United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

Hi,
Have you read the book "The Pain Cure". That's all. Thank you...Karl..
PS..I got writers block. I couldn't figure out how to start this thread. Anyway my sister read this book and recommended it to me. So I bought it and started reading it. Just curious if anyone out there in tbpi land has read it. If not, maybe I'll post anything that I read that may be helpfull. That's all. Thank you...Karl...
PSS..The author is Dharma Singh Khalsa. That's all. Really...Karl...

Louise,
I can tell you that I'm no expert, just another pain sufferer. And I've only read one chapter of the book so far. And the book only cost me $15. But wow, If this lady is for real (I think Dharma is a women's name). She really breaks it down to a cellular level. I stopped reading and went out to buy cod liver oil, antioxidants, digestive enzymes, and ginger. Cod liver oil...me...this better work cause I'm not drinking that stuff for it's sparkling flavor. I wonder if you can deep-fry a turkey in cod liver oil? Sorry... must be the medication. Anyway she talks about the cycle of pain and how it originates for chronic pain sufferers. She tells you what supplements to take to aid in the fight against chronic pain. I'm going to give it a try...I'll let you know what I think as I proceed through the book. Better yet... check out the book yourself because I am a slow reader. Drives my wife crazy when I read over her shoulder. Preview the book at Borders or Amazon.com...let me know what you think. And Louise, give your daughter lots of hugs. I know that would help me forget about the pain. Cheers...Karl...

Jamie,
"Desssperado..why don't you come to your senses..you've been out ridin'"...Sorry mate, I remembered you like the Eagles and now I can't get this song out of my head. Good to talk to you again. I'd like to compare notes with you while the pain mngt course is still fresh in your mind. I personnally feel that the pain is the worst aspect of this injury. So I'm making it my mission to learn as much as I can about pain. Why not, it can't hurt (sorry, I'll try not to do that again). I read that the brain launches it's counter-attack against pain with massive blood flow to the effected area. This causes leakage of the blood vessels, or inflammation. The leaked blood also contains chemicals that make the area more sensitive. "Normally inflammation goes away when the injury heals. But when pain becomes engraved upon the nervous system, inflammation can remain. At this point it serves no purpose, it just hurts. It's no longer a symptom, it's a disease". Okay, class dismissed..don't forget the quiz on Thursday... "these things that are pleasin' you hurt you some how". They just don't make them like that any more...Karl...

I agree Karl, the pain is the worst part of this injury, by a mile. Like you I have done a lot of research into the causes, how it works, how it (might) stop.....did you see this month's Time magazine? They have an article about pain, it's apparently the commonest cause for people in the US to visit a doctor and 1 in 6 Americans has chronic pain, but most doctors, unless specifically pain specialists, know very little about it and just reach for the prescription pad. Pain is barely covered in medical training......that's a worry. I have spoken to people whose doctors have fabulous plans for restructuring the arm and restoring this and that function, with no mention whatever of how the pain is to be managed. It's not good enough when pain is such a huge part of the injury.

Good on you Jamie for going drug free, in my opinion that is ultimately the only way to go, but the early days and weeks are HELL. Your body seems to react to the lack of drugs by hurting more.....but everyone I know who has gone drug free with a severe tbpi and chronic pain has never looked back. I can't say I never get pain, but it is certainly bearable most of the time. Good luck mate and stay as busy as you can, that was what worked for me.
Cheers Jen NZ