need help - nerve pain - neck

Hi, the_hammer,

Thanks for the info. I had been doing some gentle traction at home similar to what you described and might modify it some, according you your info. As well, I like the stretching you mention, just reading it, I imagined how comfortable it would feel, as I have had similar treatments for various joints before (I've been dealing with musculoskeletal issues for the last 20 years).

I noticed when I was wearing a cervical collar, that if I adjusted it to make it taller, it had a mild traction effect on my neck and that felt wonderful. It really seemed to take some of the pressure off the discs, relieving the nerve root. This helped take some of the spasms down as well. So, I'll be looking into neck traction if the massage and acupuncture don't break the cycle (muscle tension ->.nerve root pressure -> pain -> more tension). It's a little difficult to discern whether it started with pain or tension, but either way, interrupting the cycle may be key.

As I mentioned earlier, I am also trying to get DMSO. I know a few farmers as well as veterinarians, so this might help.

Thanks,
Gonzo
 
Hi SolarMother,
Funny you should ask if I've had a good cry lately. I noticed the other day that I hadn't cried much lately. Somehow I have allowed the program of "if I cry I will fall apart and not be able to help my partner" to creep in. I thank you for reminding me to work on this. In fact, tears are streaming right now as I write this, so I know I had better start letting it out.

Gonzo
 
Hi Stevie,

Thanks for asking. I had acupuncture at physio and it helped bring things down another notch, although things seemed to have been receding a little on their own.

I have suffered from nerve pain for a couple decades, enough to make me vomit and pass out, but it was always lower back. This episode in my neck was more than I could bear. There was no position I could be in other than vertical where the pain wasn't overwhelming. The neck is so sensitive to any movement and I was surprised to see how often when use our neck muscles for just about everything.

I once had a bowel hernia requiring surgery and learned during recovery how much we use our core muscles. There was no way to move without engaging them and creating intense pain. I couldn't have imagined the neck being even worse that way.

I'm so much better now and not in agony. I still have pain and spasms, so I know there's more to be done. I also know this will keep happening if I don't get to the bottom of it and treat it holistically.

In the short term, I'm hoping DMSO (if I can get it), taping, massage and acupuncture. In the long term, I hope to resolve the emotional burden that is too heavy for my back to carry.

Again, thank you,

Gonzo
 
Gonzo said:
So, I have to figure some more out re: DMSO. If there are any Canucks reading this who have already solved the problem, I'd appreciate hearing about it. I will complete my research, both for info in the forum and beyond, but I would like to work toward a solution as soon as possible and know it will take me a while to read through everything at the rate I am currently going.

With respect to regulations in Canada and DMSO:

The federal government recently completed public consultations on a draft amendment to the Food and Drugs regulations of the Food and Drugs Act. In the draft they were proposing the delisting of four drugs including DMSO, if I read the proposal correctly.

What this would mean is that one would no longer require a prescription to acquire or use the medications. They felt that the risk of misuse and harm could be mitigated by label and information contained within the package and did not warrant such tight regulatory oversight.

Next step would be to amend the proposal based on comments received through the consultation and then publish the proposal as a regulatory amendment in Canada Gazette I (the is called pre-publication), which triggers another consultation. After final consultation, comments are considered and the amendment is adjusted if warranted and published in Canada Gazette II.

This is standard operating procedure for regulatory change.

Although we naturally benefit from this, I do have to wonder what nefarious purpose might be behind such a move. Call me paranoid but even though I work for these guys, I don't always trust them.

Thanks again,
Gonzo

Hi Gonzo,

I am a Canadian and i bought one gallon of dmso from _http://www.dmso.net/default.asp.

I had an excellent service and it took only five or six days to receive it.
 
Thanks, Gandalf.

I am glad to hear they will ship to Canada. Do you recall if they asked what the application would be for when you ordered?

As well, how was it shipped and did you have to pay much for duty and broker fees?

My agency works closely with the border agency, so I know about their random testing of imports.

I worry that even if 99 percent of DMSO shipments make their way in, the poor 1 percent of souls that gets caught might have to deal with more than just forfeiture.

I have heard all too often at work that it is the importer's duty to be aware of their country's laws regarding what they import and that ignorance is no defense.

I just want to know as much as I can about the laws and the risks associated with breaking it. Of course I have to weigh that against the urgency of the matter as well.

Thanks a lot for letting me know. I am encouraged to see evidence that it makes its way through.

Gonzo
 
Gonzo, eBay is also a good source for DMSO. Most sellers will ship to Canada from the US.
 
Gonzo said:
Thanks, Gandalf.

I am glad to hear they will ship to Canada. Do you recall if they asked what the application would be for when you ordered?

They did not ask anything. i just said that I wanted 1 gallon of DMSO and they shipped it to me quite fastly. It is well written on the website that the product is just for external use. Doing so, they protect themselves against any kind of pursuits

Gonzo said:
As well, how was it shipped and did you have to pay much for duty and broker fees?

I think it was by purolator or DHL or a similar company. No I just pay the federal taxes and a flat rate of 5$ for broker fee.

Gonzo said:
My agency works closely with the border agency, so I know about their random testing of imports.

I worry that even if 99 percent of DMSO shipments make their way in, the poor 1 percent of souls that gets caught might have to deal with more than just forfeiture.

I have heard all too often at work that it is the importer's duty to be aware of their country's laws regarding what they import and that ignorance is no defense.

I just want to know as much as I can about the laws and the risks associated with breaking it. Of course I have to weigh that against the urgency of the matter as well.

Thanks a lot for letting me know. I am encouraged to see evidence that it makes its way through.

Gonzo

For 1 gallon which was sold for 69,95 US, i paid all expenses included less than 90$ canadian. And don't worry, the shipping is well done and the seller writes on the paper that it is for external use only. And the product is pure at 99,993%.
 
Gonzo said:
Hi SolarMother,
Funny you should ask if I've had a good cry lately. I noticed the other day that I hadn't cried much lately. Somehow I have allowed the program of "if I cry I will fall apart and not be able to help my partner" to creep in. I thank you for reminding me to work on this. In fact, tears are streaming right now as I write this, so I know I had better start letting it out.

Gonzo

Hope you are feeling better today! ;)
 
I had an interesting massage experience. Since some parts were quite painful, it wasn't very relaxing until he was able to release the spasms.

What was odd is that I thought he would occasionally whisper something brief every few minutes but the sound was coming from a different location. I could swear the source was only a couple of feet away but the direction made no sense. I couldn't make out the words until the last time I heard it. It was simply the word "you".

After the massage, I could tell the spasms were gone and, after only a few minutes, I had my acupuncture, which also had some rather painful spots that felt like a wasp sting or a bite from a fire ant. Ouch. The pain never really settled down even after the needles were removed I could feel the pain, although upon inspection, I noticed some of the pain was a few inches away from the needle site.

Anyway. After the acupuncture I felt dizzy and strange. I drank some water and did some pipe breaths but had a hard time coming back to Earth. The doc told me to go straight home to rest and not to return to work.

I stayed in a mild daze for a few hours after and had a mild headache all evening.

This morning I had difficulty waking up. I had to finally force myself up once I realized I would be late for work. I was surprised, however, to discover I had no pain, a real rarity.

I didn't start feeling any pain until around 1:30 PM, which felt like a couple little spasms in my shoulder blades and one spot on my arm.

The massage therapist said that I might experience some delayed effects from the massage which could include pain, swelling or spasms, as he really had to work hard on a few spots. So, I will wait until tomorrow to decide if I should go back for more. I realize it will probably require a few sessions to alleviate the stored up tension.

I have to admit, I am curious to see if the guy is actually whispering (possibly creepy, unless he is praying) but I will do the PotS before the next session if I do decide to return.

I will be ordering the DMSO as soon as I can afford to and I thank Gandalf the wise for the time and energy afforded to help me reduce
my fear of Big Border Brother.

Thanks all,
Gonzo
 
Gonzo said:
Anyway. After the acupuncture I felt dizzy and strange. I drank some water and did some pipe breaths but had a hard time coming back to Earth. The doc told me to go straight home to rest and not to return to work.
I don't know how you're supposed to feel after acupuncture but that seems weird. Anyway, from what I have heard and read, you have to be realllly careful with picking an acupuncturist because it's so easy to be hurt by it when it isn't done by someone who really knows what they're doing. Personally I'd never get acupuncture from someone unless I was sure they're really good by first networking/researching everything I can about them, so just a word of caution. It's similar to getting hypnotised - would you let someone hypnotize you if you don't trust them and their knowledge? Or would you let someone give you a Reiki attunement if you aren't confident that they know what they're doing, have the right symbols, the right lineage, etc? Knowledge protects.
 
Gonzo said:
I had an interesting massage experience. Since some parts were quite painful, it wasn't very relaxing until he was able to release the spasms.

What was odd is that I thought he would occasionally whisper something brief every few minutes but the sound was coming from a different location. I could swear the source was only a couple of feet away but the direction made no sense. I couldn't make out the words until the last time I heard it. It was simply the word "you".

After the massage, I could tell the spasms were gone and, after only a few minutes, I had my acupuncture, which also had some rather painful spots that felt like a wasp sting or a bite from a fire ant. Ouch. The pain never really settled down even after the needles were removed I could feel the pain, although upon inspection, I noticed some of the pain was a few inches away from the needle site.

Anyway. After the acupuncture I felt dizzy and strange. I drank some water and did some pipe breaths but had a hard time coming back to Earth. The doc told me to go straight home to rest and not to return to work.

Hi Gonzo
Some thoughts
Was he working on your neck? A vestibular affect from a change upper neck tension could explain the dizziness and possible a change in tension/pressure could affect fluid movement in the canals in the ear which could possible sound like a soft whoosh of varying volume which could be interpreted as coming externally, new sensations can be hard to pin down.
Other possibilities - he was talking himself through the procedure - or perhaps he was whispering to you.

Hope you pain releif continues, sounds like you are getting somewhere!
 
Gonzo said:
I will be ordering the DMSO as soon as I can afford to and I thank Gandalf the wise for the time and energy afforded to help me reduce
my fear of Big Border Brother.

Hi Gonzo,

Thank you. It was a real pleasure to help you. :flowers:
 
Hi SAO,

I've had some strange effects from acupuncture over the years. Often it is due to endorphins, in my case. Other times, however, I seem to fall into an altered state of some sort (could still be endorphins though).

I appreciate your concern and agree to be wary. I've been getting acupuncture from this guy for the last few months and have experience mild light-headedness a couple of times but never dizziness.

The combination of massage and acupuncture could have had an additive effect to the endorphin release. I really don't know.

Another possibility is that I was reciting the PotS and pipe breathing during the acupuncture and might have zoned out somewhat and fell into a trance.

Gonzo
 
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