ridecamp@endurance.net: pain killers

pain killers

Victoria A Thompson (toriandsteve@juno.com)
Tue, 18 Feb 1997 18:33:28 EST

Kat,

At the age of 5 I received a concussion, no I did not fall off my pony,
and I have suffered from severe, debilitating, migraine headaches ever
since. At the age of 15 I crashed in a downhill ski race and blew out my
left knee. At the age of 25, while chasing after some cattle, my right
knee collided with a redwood tree and it took a couple of hours for the
doctor to pick all the bark out from under my kneecap. I suffer from
carpal tunnel syndrome from too much weight lifting. At the age of,
well, let's just say thirty-something, a 1300 pound horse fell on top of
me screwing up my back forever. On top of all of that every month I get
PMS!

My body is not telling me I need rest when it is in pain. It is always
in some sort of pain. I'd only be out of bed a couple of times a week if
I rested whenever I was in pain. Rest, by the way, only weakens your
muscles, causing even more pain when you try to do something. Stretching
exercises only make you more flexible. They don't make you stronger. I
wear knee braces, a back brace and wrist braces. There are times when I
have to wear all three at once. Within easy reach at all times are pain
killers, over-the-counter and prescription. OTC's are a staple in my
diet. When things get really bad I take the prescriptions. I continue
to do the things that cause me the most pain because not doing them would
drive me insane.

There is no shame in taking pain killers. The shame is in not doing the
things you love because you are afraid of the pain. A little common
sense is all a person needs to avoid over medicating. My first college
roommate was just like you. She refused to take any kind of pain killer
- including in the hospital when they took out her appendix. She was a
pathetic, quivering mass of jelly for which I had no sympathy, and I
refused to wait upon her when she came home from the hospital and needed
help with just about everything because she couldn't stand upright for a
week.

If your stomach can handle it take aspirin or Ibuprofen, Tylenol if it
can't. Doctors prescribe Ibuprofen at 800 mg's and above. Take it
before the ride with breakfast, yes eat! Take it again whenever it says
it is safe to take it again - with food. And always remember to drink
lots of water throughout the day, even if that means carrying six water
bottles with you from vet check to vet check. Don't drink alcohol at
anytime while taking the meds. Not even that glass of wine or beer at
the post ride dinner. Wear support wraps on knees and backs. Change
your saddle, the way you ride, your underwear or your pants if it's your
butt. Check out homeopathic remedies and vitamins. Buy stock in Ben
Gay. Go to a gym or create your own regular exercise program that both
strengthens and loosens your muscles. Do whatever it takes, and take
whatever it takes, to help you make it through a ride. And whatever you
do DON'T listen to those holier-than-thou types who refuse to take
medication.

The shame is in not doing the things you love to do.

Tori

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