Re: how I stop the nerve pain

[Guest guest]

I've copied and pasted this from the previous message in today's

digest:

I wanted to add that since my second surgery the only way I'm able to

rest, sleep is with a pillow either underneath or between my knees

and one along my right side to lend gentle support. Sleeping without

that support puts increased pressure on my lumbar spine. You may try

this to see if it alleviates some of your lower back and leg pain.

Something else I've found helpful is reiki and accupressure --

especially when I have shooting pain in my legs due to neuropathy.

There are times when even shaving sets off pain signals and so I have

a hard time shaving my legs -- but hey it's winter so who'll see

them. LOL

I also find hot baths with epsom salt and lavender, chamomile, ginger

or euchalyptus bath gel ease my tension.

Something else to consider is Cranial Sacral Therapy, Massage Therapy

or Physical Therapy. I see a CST 2x a month and see my PT 2x a week.

I'm seeing one now to strengthen my weak right foot/ankle but am

heading back to have my neck and lumbar spine treated as the

neuropathy's flaring up once again and making my pain intolerable. I

had a left sympathetic lumbar nerve block this morning -- I usually

have my right side done but as my left side was worse over this time

we decided to treat it -- I go back in two weeks for a follow up.

--

>

> I have nerve pain on the back of my right leg that runs down thru

the

> foot. Since I dcn't want to take much meds, I have spent much time

> finding positions to get rid of the pain. For me sitting Indian

Style

> makes the pain go away completely. I have spent many nights sleeping

> in that position. My therapist told me that, that position helps

other

> people with nerve pain too. Try it, also try leaning over your legs

> while there crossed in Indian style. That helps when the pain is

real

> bad.

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks for the tip - in fact I believe you are putting traction on the spine by

doing this - I also get immediate relief from the same symptoms you have when I

use a stretching position to put my spine under traction. This convinces me that

there may be some combination of stretching / yoga / Pilates that could help.

(just haven't found it yet!)

Have you ever considered an inversion board - one of those boards you get on

that let you hang upside down? I would like to try this but don't want to spend

the money without being sure it would help. I have a whole pile of other things

I bought that haven't worked. Has anyone out there any experience with these

types of boards? Thanks,

Subject: how I stop the nerve pain

To: tetheredspinalcord

Date: Tuesday, January 6, 2009, 4:00 AM

I have nerve pain on the back of my right leg that runs down thru the

foot. Since I dcn't want to take much meds, I have spent much time

finding positions to get rid of the pain. For me sitting Indian Style

makes the pain go away completely. I have spent many nights sleeping

in that position. My therapist told me that, that position helps other

people with nerve pain too. Try it, also try leaning over your legs

while there crossed in Indian style. That helps when the pain is real

bad.

[Guest guest]

Thanks Kris, will give it a try  

Subject: how I stop the nerve pain

To: tetheredspinalcord

Date: Tuesday, January 6, 2009, 3:00 AM

I have nerve pain on the back of my right leg that runs down thru the

foot. Since I dcn't want to take much meds, I have spent much time

finding positions to get rid of the pain. For me sitting Indian Style

makes the pain go away completely. I have spent many nights sleeping

in that position. My therapist told me that, that position helps other

people with nerve pain too. Try it, also try leaning over your legs

while there crossed in Indian style. That helps when the pain is real

bad.

[Guest guest]

I have thought of one of those inversion thingys too...but as I am convinced I

am retethered I dont know if putting tension on the spine is a good idea. 

From: rutherford.kris <rutherford.kris@ yahoo.com>

Subject: how I stop the nerve pain

To: tetheredspinalcord@ yahoogroups. com

Date: Tuesday, January 6, 2009, 4:00 AM

I have nerve pain on the back of my right leg that runs down thru the

foot. Since I dcn't want to take much meds, I have spent much time

finding positions to get rid of the pain. For me sitting Indian Style

makes the pain go away completely. I have spent many nights sleeping

in that position. My therapist told me that, that position helps other

people with nerve pain too. Try it, also try leaning over your legs

while there crossed in Indian style. That helps when the pain is real

bad.

[Guest guest]

If you are tethered or retethered, I would be very leery of anything

that puts additional traction on a spinal cord that is already under

abnormal tension.

When you think of it, traction would be more likely to help with

conditions where the cord has been pushed together or pinched by

something that collapsed like with disc issue rather than stretched

out too much.

V

>

> I have thought of one of those inversion thingys too...but as I am

convinced I am retethered I dont know if putting tension on the spine

is a good idea. 

>

>

[Guest guest]

Another simple way to <sometimes> ease a bit of the pain is to lay on

your bed, on your stomach, with your feet dangling off the end of the

bed. Its called " natural traction " .

When I had a PT suggest this to me and was astounded. I fall asleep

every night on my back and almost always wake up on my belly, feet

hanging off the end of the bed and I couldn't figure out why. My body

naturally found the position to help itself.

[Guest guest]

I sometimes wake up on my stomach but more so on one side or the

other. I commented on this before but I can't sleep without some sort

of support beneath my knees. When I shared this with my PT at the

time she said it helps take pressure off of your lower back -- so for

those of us with nerve pain/neuropathy/muscle spasms to the lower

back it's worth a try. --

>

>

> Subject: Re: how I stop the nerve pain

> To: tetheredspinalcord

> Date: Thursday, January 8, 2009, 12:33 PM

>

>

>

>

>

>

> Another simple way to <sometimes> ease a bit of the pain is to lay

on

> your bed, on your stomach, with your feet dangling off the end of

the

> bed. Its called " natural traction " .

>

> When I had a PT suggest this to me and was astounded. I fall asleep

> every night on my back and almost always wake up on my belly, feet

> hanging off the end of the bed and I couldn't figure out why. My

body

> naturally found the position to help itself.

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

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>

>

>

[Guest guest]

,

VERY true. Traction is typically used for a situation when the cord is

compressed - either by a herniated disc or a spinal fracture before surgery.

With TC, the cord is stuck, so any traction would only serve to stretch it

further and could cause further neuro problems. My neurosurgeon even told me

to avoid straining.

Jenn

From: tetheredspinalcord

[mailto:tetheredspinalcord ] On Behalf Of laurav1945

Sent: Wednesday, January 07, 2009 9:14 PM

To: tetheredspinalcord

Subject: Re: how I stop the nerve pain

If you are tethered or retethered, I would be very leery of anything

that puts additional traction on a spinal cord that is already under

abnormal tension.

When you think of it, traction would be more likely to help with

conditions where the cord has been pushed together or pinched by

something that collapsed like with disc issue rather than stretched

out too much.

V

>

> I have thought of one of those inversion thingys too...but as I am

convinced I am retethered I dont know if putting tension on the spine

is a good idea.

>

>