hi everyone:
on the advice of forum members, i've cut certain things out of my diet, including caffeine.
has anyone actually found that to be helpful? i'd like to start drinking green tea again in the long term, as i enjoy it so much and it has other health benefits, but i'm wondering if anyone out there has an opinion or has experienced any alleviation of pain by completely giving up caffeine. (I've also given up alcohol and added sugar, and i'm following that 100 percent.)

There are decaffeinated green teas. Salada makes one in tea bag form.

I am sure there are others.

Alleviation of pain by cutting out caffeine? Not really.

I have the need to drink warm drinks throughout the day, be it tea or coffee and they are not decaffeinated most of the time. I went caffeine free once, no thank you. Besides, it didn't feel like there was a difference.

You might try Rooibos tea if you really want to start drinking tea again but are afraid of the caffeine, it's caffeine free.

tell the truth, i'm addicted to genmai-cha, the chinese green tea with roasted brown rice. they don't offer it without caffeine where i buy it. so this is just a call for opinions on the efficacy of abstaining from caffeine.
but thank you both for the suggestions!

I've seen newspaper articles published on the ill effects of coffee and caffeine in general one day, and on the good things it does the next.

I think you have to drink the things you feel good about. If it's hot cocoa at night, then so be it, if it's oranje juice, fine too, tea, coffee, ... I think it's a very individual thing, although I'm sure there are "RSD diets" out there where it's either permitted or not.

I think caffeine is a personal thing.
I myself can't tolerate much very well, I have a tremor, and I can't even attempt handwriting, (or typing ) for that matter if I'd had too much caffeine.
Green Tea is great, It's low in caffeine.
And, it does have antioxidants.

But, too much, and I'm reaching for valium or topomax at least.

Oh of course they put caffeine in certain medications.
For instance fiorinal and fiorocet. Where the caffeine works on the vascular system in the case of a headache.

If you have a caffeine "habit", then you'll hafto adapt to life without it.
and, visa versa.

I became an expert on Migraine.. A guy I knew, ,called me and said Pete, I got this headache that has me sick, and I can't take it, any suggestions?
This guy and his wife had pots of coffee all day long. I asked him, you didn't have your full dose of coffee today did you?
He thought about it, and said I don't think so....
Go have a big cup.

He called me back an hour or so later.
The Migraine was Gone!

And, there are times when caffeine will Give me a migraine!

Go figure...

As for rsd, if you're not used to it, it can "tighten" muscles... but it's all what you're used to. imho.

Pete
asb

Give up my 1 cup of coffee in the morning, followed by a Diet Coke chaser.
It keeps me moving, makes me happy, and a vice I will keep.

Having caffeine or not in any form and all the other "stuff" which isn't supposed to be good doesn't affect me one way or another. Not ingesting it didn't lower my pain and eating/drinking it doesn't raise my pain either.

Everyone is different and if it doesn't bother your pain level then there's no reason you can't have it. :-)

Hugs,

Karen

I gave it up for other reasons and I sleep a lot better. I some say that it can stay in your system for 8-12hrs. I didn't find it made a diff. with the rsd but it is worth a try.
Jennelle

This is an interesting question, and the reason it caught my eye is .. Reed saw a psychologist last week, who suggested that his caffeine intae may contribute to his depression and irritability. Has anyone been told this?
The psych also said that cutting out caffeine may help with the pain. I had never heard this either. I can't tell you if it helped, because Reed absolutely refused to give up his coffee . He has cut back on drinking coke, but I think he's drinking more coffee now, so kinda defeats the purpose. lol I can't really preach on that subject, because I am a total bear without my coffee!