Finding My Pain Treatment Plan

My pain has been around for the last 7 years. I’ve had a lot of medical professionals shrug shoulders at me after reading the results of tests and ask if I want a prescription for muscle relaxers. After years of going on and off muscle relaxers, I’m looking for a more holistic treatment plan.

My pain is in my low back mainly on the right side. Muscles and nerves are definitely big players but there is a structural element also playing a role. For the last few months sitting in a chair causes sharp pain in my back, hips and thighs. The pain has been here every single day. That’s why I call it chronic pain.

In my massage practice I have a chronic pain wellness program for my clients. Using that resource, I pin pointed triggers that make my pain unbearable. Tracking my habits has been a big eye opener. It also gives me insight on which services make the biggest impact.

I have been seeing a variety of professionals recently to get closer to the root of the problem and see what my perfect mix of services will be.

Massage Therapist

Of course, massage therapy was my first go to. My massage therapist is a friend. I normally get deep tissue massages monthly. I feel better for days after getting a massage and normally sleep better. My only problem is not having enough time to get them at least once or twice a week. If I want to get ahead of the pain I need to go 2 times a week for at least 3 weeks. I need to make it a priority.

Chiropractor

I went to see a chiropractor 2 time in a week. He adjusted my hips and spine. I felt immediate relief but only for about 5 hours. I believe that my muscles were so tight that they pulled those elements out of alignment again. I haven’t been back because honestly don’t like the harshness of chiropractic work.

Acupuncturist

This year was my first time trying acupuncture. The doctor put me at ease. He told me everything he was going to do, showed me on the wall chart and made sure I understood. We did mobility tests before he put 3- 5 needles in my ear and after. Again the result was almost immediate. My back felt better for a whole week and my range of motion improved a lot. I’m trying to do this once a week with massage therapy.

Mental health professional

I see my therapist once a month. Mental health and physical health are deeply connected. I work with her so I don't hold all my stress and anxiety in my body. Tracking my pain shows my worst days are when i’m worrying the most.

My therapist also pointed out how negatively I was talking about my body lately. I can't talk about it like my enemy then expect it to work with me to heal.

Chronic pain also comes with side effects like depression, isolation and guilt. It’s good to have someone to talk to that has an unbiased view of the situation. It helps prevent those side effects from becoming my truth.

How I do it in my budget

All these services cost money each appointment. I ask about referral programs for the discounts. I barter services when I can. But ultimately I have made myself a priority in my budget and spend the money because i’m worth it.

Goals

I don't want pain to be a dark cloud over me. I don’t want to be limited by pain or discomfort. I want to feel like my body is healthy and happy daily. Radical self love seems to be the only way to achieve this goal.

Over the next few months, I am putting my body at the top of my priority list. If you have any other suggestions for managing chronic pain reach out to me on Instagram @kaylaarthurlmt