I have just taken a great bashing on a chronic pain site for saying I don't believe in living on pain drugs. People went on attack saying I knew nothing about pain and that without drugs they would have no life.
I do know something about pain. We have an intimate relationship that has lasted decades.
What I know is that when drugged, my body will perform many more tasks then it would without drugs. It feels good to be more active but that overextension causes increased pain and allows pain cycles to have a firmer grasp.
I know that allowing pain to take up residency is dangerous. Pain drains the body and forces its systems to become burdened. Eventually these systems break down, causing secondary issues and illnesses that complicate life.
Learning about pain takes experiencing it. If you are always medicated, it is impossible to experience anything. I believe pain is the voice of your body and has something to say. My choice is to listen and find out what it wants from me.
Usually it wants the same old things. That means the right kinds of rest, exercise, nutrients and a diet that is clean and free of sugar, flour and chemicals. It also asks that I cut my toxicity down to minimal exposure every day. I offer it remedies in the form of essential oils, vitamins, minerals and foods that heal.
For the most part, living clean has become easy. There are days, though, that I just don't feel like giving my body exactly what it needs. There are days when I think we can manage some sugar and a few toxins. There are days when I just want to behave like everyone else and if I do, I pay the price.
In some ways, I think chronic pain people are the lucky ones. When they finally find wellness, they understand how the body works and what it needs. They have the ability and knowledge to treat it right and nurture it. It seems they have a jump on learning to live through old age without illness and have the potential to die healthy. That is the goal.