United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

Hi everyone, have a bit of a weird question. I am curious if anyone has noted that somethings may affect the amount of pain that you get. Has anyone found that after a night out with friends or exercise etc has an effect on the amount of pain that you may get the following day or after the event. I have noticed that when I have a night out with friends the next day the pain seems to be quite intense, or if I have a big day out socialising, fishing, etc the same thing seems to happen. Just curious as to whether others have noticed the same thing. I am curious as hoping to get back to study or work next year and wonder how I will cope with the pain if I am having full days and really pushing myself. I am hoping that if I do have quite busy days the pain will be a lesser factor to me as I am too busy to acknowledge it.....would like your comments.... regards Michael

Hey Michael, I completely understand where you are coming from! Drinking especially is a funny thing. You begin drinking, the more you drink the less the arm hurts. Because of the high levels of pain we experience, we drink more and more because its great to get rid of the pain, which we never do! There are many of us that can prove this theory for you hehe. But the next day it really feels like a heard of buffalo ran you down! Its really not fair, is it? I really have no idea why this is. I am sure that there is some info somewhere. Liz or Jenny should be around soon (they are wise beyond their years)they might have a why for for. But I will tell you that you are NOT alone! most of us experience the same thing! Enjoy the pain meds a fter a great night of drinking!

COurt xx

michael,
i was in school for 2 1/2 years after my accident and i managed to do 21 credit hours, and 2 jobs, one of which was running a radio station. generally, my days were 16 hours. i survived by doing yoga, eating right, and using a tens machine almost constantly.

that was almost 2 years ago now, and i've since then had more problems and the pain is worse than it ever was. its especially aggravated with stress, having to stand for long periods of time, nights out, busy days, anything besides being at home and relaxing. i know where you are coming from, the pain can be quite debilitating.
i've been seeing a pain management doctor to help manage it. you should find one who is familar with your injury, they can be a huge help.
good luck with everything, and let me know if there is anything i can do to help.
gillian

hi

Im 5 yrs tbpi. Im getting to be quite an expert on pain. I get pain after a night out drinking but although it can be bad for me it lacks the sharpness of a truly bad pain episode. It seems to last longer but not as sharp.

I own my own business so i hardly got time to recover I had to get back to work to keep my livlihood going.
strange though i keep busy at my shop and the pain doesnt seem as bad. My arm is totally flail so it gets heavy after long days but i keep a couple stools and a reclining office chair around for the much needed breaks.

I notice stress is my biggest enemy. On days i get depressed or the shop is stressing me out my pain is worse. At first i would get myself worked up before id try to do new things like daytrips or traveling etc. I would get so nervous my pain level would keep me from doing things. As i live with my tbpi i get better at controling my pain levels. Dont stress over you abilty to do things. Just try everything and remember to take a break if you need it.

Loud noises seem to bother me. Especially sharp sounds (kids screaming, cracky unmuffled exhaust, etc). And drastic temps seem to increase the pain.

Then theres those days the pain is so intense that I cant really explain but on those days I just have to stay home til it passes. I dont take any drugs. I cant deal with the side effects. I need a clear head to do my job. Luckily those days are few and far between.

I think diet has effects on my pain as well. I know i can sometimes take the edge off the pain with something real sweet. Caffeine aggravates it so i try to reduce it.

Dont fret school your self induced stress is your biggest hinderance. Take care of yourself and dont be afraid to take a break when you need it. Getting back into the world will help reduce your pain levels. I dont know if its not there or you are just to busy to notice it.

Dr Teil told me "The pain never goes away we just learn how to live with it". It didnt make much sense then but i get it now 5 years later.

John

Hi Michael,

The pain is truly an enigma. I've spent the last 23 years trying to figure it out. I tried to drink it away, toke it away, and massage it away. No luck. I teetotaled, didn't toke, and gave up coffee. No luck. Now I drink sparingly, toke even less, and love my coffee. Exercise and distraction are good. The better health I'm in, the better the pain. Other pain, however, somehow seems worse.

Bad weather, high stress, little sleep all make it worse, but so do phases of the moon, but only sometimes. There is so little rhyme nor reason that it seams like a real person to me.

The only thing that works for me is the meth; it takes away the edge and helps me sleep. The last six months, since I've been on it, have been the best months of my bpi life. My activity is up, I sleep, I'm playing lots with my kids, my energy levels are up, and life has gotten immeasurably better.

I've also started a new chiropractic therapy that is based on muscle strength and posture, rather than the miracle of neck adjustments. Finally a chiropractor who is realistic (may be able to aleviate 25% of pain by lessening neck tension and pressure) and who is straightening me out.

This old dog is still learning, and looking for, new tricks.

H

Hi folks, thanks for your reponses. I know I am only early BPI but can relate with what you have all said. I too have noticed that the change in temps also seems to affect paid to a certain degree. I also use a heat bag on my arm sometimes when the pain is not severe but just annoying enough that I can't seem to concentrate on much else. It is very hard to learn to try and control the pain by doing other things and working through it. I am under pain management and also try to get meds right at this stage to help me. I know I have a long way to go and like you all I will eventually get my life and everything else under control. I know it is a time factor. On this note I am heading off to Queensland with three other friends for a week from the 20th November. I am looking forward to it even though it will be a bit of a challenge for me fending for myself to a certain degree without mum or dad around to lend a helping hand.... anyway I will survive. By the way anybody have any secret tips for travelling and being away from home with BPI.! ! ! take care all....regards Michael

physical exertion and mental stress increase the production of the chemicals in our brain that provide us with pleasure/pain relief. alcohol does this synthetically. when the production is altered, there is a recovery period while the chemical levels normalize
ouch

Hi Michael,
When your arm is cold, humidity or rainy weather, definately stress, wind or air conditioning blowing onto arm, other pain etc all seem to make the pain more severe for me.But sometimes I can't explain why sometimes it gets out of control.
I hope you are keeping well.
My computer has been out of action for a while so I have been off air for a while.

Hi Michael. Well I can say for Adam that any change in barometric pressure, temperature, and well even if the clouds are moving funny for that matter, it makes his arm hurt. Also he no longer drinks because even one glass of wine causes many hours of pain and also the unpredictable risk of the emotional downside of drinking. He has had to go back to university because of his injury. He is only taking one class this semester, but will take a full load next. The studying and focus has helped him distract from the pain, but sometimes when it is bad it is realy bad no matter what, as I am sure you know. However, it has helped him to cope with it better and helped him decrease his medications alot and eliminate some all together. We were moving to New Mexico at the time of his accident and because of it stayed in the tropical south. We are going to try and move to a dry climate when he is finished with school. Good luck in school. Samantha

Hi guys, thanks for the reponses. Have to say that in the last couple of days here in Aussie, Sydney we have had extreme temperature increases, between 38 and 42 degrees and yes I have paid for it. The pain has seemed to increased heaps. This is the first time since the accident that have experienced the warmer weather and have to agree it does have an effect on the pain. At this stage don't have a solution to it, only by getting in our pool and trying to cool my body temp down and staying indoors out of the heat. I try to concentrate on other activities, but sometimes the pain makes it very hard. It is really quite draining and all you want to do is veg out. As with everyone will eventually get my head around the pain, and am trying very hard. Just wish sometimes it would give me a break and I could feel normal again....just for a few days...Sorry to feel a bit down. Take care all...Michael.