Suggestions for Pain Relief from C/S and Back Pain

Bones, joints and muscles
1

Hi , My name is Andy, i am 37 years old and i have suffered from Loss of Lordosis from the age of 16/17 and suffered from neck pain for years and was not diagnosed till i was 28, back in 2007 is When the pain started getting really bad to where i couldn't move my neck,  finally had an MRI showing Disc bulges at C3 & C4, Reduced height C5 & C6 with large osteophytes and loss of lordosis , and like everyone here loads of going to GP, even to A&E when in severe pain, Physios, Osteopaths, ChiroPractors,Alexander technique, and even chinese medicine. Past 7 years spent loads of money taken loads of pills and not getting any where for relief from the pain like a YOYO, up and down. Had a Nervous breakdown , spent 2 months in a mental hospital, drugged to the eyeballs, still in loads of pain AAAhhh.

However, i started to look into things that might work to help me get pain relief And i hope my list will help someone to get some relief. Firstly  get advice from your Gp, or a specialist, wether these are suitable for you in your case, this

here's a list i recommend

1) A GYM BALL OR POSTURE CHAIR TO SIT ON promote better posture and bring my neck back from a forward postion and to lie over to open up back muscles and help stretch neck muscles using gravity.

2) A YOGA BOLSTER, use this to help open tigh chest muscles relax your shoulders and rest your neck. recommend Bolster Your spirit Book from Amazon.Use the Supta Baddha Konasana pose. A gym ball is too high up , a bolster you can comfortably lie on the floor

3) A FOAM OR BUCKWHEAT CERVICAL ROLL1-3 INCHES IN DIAMETER depending on your length of neck. This to help for the c curve in the neck, put in with your pillow, or sleep on the roll by its self which is comfortable

4)Floor mats and yoga mat, just to lie on the floor will give support to your body to relax rather than sleeping in bed.

5)A GOOD QUALITY FIRM MATTRESS.  i have found all the Memoryfoam mattreses where causing me to strain my neck,i had to sleep with out a pillow.  You need to keep your body level and have adequate support for your muscles to relax .

6) A VERY GOOD CHIROPRACTOR. Look for a chirpractor who does soft tissue work, appointments are 30 mins, does ultrasound, and Cervical Traction and tell them no  neck manipulation, Avoid those that offer discounts for block bookings and xrays ,  any gimmicks, i spent over £1,000 with one in North london appointments were 5 minutes in and out used what is could a drop table and a device called an Activator on my neck these are Hokum chiros init for the money getting you to go back again and again, I ve personally used Sayers Clinicand can recommend them , you can google them

7)Therapy Yoga teacher, One to One, if you can find a yoga teacher and explain your condition , she or he will go through and find exercises you can do, Yoga will help you mentally as well as phiysicaly.

8) FELDENKRAIS THERAPIST. This is the most gentle and effictive excersises, which do help me with my balance and tigh jaw muscles, you need to do the exercises you re given and do them every day, with the yoga , you'll have days of minimal pain.

9) TherCANE, the THERACANE is a curve stick which you use to reach behind you and get to your shoulders and massage triggerpoints /knots in your muscles, i found it really useful. You can get from Amazon

10) Trigger Point therapy workbook, full of great info, and how to use the thera cane effectively.

11) HOT AND COLD GEL CERVICAL ROLL. Use it as a heat pack for the muscles when tight and painful.

12) Lavender aromatherapy oils, to massage into your shoulders and neck, and help to relax you, and get a good nights sleep, to relax the mind, Most of the muscle healing is done during sleep, if the mind is awake so is the body.

13)Drink Water, THROUGHOUT THE DAY, to flush out toxins from the muscles.

14) No Caffeine(tea coffee),alcohol, nicotine, SUGAR, yes SUGAR can add to your pain, Since i stopped Sugary proccessed foods, white sugar, brown sugar ,alcohol etc my pain has reduced, ITS HARD BUT STICK IN THERE  it'll will take a month to notice the difference.

15) Cervical Traction Unit, this i got is one which is clamped inbtween the bed and mattress, and it basically pulls on your head whilst laying down, if you do decide to get one DO NOT get the one for hanging on doors, you'll be pulling against gravity and your neck muscles are already tight from sitting upright, Your muscles need to be in a relaxed position to benefit from cervical traction, Laying down is best

If you Can bare it reduce your painkillers and use them when in severe pain, all though they offer short term relief, long term it causes gastrointestinal problems,reduce your body to heal itself and become dependent on the medicines, Check with your GP or a Specialist,

Hope some of this helps and would like to see other sufferers post what they do to help with their pain.

Breathe, relax, Smile, On the Inside and out

 

2

Wow Andy thnk u so much. Lavender is such a healing herb used in many ways. Great suggestions. Thanks for sharing.  So many spot on suggestions.

I have to many issues with my back to many to list.

Just a couple of things that really work well for me that I could add to your list is a small hot tub with message jets 10 -15 minutes a day. 

Also topicals that warm and treat sore areas. OTC or RX. 

My fav is spooning. Lightly us a ceramic Asian soup spoon , holding the handle using a gel to message out the knots in legs , neck, back & arms. Drink lots of water. This method removes toxins from UR body. Next day UR more flexable, less pain thw knots are gone. I learned this from my acupuncturist.

Cheers confused

 

3

Hi Andy

Thanks for the tips....although I may have to wait until my lottery numbers come in before starting the programme.  Just interested to know....How can you tell that sugar adds to your pain  ?  I've always found  it to be good 'pick me up' in the mornings.

4

Hey Gerry the neck,

Hope you don't have to wait for your lottery numbers, if you can try one thing to help get relief from pain, it'll take time for you to find what works for you, a bit like the lottery you never know when you will hit the jackpot, unless you try. As for sugar it causes the body to produce insulin and if you have a sweet tooth more insulin can be inflamming to pain. In my case i had a very sweet tooth, cakes biscuits and so on , i took a decision to stop sugar and eat fresh, i feel better for it.

All the best

 

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Hi Andy

I'm glad you managed to conquer your dietary issue with sugar....but I don't really see the connection with C/S.  Diabetes perhaps !  Also, the programme of Yoga, Chiros, Traction etc you advise don't really resonate with me and my familiarity with C/S.  I'd be paticularly concerned about traction, because of the lack of good evidence supporting its benefits.  As I understand it ,  it's actually quite risky, and could make matters worse.  Just wondering if you were aware of the possible downsides ?  Same for Chiros ?

In terms of money well spent on various therapeutic possibles,  I think 'money not spent' is maybe the better option.  A small fraction of that money saved can then be allocated to purchasing a good quality Cervical pillow,  which will probably achieve just as much beneficial outcomes as the 15 point programme you listed.  I don't see how anyone would assume that a chronic C/S sufferer could ever find the energy, nevermind the resources,  to fulfill the expectations of such a complex time-consumming programme.  Maybe it's just me,  but I get an intuitive negative reaction to suggestions when they don't resonate with my practical understandings.  No offence.

6

Hmmm , im pondering have you understood where i'm coming from. There is no connection to Cervical spondylosis, this is to do with managing the pain, foods can have affect on causing more inflammation when you have a high acidic ph level in your blood, the muscles in your neck  and back become tight, shrink and lead to atrophy where the muscles are trying to compensate for the loss of lordosis and reduction of height in the cervical discs. Majority of the pain we experience is muscle related, traction if used gently can provide releif for a short while, i have tried all these methods for myself, and they do work, if you do them gently and give 100% to doing them properly without causing injury to yourself, But everyone is different, Have to do for yourself as much as you can and DON'T GIVE UP, There is no cure for CS but make it a bit more easier to live with. Spending money and trying something is hard, i was on benefits for along time, i struggled, paying for physio etc, i just wanted to get rid of the pain, But thats the mistake we make we put our money into Physio etc, when there is ways we can do for ourselves, EVEN Laying on the floor dosen't cost anything, put a rolled up towel under your neck, and lie on the floor, as NIKE say JUST DO IT,There are downsides to everything even taking medicines have side effects, just relying on a cervical pillow for pain relief has a downside, A good Chiropractor or physio are there as an aid not a cure, NO ONe WILL GET BETTER bY NOT TRYING,Again What works for you , maybe share what you do during the day  to manage the pain,

Breathe,Relax,Smile, On the the Inside and Out

7

You know Andy,  maybe you've got the right instincts in there, somewhere. 'Mindfulness' is a useful tool for helping to figure out the complexities of C/S,  but it was never meant to be imposed on others as a demanding mantra.  Its usefulness is more contained within one's personal experience.  Its relevance is sometimes lost on the wider audience.

Good luck with the breathing, relaxing and smiling,  both inside and Out....if it works,  why not ?

8

It's not about mindfulness or imposing anything on anyone, i was at a place , where i became miserable, despondent, no friends, constant pain, waiting for the doctor to help me, giving up just taking pills, taramadol, gabapentin, olanzapine, zoplicone, every day, losing weight, looking for sympathy from others,  It took to i was 35 to kick myself in the rear and to overcome the pain and have some sort of life again, It's taken 3 years of trying, i can go for long walks, and pain doesn't stop me from seeing friends,  again you haven't shared what you do to deal with pain, i don't think a cervical pillow is your only pain relief, so back to the point of the discussion is to Share SUGGESTIONS for Pain Relief,

and do try to Breathe, relax and smile,

9

I have absolutely no problem with breathing, relaxing or smiling.  Don't know what in the wide world ever gave you the idea that I might have !

I have also shared my suggestions for pain relief on other posts on this site,  if you'd care to look.  In relation to C/S,  I meant what I posted about a Cervical pillow giving comparative relief to your 15 point programme.  I wouldn't avoid saying that in response to your advice,  if I believed it was valid.  Considering you first posted your advice,  I would have thought that it was up to you to support your advice by arguing that it is a better method.  I'd need some real convincing on that one !,  but I am open to listen to any explanations.

I realise that you've had a hard time,  as we all probably have had,  and that you have managed to drag yourself out of a desperate situation....I empathise with that.   But I think you need to control your new found fervour and think things through before advertising a questionable programme which might influence others who are experiencing similar difficulties.  Your suggestions are just full of 'confirmation bias',  meaning they are based on your experience only, with no evidence to support,  and you should make that clear to everyone who is likely to read them.  How would it be if someone, in all innocence,  followed your advice,  only to find out a year later that it didn't work.  Would you feel responsible for such an outcome ?

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Hmmm i am quite sure you have not understood the point of starting this discussion, FIRSTLY I have not said anywhere in my post it is a 15 POINT PROGRAMME, it's a list of things i have tried, im not going to go through all the discussions looking for your posts on pain relief hence the Point of starting this discussion to make it easier to find suggestions from Cervical spondylosis sufferers. My post is "confirmation bias" as all suggestions from other people is their personal experience, i am not medicaly qualified or have the means to accurately test what i have done , All i Know IT WORKS. C/s sufferers have gone through physiotherapy as a recommendation from their doctor some patients it has helped some it hasn't. Im quite sure people are intelligent enough to make their own decisions on what to try and what not to.  If it's not your thing that s your prerogative, what was the  point you were trying to make ???????

11

Well, here's one point I'd like to make.  What if someone used the Traction method you advised,  and aggravated a trapped nerve as a result.  Would you then feel responsible for haviong given that advice,  without considering any possible negative outcomes ?  You asked !

12

Hi ANDY, I would just like to say that I appreciate you sharing your story with us, and letting us know the various things that have helped you. You have been through a very difficult time including a mental breakdown and it takes sometimes a lot of inner strength to come on this set to share your story in the hope that some, or even one of your ideas may help another fellow sufferer. I also note on your first blog you have written 'firstly get advice from your GP or consultant" which is something that we all should do.

andy I appreciate your help and various ideas and am pleased to see you have made progress - it's a very debilitating and depressing condition. I myself have 4 degenerated discs, severe osteophyte sand also 3 bulging discs so operations are now out of the question. I have the same with 2 discs in lumbar spine and facet joint disease plus widespread osteoarthritis. This year I have now also been diagnosed with fibromyalgia and CFS and eventually at to give up my job as could no longer manage. It is great having people who you can chat to and can support you and I for one wish you the very best in your ongoing recovery!

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"13)Drink Water, THROUGHOUT THE DAY, to flush out toxins from the muscles.

14) No Caffeine(tea coffee),alcohol, nicotine, SUGAR, yes SUGAR can add to your pain, Since i stopped Sugary proccessed foods, white sugar, brown sugar ,alcohol etc my pain has reduced, ITS HARD BUT STICK IN THERE  it'll will take a month to notice the difference."

Another question.  What imaginary 'toxins' are in the muscles ?  How does sugar  'add to your pain'  ?  Those are serious claims to make regarding what might be affecting the painful symptoms associated with cervical spondylosis.  Please explain their relevance.

14

Hi Andyk99,

It is great to hear about your ways of coping with C/S and back pain. It is also about I " fought the good fight" when I had it around my 30's, which is quite the same as you.

I was able to cope to the extent I felt cured, but lately, after many years free from too much pain, I am beginning to get some symtoms especially after sleep.

It seems to be the pillow, and I will be trying sleeping with head unpropped up, plus cervical traction. In passing I would like to say I do traction lying horizontally and add some traction from the feet end, hooking my feet to provide resistance around a twisted bedsheet!

Thank you for your article. It is great to read what methods other people use to cope with this common condition.