Pain and MS: Living with Pain

Hi Eva,

I sometimes have something very similar when a sheet covers my right foot.  It sounds to me like Allodynia.

Allodynia is a particularly painful sensation as a response to a normally innocuous stimulus such as a light touch, bed sheets, or clothes.  It is usually short-lived,  and last only as long as the stimulus remains.

If this does not sound right, please talk to your doctor (even if it does sound right, talk to your doctor). I am like you and prefer not to take too many drugs — actually, they rarely have an effect on me anyway. I tried to stretch and change the position of my foot and that seems to help at least a little.

Good luck.

Thank you Vicky, I will follow up on that I thought i was going a little crazy.

Warm wishes to you and your loved ones.

If removing the mercury from your body cured the problem, then you never had MS.  The doctors simply misdiagnosed you.  Be glad, as there is no cure for what we have.

Sometimes I feel lucky that I experience so little pain.  There is some, but it is more a background annoyance than a problem to manage.  MS hits us in different ways; my primary progressive went from feeling the first tingles in my feet to being bedridden in just 2½ years.  I feel none of the sharp facial pain that plagued my mother with secondary progressive MS.

David,  How can you say that? 

Are you a believer in the fact that mercury doesn't cause MS...wake up sweetheart, and read a few sites on "mercury and MS".

When I was first diagnosed in 2003 the neurosurgeon told me I had the start of MS, showed me the xray with the small white specks and said "there wasn't a cure" and promptly told me I had to inject myself with stuff each day to prevent being in a wheelchair by the time I was 75. 

He could tell I wasn't convinced his idea was the only way to go and as I left he said "AND DON'T BOTHER SEEING A QUACK CAUSE THEY WON'T BE ABLE TO FIX YOU"  ???Well hallelujah, I did see a quack and thankfully I did, cause I am now a "Free from MS human".

You stated I couldn't have had MS, well I  have the MRI xrays which show the Dawsons Fingers in the skull which is a certain diagnosis of having had MS at some stage. (read that on a site as well). 

When I had the 2nd MRI the doctor doing the scan said "were you diagnosed with MS at your xray in 2003?" and I said "yes", and I showed him the xrays done back then.

He said "well I don't know how its happened but you have no sign of any active MS at all now!".

So now I have the xrays and the letter stating that, and I know it is from homeopathic treatment that rid my body of mercury.

Try to be positive about this, or you will never heal yourself.  The brain rules the body, tell it you are going to heal yourself, then go find a naturopath or doctor that uses the Bioenergetic computer and find out what has caused this dreaded dis-ease. 

I can guarantee you have ingested some form of chemicals/pesticides/heavy metals at some stage of your life and they have seeped into the brain and damaged the cells.

Don't be told by doctors/neurosurgeons that you have to abide by their treatment, because they don't know what they are talking about when it comes to holistic understanding/healing of the body.

Cheers

Ruby

Hi Ruby,

I’m sorry my article made you angry. It is not my intention to irritate anyone. I generally write based on my experience and research.

I did not include the mercury theory as part of these articles, because I was focusing on treatment specifically for pain rather than disease-modifying therapy. The first time I heard the theory about MS and mercury was in the early 90s, and there was controversy even then. There is still controversy concerning the value of the theory. Some of that is based on facts like not everyone with MS has been exposed to mercury.

Mercury, once in the Central Nervous System (CNS), is not easily removed. It does seem possible that you were misdiagnosed or are experiencing a long remitting period -- a definite MS diagnosis takes time and often more than one MRI.

Many people practice and appreciate homeopathics.  I do think positive attitudes make a big difference regardless of your treatment.

I am glad your treatment is working for you.  Continued good luck.

G'day Vicki,

How are you?, hope not in as much pain today..

The thing that makes me angry is that too many people are not aware of an alternative approach.

I have never been a doctor person and never will be for that matter.  You can read what you like about mercury or any other heavy metal, chemical or pesticide  that isn't found in MS sufferers, but I know what I have endured and it was only thru a thorough check with a Bioenergetic computer or a hair anlaysis, (just as good),  that proved what my problem was. 

Its true you may not have mercury or any other heavy metal type of thing but a hair analysis at least, will let you know what is causing the MS.

You are living a blind understanding listening to what doctors tell you.  Like in your case they can't even keep you out of pain.  They don't know what they are treating??

Multiple Sclerosis is a name given to a dis-ease that the medical profession don't know the reason it happened.  They will tell you that there is no cure cause in their educated minds, there isn't!!

You say I have been misdiagnosed, well Vicki, trust me I havent.!!!

2003 MRI multiple sclerosis.

2009 MRI no demyelination, no lesions, and just for proof I had MS, I have what they call the Dawsons Fingers, that is a surefire indication I had MS.

I would like to know why you and many other people I talk to about MS and western medicine treatment, won't try an alternative.

One begins to think people with MS enjoy being ill and the attention that goes with it.

Like they get on the internet and complain about this, that and everything but don't listen to another approach of treatment. 

Well I hated it, because I wondered where it would lead me to.  My speech was bad, I had fatigue, everything.

After the diagnosis of MS in 2003, I told one person, my husband!!

Nobody else knew, they just thought I had a bad knee, cause I couldn't walk properly. 

Now I have shown all my friends and family the recent MRI letter, and told them how I beat MS.

I am a helping person, I would love you to just get a hair anlysis done then take the report to the naturopath the Clinic advises.  Then make up your mind if you want to do the alternative treatment, but find out what you have in your system that is causing the problem.

Take care Vicki,

cheers Ruby

Hi Ruby,

I'm going to step in here and try to help this conversation.  I see that you've only just recently joined our community and I'm very glad that you are here.  However, please recognize that we are a supportive community in which personal attacks are not the norm.

Vicki is one of our wonderful writers who shares information with us and often inspires us.  She is brave to also discuss her life and chronic illnesses in such a calm and generous way.  Even if I might approach a topic differently, I appreciate all that she offers and I always find support in her words.

It is fantastic that you experienced such a change in your health and quality of life after undergoing such a drastic procedures as having all of your fillings removed.  I, for one, have found great benefit from acupuncture and yoga in addressing illness.  But I also find great benefit from the guidance of my physicians.

As a community, we tend to be very accepting of others' points of view and experiences.  I hope that you will extend the same courtesy to the writers and members.

Thank you for that and it's nice to meet you Ruby.

Hi to you as well Lisa, thanks for your reply. 

I have not joined this link to cause trouble, but after reading Vickis looooong letter about her pain, I thought how does this help her get better.  She seemed to enjoy writing about how bad she felt. 

I am all for alternative treatment as you well know by now, so if someone suggests a simple idea like having a hair analysis which shows what the cause of the MS might be if its a chemical or heavy metal, or trying to find a Bioenergetic computer for a test why wouldn't you do it.

All diseases are caused by something we inhale, ingest or absorb thru the skin, so there is a reason for us getting MS.

I am not here to make friends, I just want people with MS to try a different approach. 

I did and I beat it. 

Well done to you.  I also do acupuncture, deep tissue massage and chiropractic once every week and it helps me incredibly.

But I still say, physicians don't know a thing about this disease its the drug companies that tell them what to give patients

cheers

Ruby

Hi again Ruby,

 I fear I have not been clear. This series of articles on pain has not been about me, but about types of pain common in MS. I'm sure I've missed some types of pains, but I think I covered most of them.

My article on treatments was very general because I always hesitate to tell people what treatment they should be taking. I think they should listen to their doctors, talk to other people who might have the same problem, and do some research until they find something that makes them comfortable.

In the same vein, my article on alternative treatments included some of the more common ones directed specifically at pain, but I was sure it did not include everything as you point out.

I am glad you commented here with a different outlook and more information. I certainly agree that the articles were long, and I think that's too bad, but I could not find a logical place to break. Hopefully that does not happen too often, because I like shorter articles too -- both reading and writing. Please come back and comment again.

But in the meantime, why don't you write some posts about your experiences? I'll bet they will be appreciated. Let me know so I can do some reading. Thank you.

Hi Vicki, thankyou for asking my experience with MS because I think it is totally different to yours.  I have never had pain.  I have weakness in the right side of the body, even though I have had a recent MRI and there is no more MS damage I am still weak and have joined a pilates class twice a week to get my strength back into those muscles that lay dormant for 3 years.

But my main point with writing my threads is for you to try another avenue of help, like have a hair analysis as I said or find a naturopath with a Bioenergetic machine and have your body tested.  It is non intrusive, you just put your hand on a metal plate and it shows on the computer screen what ailments you have.  My naturopath prescribed homeopathics for the mercury poisoning I had and thats why I am fine today.  The Bioenergetics machine will show all sorts of chemicals/pesticides or heavy metals or even if you have a virus.

In your particular case, your doctors haven't been able to help you.  They just line their nests with the money you give them, to buy more prescription drugs that don't even keep the pain at bay.   I am all about helping the body to heal itself.  Do everything to make it strong and drugs don't do that.

I hate anything to do with doctors scripts and have managed to avoid them thus far. 

I am 65 years young this year   I wouldn't entertain the  thought of injecting myself everyday...what good is that doing?  Even the doctors don't know your future with taking drugs......But if your body is strong at least you know it is a happy body.

I'm sorry, I get carried away with my attitude to doctors/physicians/specialists... whatever you want to call them... no confidence in them at all.  They are not trained in the manner that I want to treat my body.  But thats me.

I had weak arm and leg the right side of my body..no pain though and my local GP sent me to the neurosurgeon who sent me for an MRI. 

So after my first MRI in 2003 and the neurosurgeon telling me I had MS and handing me a case of needles and liquid I handed it back to him and said I am going to a naturopath and he said "A quack won't be able to help you"... 

I think I will visit him next week and show him the letter I received after my last MRI which I had last week saying I was clear,  and see what he says.?

So Vicki, I want to know why you won't have a hair analysis? 

Can you please let me know your reason.?

Kind regards

talk soon

Ruby

Hi Vicki,

I want you to look up this site   www.cidpusa.org and have a read about auto immune diseases.

I bought the E book and it is amazing reading.  You will see what I am telling you is correct, regarding healing oneself.

cheers

Laraine

Hi grjenkin,

 I did not mention FEAR, but I certainly could have. Anticipating the possibility of many potential symptoms and outcomes adds a level of stress equivalent to pain -- no doubt about it.

Now, medical marijuana, which I have talked about more than once -- I agree that it could ease daily pain, and I am all for more research. Although it is not, and will never be, a cure, it does ease the way until that cure is found. There seems to be growing activity here, so maybe more research is on the way.

There is always hope.

 Merely Me,

Reading posts -- I find myself reading so many posts, but there are so many more! We  must forgive ourselves because we can't do as much as we would like.

You think I'm making a difference? That is such a kind thing to say. I would like to help people, and one at a time is fine with me. I recognize that my research here is helpful to me, too. Also, hearing other MSer's comments and questions helps me understand more every day.

Thank you, Merely Me.

Thanks, Eva. I have found your solution — remaining calm and doing the best you can — to be helpful. It may not solve everything, but this is after all MS, and so far nothing seems to solve everything.