Stress…a Fact of Modern Life.Stress may appear to be a disease of modern times caused by fast moving ever-changing lifestyles, but it has been with us since time began. Stress affects every aspect of our daily lives, including health, work, personal relationships, alcohol/drug abuse, and obesity. The pressures of life itself is not the main problem, rather how we react to it.Stress can contribute to depression, anxiety, and has diverse effects on many other functions and organs of the body. Stress levels can vary widely in identical situations and for different reasons. It is a highly personalized phenomenon. One survey showed that in a work situation, having to complete paperwork was more stressful for many police officers than the dangers associated with pursuing criminals.There is, of course, a huge cost associated with stress. For example, absenteeism is estimated to cost American companies $602 per worker per year. The price tag for large employers could approach $3.5 million

Pacific Laser Therapy Centers powerful stress management program combines cold laser therapy, and powerful and practical  behavioral therapy program that teaches clients how to actively release stress and mental fatigue  when the daily rigors of modern life seem overwhelming for even the normal healthy adult.

The laser is a drug-free, painless procedure that helps increase your endorphin levels, which can help promote a feeling of well-being, help lower anxiety levels, help reduce mood swings, help improve sleeping patterns and help put you back in control. The laser treatment involves the application of a cold, soft, non-invasive laser beam to specific energy points on the body: head, ear, nose, arm, below the knee and feet. This is completely safe drug free and painless. Person-centered guidance relating to relaxation, nutrition, and exercise will be given to encourage lifestyle changes. All of this can help reduce the effects of everyday stresses.

• The state of California classifies cigarette smoke as a toxic air containment.
• Filters are not eco-friendly and may take up to 10 years to degrade. State and local jurisdictions around the country are spending tens of thousands of dollars for removal and disposal of cigarette butts.
• Cigarette butts #1 pollution on beaches worldwide
• Cigarette smoking is the #1 cause of fire in our county parks

 As we enter the first decade of the millenium two things are certain: healthcare costs are continually rising despite the financial debacle the world is still recovering from. Two industries that have had an economic stranglehold on the consumer in the United States is the healthcare and pharmaceutical industry. It is widely known that the United States spends more money per capita on healthcare than any nation on earth. We are nation that treats health problems only when they become life threatening illnesses (heart disease, cancer, mental illness) unlike most countries that recognize  preventative medicine and holistic healing as the only modus operandi to living a long and fruitful life. Even more hair-raising is this alarming statistic: more than 45 million Americans (15%) do not have health insurance and/or access to practical healthcare options. That is a healthcare polemic waiting (if not already) to happen. Despite the healthcare polemic that grips our nation,there are inexpensive alternative options out there such as cold laser therapy. As you know (from reading my blog) cold laser has been praised by many clinicians as an alternative (and adjunct) therapy that has improved the quality of life for millions of people worldwide suffering from disorders that range  from chronic pain to treating addictions.  Cold laser is inexpensive and clinics are plentiful all over Europe and Asia. Unfortunately the same is not the case in the United States and here is why:

• Will cut into pharma’s profits. Last year the pharmaceutical industry earned $234 BILLION dollars in the United States alone.
• The insurance industries’ profits are tied into the success of the pharmaceutical industry.
• The pharmaceutical industry primarily markets it’s products to treat the symptoms of a disease state and not to cure or prevent. They want repeat customers!
• Cold laser is a powerful preventative (holistic) tool used to prevent the onset of disease.
• Think about it: Imagine a safe, non-invasive device (used in most countries) successfully treats and may even prevent the onset of everything from heart disease to depression.
• Cold laser is a significant monetary threat to our nation’s insurance and pharmaceutical industries.
• If the pharmaceutical industry is devoted to “preserving life” why is it that they spend more money on marketing and advertising than research and development? 
•  A new study by two York University researchers estimates the U.S. pharmaceutical industry spends almost twice as much on promotion as it does on research and development, contrary to the industry’s claim. The researchers’ estimate is based on the systematic collection of data directly from the industry and doctors during 2004, which shows the U.S. pharmaceutical industry spent 24.4% of the sales dollar on promotion, versus 13.4% for research and development, as a percentage of US domestic sales of US$235.4 billion.

 This supports the fact  that the pharmaceutical industry is market driven (to satisfy shareholders) which challenges the perception of a research-driven, life-saving, pharmaceutical industry. This faux ethos (faux marketing) is exactly what the pharmaceutical industry wants you to believe.

Dear Friends,

After what seemed to be a enjoyable and somewhat relaxing holiday break it is good to get back to all things cold laser. I have received some wonderful PLTC success stories that I will post online shorty. In the meantime checkout this month’s Santa Barbara Magazine: www.sbmag.com or turn to page 51 and get the issue at your favorite newstand!

written on Wednesday night and posted Thursday afternoon

day 6 almost over; time to do a scientificous analysis of the last 24 hours or so; sugar rushes and withdrawals ; inner musings and rants; neck experiments and bad eating habits.

This was no usual sugar rush. I was tired on Monday afternoon with loads of laundry and supper to cook ahead of me, and reached for the quick fix of coffee and oatmeal cookies. When I closed my eyes, I could visualize the whole sugar rush experience. Could actually track each sugar molecule rushing through my bloodstream. Feel the energy flowing throughout my body. Sense the zapping of the synapses in my brain like little electric shocks when the caffeine kicked in. Hear the glub, glub, glub of my heart. I sure make a “wicked” cup of coffee! (I can’t take credit for the cookies; that goes to the local bakery whose cookies remind me of my mom’s: crispy on the outside, chewy on the inside, and sweet, sweet, sweet.) There was the inevitable crash, a power nap that left me groggier and sleepier than when I lay down. I just can’t power nap!

Trouble is, whenever I eat more than two or three bites of food, I can literally feel the blood surging toward my stomach through the main artery while my brain screams “lay down, the air is too thin up here.” Problematic when the “all for the stomach routine” sets in after breakfast with a day ahead and all energy diverted to the digestive system. (And, that’s just the blood’s reaction; I won’t get into all the IBS symptoms that kick in too!) So, when someone says all they do is eat and sleep – I believe them!

Less than 24 hours later, I’m in the library and I start to yawn – nothing new, despite being an historian, libraries and archives often make me sleepy. Then another yawn and another. My eyes begin to water, and my nose starts running. Soon, I’m yawning continuously with tears and nose “stuff” streaming down my face. The dreaded morphine withdrawal syndrome has taken hold. I took high doses of opiate-based pain meds for many years, and when I switched to Lyrica, my doctor and I started the slow road of getting my system clear of the drugs. I’m down to a small amount, but I have to take it fairly regularly or my body starts to withdraw. I felt like a junkie – sneaking into the library bathroom with my little bottle of pills to get my morphine fix – a tiny white tablet that spells the difference between physical withdrawal and stability. Granted, for really bad breakthrough pain, I do take a slightly higher dose, but I have gradually stepped down the amounts. The goal is to be opiate-free; next prescription will be for a lower dose, and so on. I’ve gone through full-blown opiate (and other meds) withdrawal and it’s a hell I like to stay out of if I can. Because pain is involved, cold turkey seems like an even harder option – to face down the dragon and the demons at once overwhelming. With my concentration on the Neuragen (and having taken a higher dose of morphine earlier this week), I had forgotten my “regularly scheduled” dose. I always carry around a couple of each of my meds just in case – and I knew I had a 15 minute basically up-hill (literally and figuratively) to get home – so I did my junkie run to the bathroom. The pill had yet to kick in, but I couldn’t sit in the library yawning every second. So, I suited up, and began the trek. Even after the first shockwave of freezing air smacked my face, I was still yawning, yawning, yawning. Hope my blog doesn’t cause the same reaction with readers! (of course, I don’t want it to be addictive either!) If something like Neuragen worked, then pain wouldn’t be have to be a part of the withdrawal formula.

Today, I did some further experimentation. As I mentioned, the neuragened side of my neck seemed “quieter,” and I became more aware of the issues with the rest of my neck. So, I applied the ointment to the right side of my neck this morning. By the end of the day (and time to reapply the “stuff,”) I was acutely aware of the stiffness and pain in the back of my neck while both sides seemed calmer. I was late reapplying, and I can feel the tightness grow in my cheek area – especially as I have been at the computer for several hours now. However, my entire neck seems less tight – with the tightness radiating up into the back of my head and down my “angel bones” as my husband calls shoulder blades. This is a strange feeling – almost as if I have no neck (though it’s not numb) – and not expected for a product that deals with nerve pain, not neck spasms, arthritis, or osteoporosis! I need to either stop typing, step away from the computer, or take some sort of breakthrough meds, or apply more Neuragen before the twinges in my cheek turn “ugly.” Need a traffic cop for my computer usage: “Please step away from the laptop and put your hands up.”

From earlier:

All my addictions seemed to come into play: tonight it was fried food (KFC for the first time in a gazillon years), hard pear cider, and chocolate, then more chocolate. I’ve been trying to follow a diet and supplement program designed to make my digestive system more alkaline (and therefore less acidic) and to test out food intolerances by cutting back and/or (ideally) eliminating certain types of food such as fructose. This trip and time away throws everything out of kilter, including “healing through food” experiments. Although the pain associated with my IBS and GIRD is intermittent (even if daily), the conditions are chronic. So, I consider these as part of my chronic pain syndrome. And there is the interrelation of stress affecting each condition and intensifying the resulting health issues.

So (over- , bad) eating slows me down, tires me out, sends my system out of whack (in more ways than one), and leads to weight gain. Weight remains an issue for me: I was a chubby child, “the fat kid in class/neighbor(u)hood” and thus open for ridicule, if noticed at all. (Although, by today’s standards and children’s sizes, I would probably not be the fat kid in class.) As an adult, my weight has fluctuated by about 25– 30 pounds from the thinnest to the largest. Two of my meds list weight gain as side effects (Lyrica just added this to their list) and as I found out last winter, in combination they definitely do add on the pounds. Each pound has its baggage, and coupled with the IBS distention (as much as 6 inches added around the middle), means needing clothes that accommodate change. So, nothing really fits – too tight or too big. Cinching belts in and stretching them out. Low rise pants are a great invention – nothing needs to sit tight to my waist line. With a loose shirt over top, the fluctuating abdomen sorta is hidden from view. However, with the low-slung pants (if the belt is not tight enough) I begin to take on the look of a teenage boy with underpants showing and 2 miles of pants bagged up around the tops of his sneakers. It doesn’t help that I’m short, and am always having to roll up the bottoms of my pants to begin with. Now, if I had an IPod and a cell phone . . . .

Let’s end Day 6 on a serene note: swans on a pond in Northern New Jersey (Celery Farm)

grace, beauty, strength, purpose

Unscientifically speaking, the Neuragen seems to be doing “something” in terms of facial pain. Overall, I have used less breakthrough meds and Lyrica. The connection between the dental and facial pain still seems blurred, and like Lyrica, Neuragen doesn’t necessarily help with the dental pain issue.

Of interest, too, is the finding that applied to my neck in general, Neuragen has a “calming, loosening” effect, though I’m not sure why this would be the case. I need to understand the mechanism of neck spasms better. I know the triggers and responses, but not the “hows.”

It seems to have “loosened my tongue” as well: I’ve become more confessional in this series of blogs, going so far as to admit to some of my inner demons and dragons. Thanks for listening, and peaceful thoughts go your way.

Tomorrow the experiment continues. The goal is to reapply the ointment BEFORE I feel any twinges!

Take good care!

{{Attempt #2 to write this blog entry. I hit some button or combo of keys and shrunk my entry down to Lilliputian size, this after even inserting, cropping and positioning a lovely Vincent Van Gough painting!}}

Perhaps ending on a positive note (Thanks again, hibernationnow!) was a lucky omen, but day two of the experiment went much better. I took the lower dose of Lyrica, but applied the Neuragen to the trigger point in my neck and the general “track” of the nerve to the chin line. Maybe only a coincidence, but the pain levels were very low, and even my teeth co-operated! However, I may yet get banned from the library as there is now a VERY prominent “No Scents Zone” sign on the library front door! (If you are new to this blog – Neuragen has an extremely strong what the company describes as “floral scent” that I would call floral stink. I reapplied a small drop while in the stacks during day one of the experiment obviously much to the chagrin of library patrons and librarians alike!).

The reprieve from pain lasted through an hour or so at the computer, hours of shopping and hauling around my little shopping cart, trip to the library, and climb up the town hill to head home — approximately 6 hours in toto. I reapplied the ointment and the evening was relatively pain free. Of course, I also slept most of the evening, so perhaps not a fair analysis of the 2^nd half of the 2^nd day!

When I took my medication this morning at 6:30, I took one less Lyrica. At 9:30, I applied a small drop (as directed) of Neuragen on my cheek in the spot that gets the most painful, rather than mixing it with olive oil and smearing a broader area. The brochure accompanying my tiny vial suggested using the product up to 5 times daily (as needed). And, there was a warning that Neuragen has a strong, floral smell due to concentrated nature of the ingredients.
Strong isn’t a “strong” enough word to describe the smell. I’m sensitive to certain perfumes, and I kept everything (eyes, fingers, toes, legs) the aroma wouldn’t trigger a cranium crusher or migraine. I smell like I took a bath in some cheap perfume or after shave. The smell will take some getting used to as it takes awhile to dissipate.
The literature also indicated some people “get relief” within ½ an hour of applying the oil. I will say that during the first hour or so, my face felt fine. My teeth are “off” this week, so I didn’t judge Neuragen based on my dental issues.
The real test would be using my computer at the library. Hunching (yes, I am a horrible slouch!) down to see the screen and type sets off my neck which then increases the amount of pain I feel in my face.

 I’ve been at this about an hour, and its three hours since I put the drop on my cheek. I can feel my neck tightening and the level of pain in my face and teeth is increasing. At this point, I normally might try to ignore the pain (level 5-6), take some breakthrough medication (opiate or Advil-based), or distract myself somehow.
Should I apply more of the product at the library? I’m up in the stacks, and I would flood the place with floral scent. Canada is very anti-scent, with many workplaces, schools, hospitals, doctors’ offices, etc. asking patrons to be “scent-free.”
For now, I’ll try distraction and perhaps apply a drop on my way out. Three people would have to share my “odor!

PS: I put others at risk for scent-related headaches, nose-bleeds, whatever else strong floral aromas cause, and just daubed on another small drop of Neuragen. Let’s see how I feel in half an hour!

 I purchased a tiny vial of Neuragen (almost $20.00 with taxes). The accompanying literature suggests mixing a few drops with olive oil for folks with sensitive skin, or to cover larger areas. I think I will target the spot on my neck where the pain block was administered (this seems to be the trigger point for my facial pain), and my part of my left cheek where the pain is the strongest. This experiment might help, too, with determining if the dental pain is related to the nerve pain (there is a rare form of neuralgia that can involve the teeth) or is a separate issue (an orofacial [sic] problem). While Lyrica does help with the facial pain, often my teeth will still hurt quite a bit. It’s a bit like phantom limb syndrome (feeling pain in a limb that has been amputated) as the worst tooth has been root canalled twice so there are absolutely NO nerves/nerve endings there. Yet, on bad days, it feels like it’s severely abscessed again! and spreads the pain to surrounding teeth.
I can’t go cold turkey off Lyrica (withdrawal symptoms would no doubt occur) so I plan on taking a smaller dose tomorrow morning and using the Neuragen as my “breakthrough” medication. I will document my pain levels, etc. as I go along, and post to my blog when I can (library hours, current responsibilities, general health, and stress impact on my ability to blog). I can write whenever I have a moment (often in the very early morning hours).
On a completely separate note – what started as a seed bell for the chickadees I saw in the neighbor(u)rhood is blossoming into a feeder zone. The grocery store, of all places, had a good price on a suet feeder and suet cakes. So tomorrow, I’ll be putting the suet out. So far, birds have come in pairs: blue jays, crows, and starlings. No sign yet of the chickadees. This isn’t an official PFW site, but I missed “my” birds. No squirrels in the neighbo(u)rhood, though I have seen mole/voles and chipmunks.
Another rambling offshoot – considering getting wifi internet access at the relative’s house. Have to figure out how often I’ll be here, and for how long to see if the expense makes sense. I don’t mind the trek to the library, but it limits my research and connectivity to 10 a to 5 p. I’m spoiled, of course, because we have internet access at home. Guess I do need to get that cell phone – which would probably cost more depending on the plan. We’ve done research into cell phones but after a while, it gets overwhelming and too confusing, especially since my husband wants the phone just for emergency-type or very important conversations. If the plan and price were right, I’d try a smart phone. I just got an email from WordPress about blogging via your cell phone.

Does anyone out there want to comment on smart phones – the costs of access to the internet, the internet experience on a smart phone, the 90,000 app world? Next thing you know, we’ll have a microwave!

I’m in much better spirits after a great holiday with my family. I had a really good Christmas. One of the best in years. All of my sibling made it, which hasn’t happened in many a moon.

I’ve started taking Lyrica and am shocked by how well I’ve slept the past couple of nights. It’s a drastic difference. I’ve been taking Ambien to try and help but it just wasnt cutting it. I havent had such a solid nights sleep in a very long time.

I’m working on getting my Humira through a assistance program.

But I’m still stuck on the custom orthopedic insoles. I’ve tried several kinds off the shelf, and several months ago I bought an expensive pair of shoes but nothing has cut it. I really don’t know what to do about it.

My last post was just me at a very low point. I’m sure everyone reading this understands how difficult it is to always be fighting. Sometimes it just feels like the whole world is trying to bring you down. Insurance companies, pharmacies, and your own body. Sometimes I feel like I just can’t take another blow and I dont want to fight anymore. I get tired of struggling just to have enough to eat every month. Let alone come up with seven hundred dollars for something  to stop the pain.

But my happy tank is pretty full now after seeing my family. It’s a bit cheesy and the cynic in me usually balks at such sentimentality, but I enjoyed myself anyway.

I hope everyone else had a great holiday!

Sam,

Thank you for everything you have done for me. I don’t even want to smoke anymore and it’s amazing! I am getting over being sick for 3 weeks though and that’s why I am writing you. On Nov 19th I got bronchitis and a sinus infection & had to take some antibiotics. Well, last Sunday was my last day of meds but that evening, I got *very ill * and felt like I had a brick on my chest. I missed 3 days of work last week due to almost having pneumonia – one lung was filled with lots of crap – hence the breathing issues, coughing like a barking seal & sore stomach muscles. Ah! It was very scary and made me really understand that quitting smoking may have come just in time – it could have been a lot worse if I was still sucking the smoke into my body. More & stronger antibiotics but I am on the mend now…

Happy Holidays & Chanukah!
You doing some
great work for many people who need something else to get them off the cigs…you probably have given me years of life!

(Lisa, Santa Barbara)

Check-out the Independent in the next couple of weeks for our advertisment and last minute holiday specials! As seen on the hit TV show “The Doctors,”- Cold Laser Therapy now available in Santa Barbara! www.pacificlasertherapycenters.com

             The Non-Pharmacological Therapy for Chronic Pain

• Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) can provide proven pain relief, usually within 6-8 treatment sessions.
• This non-invasive procedure, which also is called advanced cold laser therapy, utilizes the latest technology and is FDA-approved for the treatment of many types of chronic and acute pain, including back pain, neck pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, tendonitis, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome,  and sports injuries to name a few.
• In many cases, pain and inflammation are improved after the very first treatment.
• Light energy from low level lasers penetrates deep into musculoskeletal tissue (e.g., muscles, joints, bones) to:

 1. Relieve pain

2. Reduce swelling and inflammation

3. Promote tissue repair and healing

4. Improve blood supply (circulation)

5. Stimulate the immune system

• Chronic Pain Management (i.e. sciatica, fibromyalgia, arthritis, chronic fatigue syndrome)
• Smoking Cessation Therapy (addiction therapy)
• Stress/Anxiety Management
• Weight Loss

 This promising tool is called the cold laser, the soft laser, the low-power laser, or the low-level laser.

 The term laser, is an acronym for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emissions of Radiation. All lasers emit coherent, focused light that travels in a narrow beam in one direction.

 The effects of the LLLT are photochemical (cold), not thermal. Hot lasers in the medical field are used for surgical precision, while cold lasers are used for healing precision.

• The cold laser enters the tissue, alters cell membrane permeability, and at the cellular level, is absorbed into the mitochondria. The mitochondria are the energy source of the cells which manufacture adenosine tri-phosphate (ATP), which is needed for the life enhancement process of every cell.

  Cold laser light stimulates an increase in ATP production (by 150%) in the mitochondria thereby speeds up the efficiency to which damaged tissue or organs heal themselves.

 Cold laser stimulate production of “feel good” chemicals known as endorphins (i.e.: 20x more powerful than runner’s high). These are your body’s natural, built-in pain relievers which activate our bodies natural healing systems resulting in:

 1. Drastic reduction in pain and an anti-inflammatory response

 2. Reduction healing time-which may be less than one-third to one-half as  long when compared to treatment without the laser therapy.

3. Cold laser stimulates increased production of both serotonin and dopamine.   

4. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter primarily responsible for mood regulation, sleep, appetite, and metabolism whereas dopamine is associated with the pleasure areas of the brain.

5.  This is primarily why cold laser therapy may be effective for individuals suffering from psychiatric disorders such as addiction, depression, anxiety/GAD, OCD, etc.

 *As an FYI: Drugs like nicotine, cocaine, and amphetamines increase production of dopamine.

First, let me put you in the mood with this song that inspired this blog post.

I realize this is nothing new to post here, but I hurt. Really badly. I’m almost out of the opiates and muscle relaxers that my auntie gave me, but the other auntie gave me about 3 months worth of her prescription Lyrica. I kid you not. She says it doesn’t work for her. It works for me! I feel really dizzy and retarded afterwards for a while, but the pain is really a lot less. Needless to say, I’m feeling a mess right now. I knew I would. It’s like I can’t even care right now. Is that normal for fibromyalgia? I have a lot of weird things going on with me right now.

I go see my ob/gyn tomorrow for a follow-up pap, and the neurologist for that nerve measurement test I missed on my birthday/car crash. My ob/gyn will probably be the most sympathetic to my pain, but the neuro doc is probably the only one that can actually do anything about it. I won’t actually be seeing HIM, just the tech that’s doing the test.

I’ve got absolutely nothing going on for the rest of the week, except a “check-in” with the psych that almost killed me last month. We’ll be having a little chat on Friday.

I’ve done nothing but sleep for three days. It’s like I can’t help it. I sleep, I eat, I try to take my meds and vitamins, and I go to the bathroom. I can’t even remember when I showered last. I did manage to go get some groceries yesterday evening. It felt good to walk around, but of course, I felt like I was in a complete fog.

The sinus stuff has gotten much better, so I don’t think it’s an infection. Part of my “pain” comes from having to take hydrochlorics for sinus issues. I only take them when necessary, because they make my peripheral neuropathy go mad, and I feel like the lower half of my body is writhing in pain. It sucks. However, that’s where the Neurontin and Lyrica step in. It seems to really calm the nerve stuff down in a way that the opiates and muscle relaxers can’t.

So, that’s where I’m at right now; utterly happy to be home and in my own bed, exhausted, in intermittent pain, sleeping, stinky, and in a fog.

I’d be unhappy and depressed if I could remember what real emotions are.

inquiring minds want to know

Well, as Dr. Seuss says, “read, read, read” (or a paraphrase thereof), and sure enough, I “read” my links and widgets, picked the right answer from the drop down menu (kinda like taking IQ tests again), and there are all my links. Now, I think why the description and the “cloud” both appear is a function of my theme/design.

I don’t usually just post my ramblings, but I was impressed with myself, and actually figuring out how to fix a blog issue! Now, if I could figure out . . . . (fill in with any skill-set designed task!)

And, by the way, I think I have may have resolved, for now, the medication issue I mentioned. Lyrica is now “controlled substance”; a Schedule Five (under federal law) drug which means, depending on the state you live in, new regulations can have kicked in determining how soon the script must be filled, and how many times it can be refilled. So, if you are on a long-term Lyrica prescription, you may notice a change when you get next prescription. I sure did!

Today’s Dr. Seuss quote is very apropos of blogging! Seeing what you say, and saying what you see seem to be the basics of operating in the “blogosphere.” Yet, since a blog, by nature, can be very personal, actually putting those words “out there,” can seem to be a daunting task!. That’s why I admire bloggers, like beaknfeather who not only look in the mirror, but share the images as well as the words!

As this is intended to be a positive blog about being a chronic pain survivor, I guess I should make the political personal (to turn around a phrase), and give what I hope is brief enough chronicle of my journey from there to here.

I’ve dealt with one sort of transient pain or another for as long as I can remember – which is going back to about 2. (Apparently, I had colic along with the other baby pains such as teething that we luckily forget – but those who were around us don’t!) Childhood problems such as severe headaches (known as “cranium crushers” that I now recognize as just another form migraines), chronic sinus infections and asthma-like symptoms after a cold. As a teen, like so many other women, I suffered through those monthly agonies that hot water bottles, doses of Midol, and other home remedies did little to lessen or alleviate and added (un-medicated) migraines to my list of “woes.” As an adult, I had other “woman” issues including endometriosis, and ovarian cysts along with “killer” PMS, and in my late 20s, I developed IBS (which I continue to deal with). Although these pain episodes were regular and agonizing, there was still a transience to their nature: I could conceivably have a pain-free day. Before I learned about medication for migraines, there was that euphoric feeling when, after hours, days, of lying still, holding your breath because breathing hurt, eyes shut, pillow over face to block light and sound, the migraine broke its hold, and you had your life back. An endorphin-like high kept that me “up” for hours.

Then, one day in 1998, I was waiting in the grocery store line, secretly scanning the tabloid headlines, and holding a bag of rolls and some potatoes, when the left side of my face began to hurt under the eye socket, along the cheek bone, and into my jaw. There was initially some tingling/numbness in the left corner of my mouth as well. So began the “continuing saga” of  life as a chronic pain survivor. I followed a route probably familiar to all those with chronic pain; visits to specialists, and in my case dentists, and the search to find a health care professional who believed you were in pain. That is one of the problems with having chronic pain as an “invisible illness; no amount of dental x-rays, CAT scans nor MRIs are necessarily going to reveal the source of your pain and without “physical” proof, I spent years being told it was “literally” in my head! I was often told I should be happy that I didn’t have trigeminal neuralgia, cancer, a tumor, or TMJ (links to follow) (which I am glad about; I know those conditions cause horrific pain!)  But, at the same time, these reactions by health care professionals as well as friends and family, seem to trivialize my pain.

I gobbled aspirin, Tylenol and several over- the-counter products containing codeine available in Canada (where I lived at the time); I used hot and cold compresses, and Tiger’s Balm, and the pain remained, gradually getting worse. At some point, I was told, rather dismissively, that I had chronic atypical facial pain. As talking was my career, there were days when I wished I could just be silent; I even undertook two career shifts (other factors were involved) so that I wouldn’t constantly be moving my mouth. By then (2004) on a good day, my face felt like a combination of two or three abscessed teeth (by then the pain had spread), a severe sinus infection, a black eye, and someone was using a nail gun to put nails up through my teeth into my jaw). Sorry, I know this is supposed to be a positive blog, but I’ve never put my “pain face” completely out there to the world; as Dr. Seuss so eloquently put it I never: “. . . just look{ed} in my mirror and {then} see what I say, and then I just say what I see.”

Then two things happened that year to alter this journey: I unexpectedly lost (for no apparent reason) the “job of a life-time” I had travelled a thousand miles and physical and physiological borders to take. And, I found, by pure accident, a primary care physician who not only believed I was in pain, but did so in an extremely caring and compassionate way. One made my pain much worse; the other helped start me towards manageable pain. I tried, unsuccessfully, to find another comparable job; it seemed like a thousand resumes equaled one response. The added stress and depression seemed to fuel the “demon in my face.” I finally “chased the dragon,” and tried an opiate-based pain management regime. I’m sure many people know the kinds of issues this sort of daily medication raises: nodding off peeling potatoes; agonizing withdrawal symptoms (yes, tv/movies have it right: when you are withdrawing from something like morphine, your nose and eyes run!); trying to fine-tune the dosage so that the pain is manageable (mine never went away) and the brain can still function like an alert, engaged individual.

I documented my pain – a pain diary – tracking what made the pain better or worse; what I ate; the medications I took; what activities I did. It became clear that certain things – working at the computer, looking straight up for too long/often, carrying heavy bags on my shoulder, hurt my neck, but also made my facial pain worse. If you haven’t kept a pain diary, please give it a try (These are just a few of the ones available on the web. I’ll upload by personal one in the future). It can be discouraging, I realize, but it might also provide you and/or your health care professionals or whoever you share it with, some insights into the “nature of the beast” of your chronic pain!

I also tried several pain management specialists to varying degrees of success. One put me on a medication that made me so nauseous that I lost over 10 pounds in a month (not the way I would recommend slimming down). Then, during an office visit with another, he poked a spot on the left side of my neck that made me scream out aloud. “I made your face hurt,” he said. “No, my neck!” This discovery led to a nerve block (link to follow) in 2006 (I forget the technical term – years of pain meds can do that) at a point where two nerves meet in my neck and travel up to my face. The block was amazing; my pain level went down about 30% to 40% as did my consumption of pain meds. With the meds and block, I really could put down a pain level of 2 or 3 (on a scale of 10) on my very best days! But nerve blocks don’t hold, and my pain doctor (like so many in that line of work seem to do) stopped taking insurance/my health insurance providers changed and wouldn’t cover the expense.

So, it was back to tweaking the opiates again. And, I found out I am one of the about 10% or so of the population for whom Fentanyl has no little or no effect. The number of my migraines increased because of neck spasms, my IBS was intolerable, and I felt at the very edge of a large, dark abyss with no way forward or upward, just spiraling further and further down. Then along came Lyrica; it is not a miracle drug by any means, but once again I was/am able to tone down on the opiates. Still depressed and stressed (think my life will always be that way), but at least I’m managing the pain again, rather than it managing me. That’s why I say I’m a chronic pain survivor – I’ve come through bad and still teeter on the ledge; I haven’t reached the other side of the abyss, but I’m trying to build some sort of a bridge across.

If you have positive thoughts about surviving chronic pain: alternative therapies; moments of serendipity; light bulbs going off over your head at 4 in the morning; cartoons, images, or comics; appropriate websites and forums to share, please let me know! Being positive can be an individual or a community “thing.” (Or as Dr. S. might say “Thing One” and “Thing Two.”

About lyrica?
How to reverse type-2 diabetes in five medically-proven steps http://www.newstarget.com/How_to_Reverse鈥? http://www.lyrica.com/content/main_side_鈥? Yes, weight gain is a side effect, but if you watch what you eat, you should be ok.

Does lyrica put mass on?
My mom is taking lyrica 2 times a day and is concerned that she will gain weight. Does anyone have experience with this anti inflammatory – Some of the most adjectives side effects of LYRICA are dizziness and sleepiness. Others are dry mouth, swelling of hands and feet, blurry vision, weight gain, and trouble concentrating. You may own…

Does lyrica spawn my foot and legs swell?
Since I started taking lyrica 3 weeks ago my feet and legs are swelled and painful, ne ver before. – it’s not a common side effect, but it is quoted among possible side effects when taken contained by combination with other antiepileptics (i.e.carbamazepine ) if you have diabetes and you’re taking lyrica for diabetic neuropathy,…

Lyrica – third trimester?
To be short n to the point, how great would the risk be if 300 mg of lyrica was taken during the third trimester. Only once! I know now much is known about the drug and pregnancy but would one time be ample to cause damage? – Most studies in lab rats and rabbits indicate that only extremely big…

Lyrica and methadone, my palms peel?
my doctor put me on methadone and lyrica, i was on norco and soma for back pain and general entire body smarting, he thinks i may have fibromyalgia, anyway after about a week of taking these two meds i generally did not consistency well, the lyrica helped me sleep ok, but my palms got very itchy and peel entirely…

Question going on for Lyrica?
Ok so I’m on lyrica and it says not to drink alcohol. Is it because it makes you really drowsy or what? – It makes you drowsy and gives you the *worst* headache feasible… well, it does for me, but I’m guessing people are affected differently. Do NOT try it. Not worth the risk.

Take Lyrica for fibromyalgia and obtain FAT! Or be within stomach-ache?
I gianed 20bls taking lyrica for my fibro. It really helped the pain but I can not stand all the fat! I hold been off it for 3 weeks I can’t move or sleep! What can I do? – if your main concern is how you look–than live withthe pain– …

Taking Lyrica for neuropathy: Can I up my dosage?
Right now I am a diabetic taking lyrica for neuropathy/anti-anxiety. It’s working wonderfully on my anti-anxiety, but I still have slight pain in my legs. I am taking 50mg twice a time, and I am wondering if I should up my dosage? Any information would be great. Thanks Not before calling your doctor,Lyrica is a…

Was taking xanax / hydrocodone, very soon methadone and lyrica?
What do I take for my anxiety? can I take my xanax with it? my xanax is about to run out, i in a minute have the methadoen and lyrica for my pain, but what about my anxiety? what should i take for that? i hold been on xanax for years, and norco for my…

What are the lyrica to the song "Rock da Juice" by The Dude?
I have searched evrywhere, but cannot find them any where and I can’t even find the copyright to the song. And no one have posted lyrics anywhere. Its from the movie Kangaroo Jack and the game Splashdown from EA games. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hnv09eHLn鈥? it shouldn’t be too hard to figure it…

What is Lyrica used for?
Is lyrica a pain medication as well? Will it make me very sedated? Thanks – its a niggle medication used for fibromyalgia…its a level 5 controlled substance hence it could cause drowsiness so do not take it with alcohol or drive until you know how it react to your body… it comes in 25,50, 75, 100, 150,…

Has anyone ever taken the drug lyrica?
I have been taken 2 – 75mg of lyrica for 3 months now and stopped it cold turkey 3 days ago because of extreme irritability, moodiness, and depression, now I constantly have a feeling sick and feel messed up in the head but deffinitely not going back on them. I be on them for 2 herniated thoracic discs…

I hold to pinch a urine drug check I know the cut past its sell-by date for the question paper sticks is 50ng/ml and the gas spec is 15ng/ml?
I am a 52 250 lbs poor health in a pain management program for the ultimate 10 years Taking morphine 15mgx3 with lyrica 100mgx3 a day I also smoke weed moderate use 30 years I last…

Is it risk-free to lug lyrica while pregnant?
I would ask a doctor not DrugsFreeFAQ.com. this come straight from the information website lyrica has, "Before you start LYRICA, tell your doctor if you are planning to father a child, or if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. If you have had a drug or alcohol problem, you may…

Is it risky to help yourself to lyrica when there’s no actual want to?
My friend has been taking lyrica, but he doesn’t have a medical need to. Could he possibly be getting buzzed/high bad if it? (If you can). Is it dangerous? What are the effects? – I have used Lyrica on and off for the last couple of years. It is…

Has anyone have experience near taking Lyrica?
Dr said i had lyrica and gave me this drug. Bad reaction. My legs got really numb and my speech be slurred.. I thought i was having a stroke but it was a reaction to this pills – Lyrica Lyrica Side Effects: The most commonly reported adverse reactions of LYRICA (Pregabalin) are dizziness and…

Has anyone used the medication lyrica for fibromyalgia? i would love to hear your comments pious and desperate?
Yes I’m on Lyrica three times a hours of daylight . for nervous pain … I hope to be off soon .. My yahoo blog ,hgntex , I have an enter here that explains what happen to me .. , this lyrice has help…

Has anyone using lyrica have consignment gain as a side effect?
– Yes. The drug info in the package insert states that up to 16% of people in initial clinical trials reported bulk gain. That’s pretty significant. Have you tried Neurontin? It’s a similar drug that works for a lot of people, and only about 2-3% of nation in trials…

Have you hear of lyrica for niggle beside scoliolsis?
I have scoliosis and have had 2 lumbar lamenectomies. Degenerative joint disease is the idea. Also, have had anuerysm sugery in my brain. Have you ever heard of lyrica for treatment to scoliosis? Wondering why the side effects of dizziness are so disturbing. I enjoy a patient on this medication (I am…

How positive is lyrica for neuropatic pains; what are the side effects?
The person is suffering with constant and debilitating foot pain. She have high sugar and arthritis. She is also very weak and cannot sleep at night. – Lyrica is designed for foot and leg affliction and people who have diabetes. So this is really an ideal medication for your friend.

I am taking lyrica for carpal tunnell is this medication death-defying?
Rather unusual choice of medication for carpal tunnel syndrome. More useful for pain of peripheral neuropathy, (which carpal tunnel syndrome isn’t) associated with diabetes. Since it is so different, the overall safety really isn’t known yet. I bet its expensive too. Source(s): MD

I am taking lyrica for seizure. Is lyrica locked to rob during pregnancy?
it is better to consult your doctor. sometimes some medicines are not good to take during pregnancy. discuss your strength to your doctor and she’ll give u another medicine which is better or u can continue to take it. You can look it up on the network also.

I just this minute started taking lyrica and presently the muscles surrounded by my legs are hurting. is this cause by the medication?
That isnt listed as a possible side effect . Check with your Dr.

I own fibromyalgia and I clutch cymbolta,and lyrica can I expect to gain counterbalance beside these med’s?
Umm I am taking Valium and Lyrica and have lost weight so I really hope you do not gain it, now that I lost it? In other words I lost it, who get it? Alot of medications(also call Allopathic, or english) medicenes have been to…

I pocket Lyrica and enjoy be dropping things. Is this mundane?
My w ill give out with warning and it seem like thing slide through my hand. – Have you tried a Yahoo search for lyrica + "side effects"?

Epilepsy Care St. Paul

Minnesota Epilepsy Group is the most comprehensive epilepsy program in the Midwest.  As a level IV epilepsy center – the highest level established through the National Association of Epilepsy Centers – we offer a complete range of inpatient and outpatient services for both adults and children.

The following information is designed to help people with epilepsy become more familiar with available seizure medications.

Lyrica®

Lyrica® (LEER-a-ka) is approved as add-on therapy in the treatment of partial onset seizures in adults. Lyrica is available in capsules in eight dosage strengths from 25mg to 300mg.

Lyrica® is given by mouth and it is given two or three times per day with or without food.

The most common side effects of Lyrica include dizziness, blurred vision, weight gain, sleepiness, difficulty concentrating, swelling of hands and feet, and dry mouth.

Safety in pregnancy has not been established. It is known that women taking antiepileptic drugs have higher incidence of birth defects than women who are not. Lyrica® should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the unborn child. Women who are taking this medication and who wish to become pregnant should discuss treatment options with their physicians before the pregnancy begins. It is not known whether this drug is passed in breast milk, but is common with most anticonvulsants.

Lyrica® is eliminated through the kidneys and is therefore unlikely to be affected by other medications. No interactions have been observed between Lyrica® and carbamazepine, valproic acid, lamotrigine, phenytoin, phenobarbital, and topiramate.

Patients should take the medicine as prescribed by your physician. Stopping this medication suddenly can produce unwanted side effects and potentially increase seizure frequency.

A history of an allergic reaction to pregabalin or any of its components. Not everyone experiences side effects. There may be other side effects not appearing above. For a complete list, consult your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist. More detailed sources of information on side effects are the drugs prescribing information sheet (package insert), the Physicians Desk Reference, or pharmaceutical company that produces the drug.

Link to Product Information on Lyrica: http://www.lyrica.com/content/epi_home.jsp

Please give us a call to schedule an appointment at (651) 241-5290.

[CL]
Hey playboy
It’s about time
And your time’s up
I had to do this one for my girls you know
That’s the only way you boys learn

[Minzy]
I can’t ever forgive you for that lipstick on your collar
Every day, your phone’s always off
It doesn’t seem like you’re going to change oh oh

[Dara]
All those girlfriends you call “friends”
Don’t think of me in the same way as them, I won’t let it fly
From now on, do as you want, I’m going to stop caring
For some time I really loved you but oh

[CL]
Sometimes you get drunk, and call me, now it’s 5:30 am
Again you say another girl’s name no

[Bom]
I don’t care, I’ll stop caring about what you’re doing wherever you are
From now on I really don’t care, I’ll get out of the way
From now on don’t come to me and cry, and cling on
cause I don’t care e e e e e e
cause I don’t care e e e e e e

[Minzy]
cause I don’t care e e e e e e
cause I don’t care e e e e e e
Boy I don’t care

[Minzy]
Stealing glances at other girl’s legs
You’re so so hopeless
Everyday you take off your couple ring, and secretly go on a blind date
I don’t think that I’ll be able to take it anymore oh oh oh

[Dara]
My friends say that you’re not really worth it
You even went to your wolf-like friends for advice but
I’d rather keep it simple, I’m too good for you
I believed you were my love but oh oh

[CL]
Today you said you were busy, I tried phoning you but
As expected, in the background I heard a girl’s laugh oh no

[Bom]
I don’t care, I’ll stop caring about what you’re doing wherever you are
From now on I really don’t care, I’ll get out of the way
From now on don’t come to me and cry, and cling on
cause I don’t care e e e e e e
cause I don’t care e e e e e e

[Dara]
cause I don’t care e e e e e e
cause I don’t care e e e e e e
Boy I don’t care

[Minzy]
Because of you, I remember crying till dawn boy
I regret every time I think about you when my heart was too easy, huh boy?
I’m too good to throw away and too boring to have
You should’ve treated me better when we were together why are you clinging to me now

[CL]
You fooled me with your lies hundreds of times
From today on, I’ll be a bad girl who makes guys cry
Now without a single tear, I’ll laugh at you
Loser who’s inside a game called love
Get on your knees and take me back
If not, get out of my sight right now

[Bom]
I don’t care, I’ll stop caring about what you’re doing wherever you are
From now on I really don’t care, I’ll get out of the way
From now on don’t come to me and cry, and cling on
cause I don’t care e e e e e e
cause I don’t care e e e e e e
Boy I don’t care