Useful Websites

[David Hosobuchi]

Use this thread for posting other websites relevent to this forum....:)

[bewolf]

Pain Control: Dispelling the Myths

http://www.hospicenet.org/html/pain_myths.html

[bewolf]

american pain foundation.... http://www.painfoundation.org/

Common medical abbrevations...http://www.globalrph.com/abbrev.htm#AAA

The Invisible Disabilities Advocate...http://www.myida.org/index.html

The Mayo clinic...http://www.mayoclinic.com/

National Foundation for the Treatment of Pain...http://www.paincare.org/

Using opioids to control pain...http://www.painlaw.org/opioids.html

Pain Relief Foundation (UK site)... http://brain.hastypastry.net/forums/newreply.php?do=newreply&noquote=1&p=10027

British Pain society...http://www.britishpainsociety.org/

Chronic Pain Policy Coalition (UK Site)...http://www.paincoalition.org.uk/

[bewolf]

http://www.acnr.co.uk/pdfs/volume3issue2/v3i2reviewart1.pdf

[Tbackpain1]

A Very Helpful Recipe ;)

Yakima Fruit Paste

DOSE: 1-2 tablespoons per day

1 pound prunes
1 pound raisins-pitted
1 pound figs
4 oz senna tea (look in your health food store, it looks like a bunch of leaves)
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup lemon juice

1. Prepare tea-use about 2 1/2 cups boiled water added to tea and steep 5 minutes.
2. Strain tea to remove tea leaves and add only 1 pint tea to a large pot, then add fruit.
3. Boil fruit and tea for 5 minutes.
4. Remove from heat and add sugar & lemon juice. Allow to cool.
5. Use hand mixer or food processor to blend fruit mixture into smooth paste.
6. Place in plastic container and place in freezer. (Paste will not freeze but will keep forever in freezer).
7. Spoon out what you require each day.

Enjoy eating it straight off the spoon.
Spread it on toast or add hot water and make a drink.

* If the fruit paste is not working (you are not having bowel movements) then you need to increase the amount of fruit paste you are taking.

* If the fruit paste makes you have very loose stools then you need to cut down on the amount of fruit paste you are taking. Perhaps even taking it every other day in some cases.

[hoops2u]

An interesting Web site is www.Painonline.com

I found this site right here at Brain Talk many years ago and it helped me to put into words what I was feeling. It helped me to relate to my Dr.'s and my family. I helped me to know I wasn't losing my mind, this was all real.

It is very well put together, has a glossary and is easy to follow. I still go to this site to keep updated on the latest happenings in chronic pain. I hope others find it useful as well.

God Bless you,
hoops 2u

[ErinENj]

I've got quite a collection, but I'll post only the best and if anyone out there needs to find something specific, let me know because I probably will have it or know where to find it:

The American Chronic Pain Association (http://www.theacpa.org/index.asp)

The American Academy of Pain Management (http://www.aapainmanage.org/) *Sign up for their newsletter, "Currents", it gives you great resources, current news stories/events, clinical trial information, etc, but a great email to get!

The National Pain Foundation (http://www.painconnection.com/default.asp) This site has sections called: 'My Pain,' 'My Treatment,'My Providers, 'My Journey', and 'My Community.' It has a lot of good resources, but their community section isn't all that great simply because noone really posts there.

Pain.com (http://www.pain.com/) An overall pain site, not just CP, but has a decent resource section.

Pain Connection (http://www.pain-connection.org/) The site looks a little unprofessional, but worth a look.

The American Pain Society (http://ampainsoc.org/)

Pain & Policy Studies Group at the University of Wisconsin (http://www.painpolicy.wisc.edu/) Their mission statement: "Promoting pain relief by improving public policy and communications" Somewhat more focused on cancer pain care, but pain studies are pain studies, kinda.

Painedu.org (http://www.painedu.org/) Great resource, but really made for providers and doctors, not really for patients.

I guess that's it for now. There was one more I was looking for that gives you a way online to track your pain on a daily basis, and other great tools and information that really helps. I just can't find it right now. I should get an email from them soon asking me to fill out my daily pain tracker, so when I get that, I'll add it to this post.

If anyone has any questions, or if a link doesn't work, PM me so I can fix it or at least post the site's address.

Hope these help!!!

[Rae70]

After talking to one of the members here regarding pain, i thought i may be helpful for those to know about this product, which has worked for me. Portable Interferential Suppliers for interferential use at home.



Australia

http://www.epmaustralia.co.nr/



UK & USA

http://www.tenscare.co.uk/ccp51/cgi-bin/cp-app.cgi?usr=51F159209&rnd=7157809&rrc=N&affl=&cip=&act=&aff=&pg=ste_splash

[GJZH]

Letter to People Without Chronic Pain

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This letter was posted on this site before we crashed and I copied it years ago when a very dear friend posted it on another site, it seemes to me that we could all use it again..

Letter To People Without Chronic Pain

Having chronic pain means many things change, and a lot of them are invisible. Unlike having cancer or being hurt in an accident, most people do not understand even a little about chronic pain and it’s effects, and of those that think they know, many are actually misinformed.

In the spirit of informing those of you who wish to understand…
…These are the things that I would like you to understand about me before you judge me…

Please understand that being sick does not mean that I’m not still a human being. I have to spend most of my day in considerable pain and exhaustion, and if you visit, sometimes I don’t seem like much fun to be with, but I’m still me—stuck inside this body. I still worry about school, my family, my friends, and most of the time – I’d still like to hear you talk about yours.

Please understand the difference between “happy” and “healthy”. When you’ve got the flu, you probably feel miserable with it, but I’ve been sick for years. I can’t be miserable all the time. In fact I work hard at not being miserable. So, if you’re talking to me and I sound happy, it means I’m happy, that’s all. It doesn’t mean I’m not in a lot of pain, or extremely tired, or that I’m getting better, or any of those things. Please don’t say,
“Oh, you’re sounding better!” or “But your looking so healthy!” I am merely coping. I am sounding happy and trying to look normal. If you want to comment on that, you’re welcome.

Please understand that being able to stand up for ten minutes doesn’t necessarily mean that I can stand up for twenty minutes, or an hour. Just because I managed to stand up for thirty minutes yesterday doesn’t mean that I can do the same today. With a lot of diseases
You’re either or you can move. With this one, it gets more confusing everyday. It can be like a yo-yo. I never know from day to day, how I am going to feel when I wake up. In most cases, I never know from minute to minute. That is one of the hardest most frustrating components of chronic pain.

Please repeat the above paragraph substituting, “sitting”, “walking”, “thinking”, “concentrating”, “being sociable”, and so on… it applies to everything. That is what chronic pain does to you.

Please understand that chronic pain is variable. It’s quite possible )for many it’s common) that one day I am able to walk to the park and back, while the next day I’ll have trouble getting to the next room. Please don’t attack me when I’m ill by saying, “But you did it before!’ or “Oh come on, I know you can do this!” If you want me to do something, then ask if I can. In a similar vein, I may need to cancel a previous commitment at the last minute. If it happens, please do not take it personally. If you are able, please try to remember how very lucky you are--to be physically able to do all the things you can do.

Please understand that “getting out and doing things” does not make me feel better, and can often make me seriously worse. You don’t know what I go through or how I suffer in my own private time. Telling me that I need to exercise, or do some things to get my mind off it may frustrate me to tears, and is not correct and if I was capable of doing some things any or all the time, don’t you think I would? I am working with my doctor and am doing what I am supposed to do. Another statement that hurts is, “You just need to push yourself more, try harder…” Obviously, chronic pain can deal with the whole body, or be localized to specific areas. Sometimes participating in a single activity for a short period of time can cause more damage and physical pain that you can imagine. Not to mention the recovery time, which can be intense. You can’t always read it on my face or in my body language. Also, chronic pain may cause secondary depression (wouldn’t you get depressed and down if you were hurting constantly for months or years?), but it is not created by depression.

Please understand that if I say I have to sit down, lie down/stay in take these pills now, that probably means that I have to do it right now- it can’t be put off or forgotten just because I’m somewhere, or I’m even in the middle of doing something. Chronic pain does not forgive, nor does it wait for anyone.

If you want to suggest a cure for me, please don’t. It’s not because I don’t appreciate the thought, and it’s not because I don’t want to get well.
Lord knows that isn’t true. In all likelihood, if you’ve heard of it or tried it, so have I. In some cases, I may have been made sicker, not better. This can involve side effects or allergic reactions. It also includes failure, which in and of it self can make me feel even lower. If there were something that cured, or even helped people with my form of chronic pain, then we would know about it. There is worldwide networking (both on and off the Internet) between people with chronic pain. If something worked we would KNOW.
It’s defiantly not for lack of trying. If, after reading this, you still feel the need to cure, then so be it. I may take what you said and discuss it with my doctor.

If I seem touchy, it’s probably because I am. It’s not how I try to be. A matter of fact, I try very hard to be normal. I hope you will try to understand. I have been, and am still, going through a lot. Chronic pain is hard for you to understand unless you have had it. It wreaks havoc on the body and the mind. It is exhausting and exasperating. Almost all the time, I know that I am doing my best to cope with this, and accept me as I am. I know that you can not literally understand my situation unless you have been in my shoes, but as much as is possible, I am asking you to try and be understanding.

In many ways I depend on you – people who are not sick. I need you to visit me when I’m too sick to go out… Sometimes I need you to help with the shopping, cooking or cleaning. I may need you to take me to the doctor, or to the store. You are my link to the normalcy of life. You can help me to keep in touch with the parts of life that I miss and fully intend to undertake again, just as soon as I am able.
I know I asked a lot of you, and I do that you for listening. It really does mean a lot to me.

AUTHOR UNKNOWN

[Kandra]

Hi all,

Don't know if many remember me, especially since I just had to re-register for the third time <g>, but I used to have a link to a message on the old CP forum that listed many links. Unfortunately due to a program I lost all my bookmarks.

One of the links was to a dosage converter which I would really like to have again...I would really appreciate it..thanks!


Kandra

[shotspine]

www.globalrph.com/narcotic.cgi (http://www.globalrph.com/narcotic.cgi) This is converter I use.

[mrsdoubtfyre]

Here is a good website to help ID tablets of opiates. It even has pictures, if you click on "image"... This is helpful for generic products especially:

http://**********er.org/imprints/narcotics

[Kandra]

Thanks to both of you for the great links :) The globalrph link was the one I remembered from before and the site to ID tabs of opiates is wonderful!

Thank you again :)


Kandra

[mrsdoubtfyre]

I came across this drug interaction PDF today...

http://www.atforum.com/pdf/Drug_Interactions.pdf

It is quite complex, but I think all methadone patients should check it out.

[ryansridge]

Another Useful Website: http://pain-topics.org/ - it's full of info for both patients and professionals - one of the best pain management sites I've come across. I hope you find it useful, too!

[ryansridge]

I came across this drug interaction PDF today...

http://www.atforum.com/pdf/Drug_Interactions.pdf

It is quite complex, but I think all methadone patients should check it out.

Thanks! Very thorough (31 pages) and fairly recent (Nov. 2005).

[mrsdoubtfyre]

This is an FDA publication, open to the public that lists all approved
generic drugs. The easiest search is by active ingredient... use the generic name.

http://www.fda.gov/cder/ob/default.htm

Generic drugs are approved by the FDA just like brand name ones are.
AB ratings are the best ones, which most pharmacies stock and prefer.

[Kandra]

Generic drugs are approved by the FDA just like brand name ones are.
AB ratings are the best ones, which most pharmacies stock and prefer.

Yep, AB ratings are the best..supposedly means they're extremely similiar if not identical. Supposedly...one thing to remember though is that fillers DO make a difference. Another is that a hospital pharmacist told me that on some antibiotics and pain meds generic is not the way to go.

One last thing..my HMO is VERY picky about which manufactured drugs they'll pay for. IOW, one manufacturer can make Vicodin....and another also makes Vicodin..my HMO will only pay for one particular manufacturer out of the usual 2 or 3 who make a generic drug. Drives my pharmacy crazy.

Kandra

[Tbackpain1]

To help with medical terminology: http://www.mlanet.org/resources/medspeak/medspeaka_d.html

[skipdill]

Useful website covering low level lasers in pain manage:
http://coldlasertherapy.us
as discussed in USA today: http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2007-06-19-laser-therapy_N.htm

[Kandra]

Thanks, I'm sure many will find that really informative :)

[Diandra]

Informative website covering all forms of pain and management
http://www.neurosurgical.com/