Oh! How I love the Pain!

It has been a fun week. 

I saw my family doctor Monday, and had a cavity filled by my dentist on Tuesday.  These experiences have been kinder to me than some other things I've had to experience in the last year.

Since I have been paying attention to my neck problem,  I've been feeling far less pain.  I take regular doses of Skelaxin.  It is because the little scrunched nerves all up and down my neck tighten up my muscles and cause them to spasm. 

And if I just ignore it, it will get worse.  And eventually feels like serious pain.  But it takes a while to get to the really bad pain so I have plenty of time to get a little something to take the pain away.


This morning I was unable to go back to sleep after waking up at 5:00 but my neck wasn't nearly as bad as it was when I had done nothing for it a couple of weeks ago.   I had taken some muscle relaxant and Aleve before going to bed and that was good for most of the night.  It would have lasted the whole night if I hadn't gotten up.

I'm pretty oblivious when I'm asleep.



I've informed my doctor that I'm in the process of making an appointment to see a neurologist and will see a physical therapist after that.  

My doctor wants me to get into physical therapy  and in our conversations has implied that I will need much less Skelaxin in the future.   He then described a device for stretching my neck to get a little space for my nerves between my somewhat compressed vertebra.

For some reason an image of a medieval torture device came to mind - modernized with upgraded leather straps and fine aluminum bracers.

The device he described fits around the neck and pulls the head - excuse me, my head, up to stretch the neck.

Will it really do any good?

I would just like to drug myself into oblivion but I doubt that those drugs will be prescribed.

I think the most serious pain med I will be getting for this pain is Advil.  With the help of a little muscle relaxant.  

Such is life.   Pain relief is not recreational.  But it is a pain.