Hi. I have not down this but guided imagery and relaxation tapes along with biofeedback. I too live alone and that is hard but try to distract when I can or do things like a bath to calm me down pain and mental wise. I think a lot for me with things like imagery so on is the person who is doing it and that it takes practice. There is this place on the internet I think it is called meet up and they have groups like this for healing. If you google it you should see and then you can put in your area. As for smoking. I know the battle of addiction so to speak and the vicious cycle. As you know with smoking it helps you in no way but it does fill something for you like you stated dealing with your pain so finding healthy ways to cope can really help.

Kevin,

I feel your pain and like many others do numerous things to combat the issues of living with PN. I've had it for 5 yrs. and did enjoy my 1st period of lower pain levels last Fall but when the weather changed, so did the PN. Therefore I have started the epsom salt soaks (thanks, Mrs. D!) as well as listening to an excellent guided imagery cd that includes affirmations. Both help especially during more painful periods.

The cd was recommended by my therapist. (As a side note, I have found my therapist to be a crucial part of learning to live with this frustrating condition.)

You can find an entire series of cd's at: http://www.healthjourneys.com
The name of this particular one is, "A meditation to Ease Pain," done by a psychotherapist, Belleruth Naparstek whose voice is wonderful and the music is very calming. It's about 45 minutes long (20 minutes of guided imagery and 15 minutes of affirmations) and I highly recommend it.

Good luck!
Doxie

Thankyou for suggestions, I am trying to find resources, and will probably explore this when I get with a counselor or pschiatrist. (Depression has also been an issue) I have found a couple of guided imagery sets on you tube and have tried those. I also read a suggestion, to concentrate on your pain as being a color - then a shape, to visualize the shape, then to change the shape in your mind. Not something that works really well at work, but at night laying in bed is has helped me with getting my mind off of pain and relaxing.

For example, I try to imagine the pain as the color blue, then as a blue triangle, then a pyramid, then a cube, then a box that stretches out and out and out until I cannot it stretching any further in my mind.

I also try to imagine myself at the beach in mexico, standing waist deep in warm water, feeling the cool breeze on my upper body and the warm water and sand between my toes. I try to visualize the sky, the fishing boats, etc etc.

As far as smoking goes, still working on it..

Imagery. self-hypnosis, exercise - are all good ways to distract the mind from pain.
We have one member (Wing42 - David) who has defeated his PN pain significantly thru Yoga. You might do a search on this site with "Yoga" and see what he's done.

Hi again. I just went back to a pscyh. I had been before many years on and off but not in the 2 years I have been dealing with this. Anyhow my mood lately and anxiety has been really bad so it was time to go. She did rx me some meds for anxiety/sleep and may add a muscle relaxer. So I was wondering if possible meds may help with you too since you made the comment of going to a psych etc? As someone who has been overtherapied I am not sure if that is word I do feel that coping mechanisms take practice to work in the best manner so don't give up. Also do you journal? I do not just a pain rating one but about my feelings and thoughts. It helps me get out some of the feelings I have. Hang in there and keep up the hard work to stop smoking. Take 1 day at a time

Hey Krenik - keep working on your effort to quit smoking. Indeed - it can be done. Lotsa folks quite time after time after time. LoL

Seriously, stick with it. I am proof that one can permanently quit. I smoked for over 50 years and successfully quit COLD TURKEY following a heart attack in March 1989...and I have not smoked since!!! After surviving the heart attack I just made up my mind that I would not allow something as stupid as smoking kill me so I gave up tobacco following discharge from the hospital after that heart attack...20 years ago!

Several of us little tykes use to pick up butts off the street when we were in 1st grade. We would pinch off the burnt ends and put that in our mouths and light up the other end (had to be sanitary ya know) - could always get 2-3 puffs. We followed that by swiping one or two from our family member's packs, and any other way we could get 'em. I went in the service when I was barely 16 and in the PX cigs were 10¢ pack and 90¢ carton so cost was never a problem. Why did we smoke? - hell, all our heros smoked - movie stars, sports figures, etc., so smoking was cool before cool was cool. LoL

I celebrated my 77th birthday last month so just maybe quitting did save my life!

Hi Kreink

I have been using self hypnosis for about 15 years and, although I have not been in severe pain with this so far, I have found it helpful with my numbness and burning feelings. I have used it for childbirth and other pain over the years such as dentistry including root canal. I was taught it at a class in the uk and would recommend finding a good, accredited teacher in your area (sorry I don't know any organisations in usa but am sure you could find out on the net). I tend to use visualisation to help e.g. imagining a dial that you can turn to alter the intensity - if it won't go down turn it higher then lower, or giving it a size, shape, colour and altering those as well as direct suggestions about increased relaxation. Tapes can also be useful with visualisations, I have made some for myself but again that was after the training. If you see a hypnotist they can also give you or you can learn for yourself what are called post hypnotic suggestions so that is a suggestion e.g. for pain relief that is triggered when you say a certain word with the intent to use it for pain relief. I remember my teacher always talking about pain in terms of seeing it as a message from your subconscious and therefore of value and distinguishing between what he called 'necessary pain' eg you need to act on this now and see a dr and 'unnecessary pain' messages which you can instruct your subconscious to turn down in intensity. I have to be honest and say it hasn't always worked for me 100% in all circumstances and I don't know why that is but it has definitely worked in many and helped alleviate pain.

Sarah