[ Post a Response | Celeste's Magickal Witches Cottage ]
Posted by Celeste Moondancer - Moderator on 7/6/2008, 4:10 pm, in reply to "Re: magick and pain"
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I have a very strong friend who gives me a massage about once every 2 weeks. He offered after seeing me in so much pain that I was literally trying to pound out the knots in my shoulders by smashing it with a hammer (which I often do still). At first he was very gentle, but I just kept telling him to k, and professional ) and still being in such crippling painuse as much force as he could. By the time he's finished, he is so tired, he's dripping with sweat. I also get him to walk on my back. I give him a broom to use to keep his balance.
The other thing that I find brings me great relief is full body traction with heat packs & trans dermal stimulation pads along my back. I have that done twice a week . It brings so much relief that I actually fall asleep while I'm in the contraption! The staff are very nice, and ask me if they should wake me or just let me sleep if I do. Oh, they also dip my hands in a vat of wax. About 6 coats as the heat is helpful for the pain in my hands. I put baby oil on my hands first and when they take the wax off, my hands are so soft that the staff bought some and recommend that their other clients do it. I also have physiotherapy and go to a chiropractor too.
I also do at least a 1/2 hour of yoga a day. Usually an hour. Once in the morning and again at night. If I don't have time to do it twice, I do it at night as it helps with the pain and I sleep better. I also wear a back brace that can be worn by itself, or with a gel insert that can be put in hot or cold (which ever gives you the most relief), and have an electric shiatsu machine, and a shiatsu wooden spine roller (it looks kind of like two half circles with a dip in the middle, which is where your spine goes). I use that several times a day on my back as well as my feet, which are just as painful as my hands.
I also have a pair of shiatsu thongs. They look like regular ones but have hundreds of tiny rubber pieces in various heights that massage your feet, as well as one of those exercise balls. Along with exercise, I find it brings great relief if you lie over it on your back with your head hanging off the back (which is basically natural traction for your neck), or the other way around stretching the base and hip part of the spine.
But of all the gadgets I have, the little wooden shiatsu spine roller is what I use the mose. To be honest, I rely on it so much that if there was ever a fire in the building, it would be the only thing I would take (with the obvious exception of my furry feline baby Spike). That thing's a life saver! If you ever see one, get it. Trust me, I don't know how I lived without that thing!
As for the medication I take. I personally can not STAND taking medication of any kind. I refused to take the stuff they give you to calm you down before you go in for surgery, and wouldn't take the pain killers they gave me to take after I had 2 operations. It was only after trying every possible thing (some of which I haven't included) that I could barely walk, and the only reason I'd get out of bed was to use the washroom, that my doctor pretty much insisted that I at least try something.
I've been taking the same amount, and strength of pain killers that I started taking over 10 years ago. I also drink a ton of water, and when I get bored with water, I add lemon juice and either a touch of maple surup or artificial sweetner and cayenne pepper. Which is actually a very refreshing beverage that is good for you.
The other thing I do which can bring great relief is let my tub fill up with the hottest water I can stand, but only enough so that I can lie down from head to bottom, add some epson salt, and just let the heat sink in while I do breathing exercises while meditating. If the water becomes too cold, I just drain the tub and add more hot water.
And still another thing I do is take a very long, hot bath which I add various herbs, and salt. If you have dry skin, a great way to soften it is to pour some of your regular body lotion under the hot water (it dissolves into the water and softens your skin as you soak). I light candles, play soothing music, light incsense (the works). Beside the tub is a large juice jar filled with distilled water with a tray of ice cubes added, and I have a large cup with ice cubes in it on the side of the tub. I often add food coloring (blue is my favorite) for an added boost. Again I keep the water as hot as I can, lay back, put my feet up on the edges of the tub and (beauty secret alert) I repeatedly dip a thick face cloth into the hot water and position it on my face so it is on the skin, but I can still breath, and do a counting meditation where I just count from 1 to 10, seeing the numbers on a black board in my mind, and keep repeating it, letting all other thoughts pass by. As the water is extremely hot, drinking ice cold water cools your body from the inside, making it more comfortable. I stay in the hot tub until I've finished drinking the very large jug of water (which flushes toxins out of your pores into the water). The cloth on your face helps to open and drain your pores of any excess oil and pollution (and is a great way to get rid of black or white heads from your face. Then I drain the water visualizing all of the toxins and any negative energy washing away with it. Once the tub has no more water in it, I run cold water and while laying in the tub, let it come out of the shower as I visualize being in the rain. The cold water increases circulation, closes your pores and leaves you feeling very refreshed instead of a bit sluggish like many feel after taking a hot bath. When I get out I feel completely refreshed and totally pain free. Well that's enough blabbing for now. Jeez, this is probably the longest post this forum has ever had! Anyway, let me know if any of my ideas were helpful
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