Chronic Pain

She was a young, pleasant doctor, doing her best to help me with my chronic pain. At that time, my pain level was so high that I had trouble sitting straight on the patient's table. I was desperate for better health and vitality.

I explained that I had severe pain in my neck, back, shoulders, arms, and knees. As she listened, she followed her flow chart for different issues and then prescribed three pills, one of which was prednisone.

My blood test showed Rheumatoid arthritis, which was the first diagnosis. She also had me tested for Carpal tunnel syndrome, which revealed that I had a severe case in the right hand and a moderate case in the left hand. Carpal tunnel syndrome was the second diagnosis, for which I had surgery. 

What was this chronic pain? 

Four months later, I was finally meeting with the Rheumatologist. The result was a diagnosis of Polymyalgia Rheumatica. (High-level Pain / Full body) He recommended I stop taking the medication, which included being weaned off (gradually) from the prednisone.

Injury-related chronic pain

There are different kinds of pain. In my case, there were injuries, long periods of high stress, bad habits, and eating the wrong types of foods.

Let's start with football injuries. Eleven concussions (total knockouts), sprained neck, separated right shoulder with tears in the infraspinatus, subscapularis, and permanent damage to the head of the humerus, with no space in the glenoid cavity (Frozen Shoulder). Several sprained ankles and dislocated thumbs.

With 40 years of construction and oil field work, the damage to my lower back involves the lower lumbar (L4) being dislodged (forward) to the point of being unable to walk without severe chronic pain. Right knee surgery included removing 50% of the right lateral, medial meniscus.  

This type of chronic pain is injury related. Over time, the wear and tear contributed to the situation, as I lived in constant chronic pain.

It does not have to be this way, trust me…

Non-Injury-related chronic pain

The cause of Polymyalgia Rheumatica is unknown. In my case, I will say, without reservation, the reason was high stress, long, erratic work hours, lack of sleep, sugar, smoking, no exercise, and eating the wrong foods.

I was too busy to take care of myself. Humm…

I’ll never forget lying in bed, unable to get up, missing work during the busy season, and needing my wife to help me out of bed to the bathroom. Lying there helpless, in my mind, I reviewed the previous three years of oil well drilling.

I would fly to several US and Foreign destinations, report to the drilling office, and then drive to various locations. We would live at the drilling location in a trailer, cook our own food (which was a bad idea), and work long hours. We would finish drilling and then drive to the next job site. This went on for years.

My body finally shut down!

Managing Chronic pain

For me, there was more than just ONE answer. First and foremost, I quit smoking and drinking sugary soda. Next, my wife and her sister collaborated in changing my diet. Soon I was meditating, and then my sleep pattern greatly improved! When I was able to move, I continued my workouts and, in addition, started practicing Qi Gong and Tai Chi.

During this journey, I retired and developed into an advanced Personal Trainer. My title is Functional Aging Specialist. My passion is to inspire functional movements. Movement is medicine, and yes, motion is lotion. However, my pain level still needs to be managed. On a scale from 1 to 10, with one being comfortable and ten being unbearable, most days for me range from 4 to 7.

No drugs, just aspirin. 

Life Wave for Chronic Pain

Reducing Chronic Pain

Mitigating chronic pain has many parts and pieces. Different people have distinctive needs and use various methods. For example, eating the right foods and getting enough sleep rejuvenates your brain and body. This would be a great start.

Now, combine the right movement exercises with stem cell therapy.