 30 mins, push-ups, sit-ups etc. Start slowly. Start push ups by resting on your knees. It's a great excercise because it's low impact and improves strength generally in your upper body. Cycling is also great. Get an indoor car cycling machine if you don't want to cycle outdoors or can't for some reason.
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Thanks! I'm not inactive by any means, I am 6 foot tall and weigh 52kgs. I have never been able to keep weight on hence the need for core strengthening exercises...
 
bromster said:
There are also some great stretches for back pain. I was shown a few by my dance instructor and biokineticist. This, coupled with core strengthening might help in treating the root cause as opposed to treating the symptoms. Being fit and strong has no drawbacks.
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Agree 100%, but it feels to me that even light exercise has me wanting to cry the next day...
 
Grant said:
contact dr milton raff:
http://www.specialistpainclinic.co.za/

find out who to go to in your area
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Thank you, I have an appointment with the Jacaranda pain clinic at the end of this month, but according to my doctor they will treat the symptom and not the problem, but I am going to give it a try. I've also got a neurologist appointment so I am trying to cover all basis here.
 
ChrisThomas said:
Thanks! I'm not inactive by any means, I am 6 foot tall and weigh 52kgs. I have never been able to keep weight on hence the need for core strengthening exercises...
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You are very lightweight for your height you should focus on gaining full body muscle mass and would look at supplements and body building to achieve that.
 
I concur try cannabis oil, it's amazing stuff. And it's not only a cancer thing it's great for lots of ailments and sicknesses.
 
CBD oils you can get in SA shops:
http://www.faithful-to-nature.co.za/CBD-Oil-200mg-p-9726.html
http://www.hemporium.co.za/c24/Nutrition.aspx

Cannabis oils (THC & CBD) you'll need to pm one of the people who post about it on these forums for a contact number.
There's a few places with websites, can't vouch for any of them:
http://www.cannabistherapy.co.za/products/tinctures/
https://www.medicalcannabisdispensary.co.za/cannabis-oil-products/
http://cannabisoil-sa.co.za/products
http://medicalhaze.co.za/
 
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Thanks everyone, this has been quite helpful.

I am getting some of the CDB oil on friday so hopefully that helps me out, will let you guys know.

I find that the cannabis capsules have helped somewhat but I don't think that is the best method for me to use.

I have always tried to put on weight and have been on every supplement, I have a high carb diet, it just doesn't happen...
 
saor said:
CBD oils you can get in SA shops:
http://www.faithful-to-nature.co.za/CBD-Oil-200mg-p-9726.html
http://www.hemporium.co.za/c24/Nutrition.aspx

Cannabis oils (THC & CBD) you'll need to pm one of the people who post about it on these forums for a contact number.
There's a few places with websites, can't vouch for any of them:
http://www.cannabistherapy.co.za/products/tinctures/
https://www.medicalcannabisdispensary.co.za/cannabis-oil-products/
http://cannabisoil-sa.co.za/products
http://medicalhaze.co.za/
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But in useage what's the health difference in health benefits?
 
ChrisThomas said:
Thanks everyone, this has been quite helpful.

I am getting some of the CDB oil on friday so hopefully that helps me out, will let you guys know.

I find that the cannabis capsules have helped somewhat but I don't think that is the best method for me to use.

I have always tried to put on weight and have been on every supplement, I have a high carb diet, it just doesn't happen...
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Hi Chris,

It is interesting that you mention struggling to gain weight. I have also always struggled to gain weight (64kgs at most and 185cm tall). I also have a lot of the same symptoms as you. Brain fog and chronic tiredness are also issues I have had to deal with. I have been to so many specialists but according to them all nothing is wrong.

What I can suggest and what does seem to work for me is cutting out any form of gluten from your diet. Do this for at least a month - it is hard to make the switch in the beginning but over time it becomes much easier and you learn to appreciate the absolute variety of food. This has had amazing results for me and funnily enough cutting out wheat which was a primary source of carbs in my diet has allowed me to gain weight and my vitality back. I suggest you do some research but start here for some reading: http://www.glutenfreeschool.com/2014/10/07/signs-of-gluten-sensitivity/ .

We are what we eat. Good luck.
 
Hi

This is a genetic disorder, there is no cure, only pain management. It can affect you in so many different ways, its quite horrible.

My Ex wife has it, and my daughter has it (3 years old), although her symptoms are not massively severe, but she has a strict regime to help her learn management and pain relief.

A couple things that might help
- Aqua therapy, a heated pool works wonders.
- Pilates (sp) , Yoga, Physio - all of these will help strengthen the muscles supporting the joints, more stability = less pain. You literally have to make a lifestyle of it.

One problem is that your condition neutralizes (literally) most pain medications. Medication just doesn't not work as effectively in EDS sufferers, so you could take Myprodol and the effect would be minimal, that being said, intravenous paracetamol worked wonder for my ex when she was in severe pain during pregnancy... be glad you're not a woman, EDS can cause child birth to be rather dangerous.

I'd be curious on the effectiveness of medical cannabis oil if you can get it, I am thinking about this for my daughter in the future, and hopefully it would be legal by then.

Its not really well known condition in SA, they don't recognize it and medical aids don't cater for it either.
 
Cube3 said:
Hi

This is a genetic disorder, there is no cure, only pain management. It can affect you in so many different ways, its quite horrible.

My Ex wife has it, and my daughter has it (3 years old), although her symptoms are not massively severe, but she has a strict regime to help her learn management and pain relief.

A couple things that might help
- Aqua therapy, a heated pool works wonders.
- Pilates (sp) , Yoga, Physio - all of these will help strengthen the muscles supporting the joints, more stability = less pain. You literally have to make a lifestyle of it.

One problem is that your condition neutralizes (literally) most pain medications. Medication just doesn't not work as effectively in EDS sufferers, so you could take Myprodol and the effect would be minimal, that being said, intravenous paracetamol worked wonder for my ex when she was in severe pain during pregnancy... be glad you're not a woman, EDS can cause child birth to be rather dangerous.

I'd be curious on the effectiveness of medical cannabis oil if you can get it, I am thinking about this for my daughter in the future, and hopefully it would be legal by then.

Its not really well known condition in SA, they don't recognize it and medical aids don't cater for it either.
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110% - Not looking for a cure just help with pain management, all the different pain killers I've been on do nothing like you say... I've even woken up half way through an operation as anesthetic doesn't work on us either... I've taken note of your suggestions however, thanks for the input!
 
Just going to chip in here and go against the general advice.

When I experienced back pain due to compressed verterbrae any exercise made it worse. Pilates - tried to work gently but the following week was agony. Stretching was excrutiating and didn't help at all.

The only thing I did was a bit of easy yoga, no forcing or hectic stretching. Luckily the pain eventually went away but a thoughtless bend and twist still causes days of discomfort.

I do not advocate forcing your body to anything uncomfortable. Others will disagree.
 
ChrisThomas said:
Thank you, I have an appointment with the Jacaranda pain clinic at the end of this month, but according to my doctor they will treat the symptom and not the problem, but I am going to give it a try. I've also got a neurologist appointment so I am trying to cover all basis here.
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pain clinics will essentially establish the cause of the pain and present different treatment options.
obviously it's the underlying cause that requires addressing.
from time to time it may be better (from a risk point) to treat & manage the symptom especially when it comes to spinal related pain.

if at any point any form of spinal surgery is recommended, get a 2nd & even 3rd opinion. once it has been established what procedure is recommended, go back to your neurologist and ask him if he were to undergo the same procedure, which orthopedic surgeon he would use were it was him going for the same procedure.
whilst all orthopedic surgeons will be generally capable of performing the same procedure, some are simply better skilled and experienced with certain procedures than others.

consider invasive procedures as an absolutely last resort, rather (if possible) work with a physiotherapist to increase muscle strength & correct posture around the affected area.
 
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