Meditation, a method of sitting still, controlling your breathing, and quieting your mind, is a proven technique for easing pain. With time and practice, you will find your pain lessening and your attitude toward life improving, even people who have had pain for years.
I've putting this site here which I recommend you take a look at, if I can get this to work.....
http://meditationtechniques.co/3137/meditation-techniques-to-ease-back-pain/
This site offers helpful information, but it certainly isn't the only site. Unfortunately, I must warn you of people who know absolutely nothing yet claim to be knowledgeable on the subject.
If you're new to meditation, I recommend going to amazon.com to find a CD or DVD, again, same warning, so be careful. You'll find yourself drawn to one if you just quiet your mind for a minute.
I must admit that I meditated for years and got out of the habit. I'm back in the habit now. I meditate first thing in the morning every morning, or almost every morning and it is changing my life for the better in so very many ways. I'm calmer, more relaxed, less pain, less thoughts of pain. Meditation is giving me charge of my life again instead of pain being in charge. That's big!!!
Blessings and Peace to all!
Friday, December 2, 2011
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Gratitude
How many times today have you said you're grateful for something? 2? 5? 10? A cheerful and grateful heart is good medicine and serves as a great pain reliever. It's similar to not being able to be angry and laugh at the same time. If your laughter is sincere, your anger goes away.
This works similarly with gratitude and pain. You cannot be in a state of pure thankfulness and be in pain at the same time. They cannot co-exist. So find something to be thankful for and do it/ be it with all of your heart, mind, and spirit. You will be rewarded with peace and comfort. Honest!
Wishing you love and peace.
This works similarly with gratitude and pain. You cannot be in a state of pure thankfulness and be in pain at the same time. They cannot co-exist. So find something to be thankful for and do it/ be it with all of your heart, mind, and spirit. You will be rewarded with peace and comfort. Honest!
Wishing you love and peace.
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
It Is What It Is.........
But it will become what you make it!
It is so very easy to get down and out about our situation, the pain, the fatigue. I have two words to say to you for that......please don't! And I'll say right now that this does not run contradictory to my last post about acceptance. They go hand in hand!
You're disabled? So am I! I certainly don't intend to stop there though. I have a book on amazon.com. I have this blog. I intend to begin lecturing in January. The information will be on my website: www.elizabethannjohnston.com.
Don't allow the pain to control your life. I spend most of my days in the bed, but I also climb stairs, play with my dogs, and clean my house a wee little bit at a time. Now, I could say, I can't clean my house. I have a rather large house and it can be overwhelming, but what I can do is dust one room at a time. Clean one section of flooring at a time. OR...I could hire someone to do it all for me. I cannot sit in a car very long to travel, but I have an SUV, so my husband puts the back seats down, puts a mat down for me to lay on and I have my chariot! We live in Texas and we're going to my daughter's on the east coast for Thanksgiving so I can spend time with my family, my incredible daughter and fantastic grand kids! Where there's a will, there is indeed a way.
Please don't be a "glass is half empty" kind of a person! My cup always runneth over! Sure, I have my days, but don't get comfortable in being miserable! God loves a cheerful heart! It's all in what you decide to make it!
It is so very easy to get down and out about our situation, the pain, the fatigue. I have two words to say to you for that......please don't! And I'll say right now that this does not run contradictory to my last post about acceptance. They go hand in hand!
You're disabled? So am I! I certainly don't intend to stop there though. I have a book on amazon.com. I have this blog. I intend to begin lecturing in January. The information will be on my website: www.elizabethannjohnston.com.
Don't allow the pain to control your life. I spend most of my days in the bed, but I also climb stairs, play with my dogs, and clean my house a wee little bit at a time. Now, I could say, I can't clean my house. I have a rather large house and it can be overwhelming, but what I can do is dust one room at a time. Clean one section of flooring at a time. OR...I could hire someone to do it all for me. I cannot sit in a car very long to travel, but I have an SUV, so my husband puts the back seats down, puts a mat down for me to lay on and I have my chariot! We live in Texas and we're going to my daughter's on the east coast for Thanksgiving so I can spend time with my family, my incredible daughter and fantastic grand kids! Where there's a will, there is indeed a way.
Please don't be a "glass is half empty" kind of a person! My cup always runneth over! Sure, I have my days, but don't get comfortable in being miserable! God loves a cheerful heart! It's all in what you decide to make it!
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Being OK with the pain
"What we resists persists". You may have heard that saying numerous times in reference to numerous topics, but have you ever thought about it in reference to your pain? Best example: When you have a sharp, stabbing pain, or a spasm what do you almost always do? Hold your breath, tighten your entire body, make everything tense, and sometimes practically have a panic attack. What's the BEST thing to do in that situation? Take deep breaths, mentally relax your body, tell yourself it's only pain and talk yourself out of it. It can be done. I know because I've done it many, many times.
We've programmed ourselves to think that pain is bad, pain hurts, we should panic. That's the proper response to acute, sudden onset pain that is new. God gave us that response to let us know something is wrong and we need to take action quickly.
The opposite is true for chronic pain or the little sharp, stabbing pain or spasms that go along with having had surgery, especially back surgery, or even just having chronic pain without the surgery. In our minds, we know the difference and we must learn to be discerning/ know the difference and respond accordingly. This is the way we stay out of fight or flight which is harmful to us in so many ways, mentally, physically, emotionally, spiritually. The key learn to relax even with the pain. Get out of the habit of claiming it! By that I mean "my back hurts so bad I can hardly stand it" rephrase: "the pain in my back is high now, but it's getting better with each deep breath I take". Don't panic! Pain will NOT kill you even though it may feel as though it's going to at times. It's these times we must be extra diligent in watching our words, thoughts, actions. Relax.....it's only pain! Trust me, I know of which I speak!
Peace be with you!
We've programmed ourselves to think that pain is bad, pain hurts, we should panic. That's the proper response to acute, sudden onset pain that is new. God gave us that response to let us know something is wrong and we need to take action quickly.
The opposite is true for chronic pain or the little sharp, stabbing pain or spasms that go along with having had surgery, especially back surgery, or even just having chronic pain without the surgery. In our minds, we know the difference and we must learn to be discerning/ know the difference and respond accordingly. This is the way we stay out of fight or flight which is harmful to us in so many ways, mentally, physically, emotionally, spiritually. The key learn to relax even with the pain. Get out of the habit of claiming it! By that I mean "my back hurts so bad I can hardly stand it" rephrase: "the pain in my back is high now, but it's getting better with each deep breath I take". Don't panic! Pain will NOT kill you even though it may feel as though it's going to at times. It's these times we must be extra diligent in watching our words, thoughts, actions. Relax.....it's only pain! Trust me, I know of which I speak!
Peace be with you!
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Prescription Narcotic Medications
I was reading the news this morning and found some really disturbing information about prescribed narcotic medications. First let me say this, narcotic medication consists of anything from Vicodin to Morphine and everything in between. It MUST be prescribed by a licensed medical doctor. Physician Assistants cannot write a prescription for a narcotic medication, though they certainly can write other prescriptions.
Are you ready for this? It blew me away, I hope it does you as well. The overdose rate of prescription drugs is 4 times higher than it was this time ten years ago.
Narcotic prescriptions are now prescribed 4 times more often than ten years ago.
The law enforcement agency states that narcotic prescription drug overdoses is now an epidemic. They go on to say that it is the most serious public safety threat the law enforcement faces.
Did you get all of that? Did you allow it to sink in because if you are living with chronic pain odds are you are taking a narcotic drug! Please, I beg you as someone who has almost accidentally overdosed herself, please pay attention to this!!! This stuff can kill you even if you don't intend for it to do so!
The doctor went on to say that five years ago they were taught in medical school that even patients taking narcotics for short periods of time could not get addicted but they've since discovered that they were wrong!
You may need narcotic medications from time to time, but please, please, please I beg you look for alternative means of dealing with your pain. There are numerous holistic healing treatments out there. Massage therapy, Acupuncture has been proven and is listed by the American Institute of Health as being effective for the treatment of chronic pain, the same for Reiki (Ray-key), a gentle healing touch. Cranial Sacral therapy is quite effective. I could go on and on. Do you know one of the most important things you can do to help with your pain? Go off of sugar!
Got knee or low back pain? Lose weight!
We've become such a nation of pill poppers that we don't even think about what they do to us! You are worth trying other means of pain management! How about PRAYER! MEDITATION!
I care about you! Do you care about yourself???
Peace be unto you.
Are you ready for this? It blew me away, I hope it does you as well. The overdose rate of prescription drugs is 4 times higher than it was this time ten years ago.
Narcotic prescriptions are now prescribed 4 times more often than ten years ago.
The law enforcement agency states that narcotic prescription drug overdoses is now an epidemic. They go on to say that it is the most serious public safety threat the law enforcement faces.
Did you get all of that? Did you allow it to sink in because if you are living with chronic pain odds are you are taking a narcotic drug! Please, I beg you as someone who has almost accidentally overdosed herself, please pay attention to this!!! This stuff can kill you even if you don't intend for it to do so!
The doctor went on to say that five years ago they were taught in medical school that even patients taking narcotics for short periods of time could not get addicted but they've since discovered that they were wrong!
You may need narcotic medications from time to time, but please, please, please I beg you look for alternative means of dealing with your pain. There are numerous holistic healing treatments out there. Massage therapy, Acupuncture has been proven and is listed by the American Institute of Health as being effective for the treatment of chronic pain, the same for Reiki (Ray-key), a gentle healing touch. Cranial Sacral therapy is quite effective. I could go on and on. Do you know one of the most important things you can do to help with your pain? Go off of sugar!
Got knee or low back pain? Lose weight!
We've become such a nation of pill poppers that we don't even think about what they do to us! You are worth trying other means of pain management! How about PRAYER! MEDITATION!
I care about you! Do you care about yourself???
Peace be unto you.
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Your Body Temple
I must state up front here that I am speaking to myself in this blog at least as much if not more than you! I am trying though, so let's all make an attempt at treating well our body temple.
Jesus tells us, "know ye not thy body is a temple of the living God?". The Holy Spirit lies within each of us! This is what makes our body a temple of the living God.
How do you treat your temple? You wouldn't go into your church and throw trash or tear up the place would you? So what makes you think you can do that to your body???
Eating junk food, not exercising, not eating our daily servings of fruit, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and whole grains is being abusive to God's temple, our body. And then we become frustrated when we're in so much pain! Well, dear friend, what did you expect? The same goes for over doing it; doing physical things that we know is going to make us hurt, yet we become brain dead and do them anyway. Then complain because we're in pain!
The definition of stupidity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. I don't know about you, but I've been acting fairly stupid as of late. The good news is that it's not too late to begin again!
I can begin today to take better care of my body and it will respond in kind with less pain, less suffering, and actual healing.
So, my goal for today is to eat no sugar and drink more water. How about you? How are you going to treat your body temple???
Wishing you peace always.....
Ann J
Jesus tells us, "know ye not thy body is a temple of the living God?". The Holy Spirit lies within each of us! This is what makes our body a temple of the living God.
How do you treat your temple? You wouldn't go into your church and throw trash or tear up the place would you? So what makes you think you can do that to your body???
Eating junk food, not exercising, not eating our daily servings of fruit, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and whole grains is being abusive to God's temple, our body. And then we become frustrated when we're in so much pain! Well, dear friend, what did you expect? The same goes for over doing it; doing physical things that we know is going to make us hurt, yet we become brain dead and do them anyway. Then complain because we're in pain!
The definition of stupidity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. I don't know about you, but I've been acting fairly stupid as of late. The good news is that it's not too late to begin again!
I can begin today to take better care of my body and it will respond in kind with less pain, less suffering, and actual healing.
So, my goal for today is to eat no sugar and drink more water. How about you? How are you going to treat your body temple???
Wishing you peace always.....
Ann J
Thursday, August 11, 2011
The Truth About Pain Pumps
I've been having a severe pain episode for about six months now, having to take pain medication and even getting pain shots about once a month. I was in a really low place physically, emotionally, and spiritually. My family doctor, who oversees my pain management, was finally ready to give up and send me back to my pain management doctor and suggested that I get a pain pump.
I researched pain pumps. I went to the Medtronic's sight, the makers of pain pumps to read what they had to say about their equipment, I read what my pain management doctor had to say about pain pumps, and I went to Web MD to read what they said about pain pumps. Every site said essentially the same thing. Did you know that the tubing from pain pumps can very easily become displaced and have to be removed? Did you know that a few days after you get a pump put in, it may be so ineffective that you'll want it removed? Did you know that you'll probably have to continue to take oral pain medication with your pain pump and may very well have to have your oral pain medication increased with your pain pump??? And finally, did you know that pain pumps are only 50% proven effective?!!!
I went back to my family practice doctor and as politely as possible declined going back to my pain management doctor, whose reputation by the way is the best in 5 surrounding counties! I asked my family physician knowing what I had just found out, why on earth would anyone agree to a pain pump? I have the answer. Desperation.
So now what to do? No pain pump, so what to do about the pain? I reluctantly agreed to go on pain medication for a while. I asked my doctor to give me 3 months and promised that if I had not improved, I would see my pain management doctor. It's been a month and I'm already off of the stronger pain medication. Now I'm on something not as strong, that allows me to think with a clear head and doesn't make me sleep all day. I expect by two weeks to be down to an even lesser strength pain medication.
What have I done to manage my pain? The answer is extremely simple and you may not believe it, but I promise you it is the truth. I increased the time I spend in prayer and meditation every day. Jesus said if we have faith of a grain of mustard seed we shall move mountains. I didn't need to move a mountain! I just needed to manage my pain, so I've been working on strengthening my faith. I promise to keep hope in my heart and to love God, myself and everyone else.
There's one more alternative medicine tool that I'm using. I'll tell you about it in the next post. In the meantime, stay strong in the Lord! He is the Master Healer!!!
I researched pain pumps. I went to the Medtronic's sight, the makers of pain pumps to read what they had to say about their equipment, I read what my pain management doctor had to say about pain pumps, and I went to Web MD to read what they said about pain pumps. Every site said essentially the same thing. Did you know that the tubing from pain pumps can very easily become displaced and have to be removed? Did you know that a few days after you get a pump put in, it may be so ineffective that you'll want it removed? Did you know that you'll probably have to continue to take oral pain medication with your pain pump and may very well have to have your oral pain medication increased with your pain pump??? And finally, did you know that pain pumps are only 50% proven effective?!!!
I went back to my family practice doctor and as politely as possible declined going back to my pain management doctor, whose reputation by the way is the best in 5 surrounding counties! I asked my family physician knowing what I had just found out, why on earth would anyone agree to a pain pump? I have the answer. Desperation.
So now what to do? No pain pump, so what to do about the pain? I reluctantly agreed to go on pain medication for a while. I asked my doctor to give me 3 months and promised that if I had not improved, I would see my pain management doctor. It's been a month and I'm already off of the stronger pain medication. Now I'm on something not as strong, that allows me to think with a clear head and doesn't make me sleep all day. I expect by two weeks to be down to an even lesser strength pain medication.
What have I done to manage my pain? The answer is extremely simple and you may not believe it, but I promise you it is the truth. I increased the time I spend in prayer and meditation every day. Jesus said if we have faith of a grain of mustard seed we shall move mountains. I didn't need to move a mountain! I just needed to manage my pain, so I've been working on strengthening my faith. I promise to keep hope in my heart and to love God, myself and everyone else.
There's one more alternative medicine tool that I'm using. I'll tell you about it in the next post. In the meantime, stay strong in the Lord! He is the Master Healer!!!
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