How can you treat pain without narcotics?

I have had severe pain since 2003, and I am currenly on disability due to severe pain. I was approved the first time I applied. I want very badly to be off the narcotics, but I still have severe pain. I"ve made a great deal of progress, and I've lowered my dosages a great deal. I've tried all kinds of things, so most likely I may have tried anything you may suggest, but you never know someone out there may have thought of something I haven't. So I thought I'd ask anyway

but so you know what I have tried

pain clinic - regular patient
narcotics - but trying to quit
humor - in large doses -helps a great deal
massage
Chiropractic
tens unit
nutrition, exercises of all kinds.

pain sources
4 rotated vertebrae
mass in my right side - they did a CT scan - I don't have the results yet
problem with pain along my intercostal nerve, and even though the lyrica or neurotin is effective, I can't take these meds, due to side effects.

thanks for any ideas you may have.

thanks everyone - my dad kept telling me about the noni juice but I didn't know why he was making such a big deal about it. - I do pray - lots - I do use the lidoderm patches. at least until I run out. At $2000 I am not likely to get more. Humor has been the best thing for me. - thanks so much for your kind answers. the one about water - was helpful - I keep forgetting. I get dehydrated at times. Since my wife died, I forget things like that. thanks for reminding me. I haven't done the relaxation things much but I try to relax before bedtime each day.

thanks so much for your answers and kindness and prayers.

I am sorry to hear you are in such pain. In using the principles of colour therapy, I would recommend you get hold of indigo coloured silk and drape it around your body. Indigo is a great pain reliever. Also use the colour orange in the form of diet. Orange helps raise your body's immune system and helps you feel happier. It will increase your energy levels which will in turn help you deal with the pain. I really hope this helps.

For some people..these things work......

Meditation
Acupuncture
Bio-feedback


Good luck

laughter is the best medicine... laughter releses endorphines that calm the pain.... and then you go exercise that part of your body that hurts, and do it slowly untill you can do more!!! soon the pain WILL subside.... then you can go on with your life!!!

Noni juice, it's all natural taste like crud but works just like morphine.

Hi, Sorry to hear about your pain. I am also very familiar with chronic pain, I live with it every day and have been this way since 1999 when a Dr. injured me, he hit a nerve in my neck and caused me permanent pain, I am currently on muscle relaxers,Vicotin and gabapentin.I am an easy going person with a positive attitude, I too have tried to cut back and cannot be without or the pain is severe. I met and am engaged to a musician who recorded some soft,Holistic music. It can bring you peace within yourself, I also went and was having acupuncture done, I swear it works. I also suffer from severe migraines and it did help. I say did for we lived in Phoenix and moved to WI due to family illness and they were awesome out there and haven't found one where I currently live, but try it, it may take 4 or 5 sessions to work but it is awesome. I too tried therapy, pain clinic, tens unit..none of it worked. Keep up the laughter, it helps, positive attitude and prayer if you believe.
Good luck.

Go to www.miraclechannel.ca and have people there pray for you. God answers prayer when you pray and believe!
Or you do not believe then we can go another way. I will hook you up to speak to a Herbalist who has a Phd. and if he cannot help you he will tell you so. He formulates his own product so knows what it will do. No obligation to you or cost to speak to him. You can contact me if you choose.
In the meantime drink lots of water. You need to drink half your body weight in ounces of pure, clear, filtered water. Not coffee,nor tea, nor juices, just water. You are quite likely dehydrated and if so this can cause lots of pains and problems. I am so happy that you want to come off of narcotics as they cause your immune system to not function as God intended it to function. I am praying for you

Have you tried Lidoderm Patches? These are RX only, but they help me somewhat when the pain is at it's worst.

5-HTP helps with pain by boosting serotonin levels in the brain. You could also try lubing up your vertebrates with some fish oil.