All
I searched every section here attempting to figure out where to place this thread and finally decided on Chronic Pain because that is what my diagnosis is on both neck, headache, and PTSD matters.

I'm so tired and fed up with all these treatments and how they appear to work for a minute and then the pain comes screaming back like a fierce demon! So today when I awoke with a migraine from the depths of hell, I took my meds, applied my topical neck cream, put my neck heat device on, and closed my eyes hoping for it all to take effect- nothing.

So I dug out my old TENS unit given to me from VA many years ago figuring wth ya know? I'm typing this as it sends short bursts as high as I can withstand it and again just hope it does something for this unreal pain that has taken over so much of my life. I seriously have no idea what true settings to place it on for the many applications it has and just figured that the electronic stim effect on high as iI can stand is what I should be doing. Do any of you professionals either agree or disagree on this?

My friends, there are days that we all truly believe we cannot endure our pain any longer and feel there may be a time to end the pain forever by taking away the source. Our lives. I won't deny this is something I think of daily nor have ruled out entirely , but there are certain mental thoughts which keep me from doing so, which I may have even expressed here once. I really can't recall to be honest. Sorry for a depressing thread members, I don't mean it to be- I'm just so sick n tired of hurting this bad everyday I wake to face the world. My best to you all and wish you better days to come!

Semper Fidelis

Gunny

Gunny,

I am sorry you are having such a hard time. Dealing with pain day in, day out is exhausting. As we know it can even take away one's will to live. I experienced a dark time of despair despite a beautiful family and a still beautiful life because I was just so damned tired of hurting.

It was at that point that I went "Holy Crap" I need help dealing with this. Even though I had run through a lot of treatment options I had not addressed the emotional component of distress, loss and anxiety related to my condition. I kept thinking I would get better and not need therapy. I was wrong, I had not factored in how my emotional state affected me every day. Where we are emotionally DOES affect our pain even though the pain is very real and physically based. Just from a neuro chemical standpoint this is true. When the physical interventions aren't working attack it through your mind. Breathing exercises, meditation, visualization. Relaxing the body and reducing stress is always good. I found help with this through a therapist experienced with pain, chronic illness and trauma. She was a tremendous help to me. Some of our work was focused on dealing with the trauma and loss of what I had gone through and some was focused on techniques like hypnosis, imagery and EMDR that helped me deal with the pain and distress more effectively. Some PM clinics have therapists on board or can recommend someone. I found mine through Psychology Today's therapist database online.

Keep searching for options. Get support, lean on others. Sometimes it's nice to share how low one is just to lighten the burden a little. We all have days where we have felt like giving up. Don't do it! You never know when the day may come that has an opportunity for healing.

On the TENS, I would not go on high. IMHO when you are in pain your nerves are already overstimulated, just give them a little distraction to focus on not a big barrage.

Sending Healing Love,
Littlepaw

I don't know that there are any TENS type professionals here, you might ask on a Physical Therapy related site for best TENS settings.

Is your neck having soft tissue pain or is it something due to discs or spinal cord bulges/impingements.

I have an IF stim that is very nice for muscle pain - digital so no accidental dial changes that zing you. I was trying to figure out my dad’s TENS for his low back pain but my brother had borrowed it and changed settings , dad doesn't recall what they were before..
Then the battery went dead and it doesn’t have AC adapter like my IF stim does..

Have you been checked for possible trigger points?
Those can cause referred pain and symptoms like headaches and various muscle pain.
http://www.pressurepointer.com/pain_reference_chart.htm

Hey Gunny Fitz,
You rant and rage as much as you want, don't get down on yourself. I agree with all that Littlepaw says, she eases the strain on my eyes often. But I must add you need to utilise your Russell medication more.
It can be easy to visit that Dark Place and contemplate putting a stop to the pain, but that pain is never diminished - it is simply transformed and passed on, starting with the unfortunate finder and exploding onto one's family and Loved Ones.
Things are bound to become easier one day, through improvement, Therapy, meds or a combination. Hang in there and keep trying.

Dave.

Gunny, there are two devices for chronic pain I can vouch for. I have TOS/CRPS/Fibromyalgia from a bike accident wherein I decided to clean the street with my face (not a good idea BTW).
One is the InterX scenar device - think of it like a TASER for the human body, it zaps the problem areas & pain goes down.
http://www.interxtherapycenter.com/a...nterx-therapy/
Cons - pretty expensive. So try it & see if it works on a consistent basis.
The other is the ICES device by Bob Dennis. Less expensive than the above.
http://www.alleva-wave.com/
Whilst advertised for horse injuries, its basically the same as the SomaPulse sold on another site.

Best of luck.

PS: You are in the most advanced country in the world for medical treatment and PT. It will help.
Try somatic training or breathing exercises to dial down the daily adversity, might help in pain reduction too!

Hi.

I put this article up on another thread I have going which I wrote a bunch of stuff on venting about things, and medications. Thought if i placed it here too it would reach even more of you all, mostly other Veterans who Im sure are being effected by this BS policy as well.

Attached Files

NEW VA OPIOD POLICY-2.pdf (207.9 KB, 1214 views)

Oh, this is a well thought out statement in the article...
"Pain experts at the VA say that in hindsight they have been overmedicating veterans, and doctors at the Pentagon and VA now say that the use of the painkillers contributes to family strife, homelessness and even suicide among veterans."

Apparently they have not considered what daily Intractable pain does for family strife, homelessness and suicide.

Gunny Fitz, I don't know if I said it before but, your service and sacrifice is greatly appreciated. I am sorry for what you endured and what you are now going through and am appalled the government is not treating you, and other veterans, properly. Does the VA have a doctor you can go to who specializes in pain mgmt? How about support groups where you can discuss your experiences and compare pain mgmt meds/modalities that work for each of you.

It is after midnite and I am tired but I will look through your posts tomorrow and if I can recommend something for pain that you might not have tried, I will.
Please don't crank your TENS unit up full blast....it may do more harm than good.

Take Care, Diandra

I am new here, but read the post about getting TENS Unit out. I'm scheduled to see my doctor in a few weeks to get one prescribed. My doctor is all for it, but with insurance you have to dot your "I's," and cross your "T's" first.

Anyone use/try them, and what were the results for someone suffering from nerve damage in the leg?????

Desperate!!!!

Becca